OBJECTIVETo type Yersinia (Y.) pestis isolates under different regions (DFR) and to observe their geographical distributions in China.

METHODS23 DFRs primers and PMT1 (plasmid) primer were used to verify the DFR genomovars of Y. pestiss strains from 11 plague foci in China. A total of 3 044 Y. pestis isolates were involved for analysis on DFR profiles with the characteristics of geographical distribution.

RESULTS52 genomovars were verified in 3 044 Y. pestis strains in China in which 19 genomovars as major and 33 genomovars as minor genomovar. 21 new genomovars, namely genomovar 32 to genomovar 52 were described on the basis of 31 genomovars previously confirmed. Three new genomovars belonged to new major genomovars, namely Himalayan marmot natural plague foci of the Qinghai-Tibet plateau newly added genomovar 32 and genomovar 44 as major genomovars. Mongolian gerbil natural plague foci of Inner Mongolia plateau were newly added genomovar 50 as one of the major genomovars.

CONCLUSIONAmong 21 new genomovars, 3 were major genomovars, with Chinese Y. pestis DFR as the major genomovars which had obvious distribution characteristics.