Dynamics of Rodent and Rodent-borne Disease during Construction of the Three Gorges Reservoir from 1997 to 2012.
To investigate the impact of impoundment and active public health interventions on rodent populations and rodent-borne diseases in the Three Gorges reservoir region from 1997 to 2012.



Surveillance data from 1997 to 2012 were extracted from the Public Health Surveillance System of The Three Gorges established in 1997. Temporal changes in the incidences of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and leptospirosis, rodent density, pathogen-carrying rates, and their correlations were analyzed.



The average indoor and outdoor rodent densities decreased overall from 1997 to 2012. The average densities decreased by 47.72% (from 4.38% to 2.29%) and 39.68% (from 4.41% to 2.66%), respectively, after impoundment (2003-2012) compared with before impoundment (1997-2002). The average annual incidence rates of HFRS and leptospirosis were 0.29/100,000 and 0.52/100,000, respectively, and decreased by 85.74% (from 0.68/100,000 to 0.10/100,000) and 95.73% (from 1.47/100,000 to 0.065/100,000), respectively, after impoundment compared with before impoundment. Incidences of HFRS and leptospirosis appear to be positively correlated with rodent density in the reservoir area.



This study demonstrated that rodent density and incidences of rodent-borne diseases decreased and were maintained at low levels during construction of the Three Gorges dam. Measures that reduce rodent population densities could be effective in controlling rodent-borne diseases during large-scale hydraulic engineering construction.
Division of Infectious Disease, Key Laboratory of Surveillance and Early-warning on Infectious Disease, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China.
Zhao Rui
ZR
Chang
State Key Laboratory for Infectious Diseases Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China.
Liang
L
Lu
Chongqing Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chongqing 400042, China.
De Qiang
DQ
Mao
Yichang Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Yichang 443000, Hubei, China.
Hui Ming
HM
Pan
Chongqing Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chongqing 400042, China.
Lian Gui
LG
Feng
Yichang Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Yichang 443000, Hubei, China.
Xiao Bing
XB
Yang
Division of Infectious Disease, Key Laboratory of Surveillance and Early-warning on Infectious Disease, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China.
Feng Feng
FF
Liu
Yichang Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Yichang 443000, Hubei, China.
Yuan Yuan
YY
He
Division of Infectious Disease, Key Laboratory of Surveillance and Early-warning on Infectious Disease, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China.
Jing
J
Zhang
Division of Infectious Disease, Key Laboratory of Surveillance and Early-warning on Infectious Disease, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China.
Wei Zhong
WZ
Yang
D063147:Animal Distribution; D000818:Animals; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D018778:Hantavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D011156:Population Density; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000821:virology; D012377:Rodentia; D012621:Seasons; D013997:Time Factors; D014881:Water Supply; D015047:Zoonoses
Rodent density; Rodent-borne diseases; Three Gorges reservoir