An investigation was carried out on 244 rats (71,9% sewer rat; 27,7% black rats, 0,4% house mouse) with various index 30-40, which was increased and kept at high level from March to September. 268 fleas were collected (only 1 species of X.cheopis), the flea index oscillated from 0,11 to 1,90 and reached the highest level in April all isolations determined Y.pestis negatively. Flea resisted to malathion 5%, pyrethroid group was the greatest effectiveness
Plague ; Fleas

Since 1999, plague incidence tends to decrease and disease is localized in some linited areas in the High Plateaux region. The result of survey on flea and host showed that R.exulans was still predominant host. 100% of flea living on rat belong to X. cheopis species; Y.pestis was found in 3.54% of specimens from rats and in 1.47% of specimens from fleas. The findings suggested X.cheopis and important host (R.exulans) are the main factors of circulation of Y.pestis in the High Plateaux region
Plague ; Animals ; Fleas

In Dak Lak province, there are 4 plague foci included EaHleo, Hoa Thuan, Krong Pack, and Cuzut. Among them, EaHleo is a new focus, and Hoa Thuan Krong Pack Cuzut were old foci (from 5 years to more than 10 years no epidemic). We conducted the study in these plague foci during the dry season between 1997-1998. The investigation of serum samples from 1,041 R.exulans is the above 4 foci show that anti-F1 antibody was found with an average rate of 26.6% in the 4 investigated foci. This rate was 34.4% at EaHleo with titer ranging from 1:20 to 1:2,560. The positive rates were 3.8%, 5.4% and 9.7% at Krong Pack, Hoa Thuan, and Cuzut, respectively, with titer ranging from 1:20 to 1:80.
Plague ; Serologic Tests

From 1991 to 2000 the plague in Viet Nam has remarkably controlled. The morbidity and mortality rate decreased from 439.6 patients/year during 1991-1995 to 161.2 patients/year during 1996-2000, the areas affected by plague had been narrowed, only in Gia Lai and Dac Lac provinces. The plague occours throughout the year but concerntrating in period from February to May every year. In the North, R.norvegicus is the main host and R.exulans is the common host at the other areas. The main vector of plague in Viet Nam is X.cheopis. Biological surveillance showed that: Y.pestis has been negative at the provinces and cities in the North for the past years. The possitive rate was different in the rest areas over the times
Plague ; Epidemiology ; Prevention & control

China ; Plague ; Topography, Medical

Plague cases were reported at Eawy commune, Eah'leo district of Dak lak province in March 1997. Y. pestis was isolated from 1.42% of rat samples. 2.89% of rat serum samples and 20% of human serum samples contained anti-plague antibody. The reproductive season of X.cheopis has been coincided with plague season, peaking in the dry season. The plague and vector development seasons in Eawy have all typical characteristics of plague in the High-Plateau region
Plague ; Yersinia pestis ; Rats ; Humans

The research studied on TB detection and result of pulmonic tuberculosis treatment at health centre of Hiep Duc district, Quang Nam province during 2000-2003 periods. The incidence rate of TB was 73.6/105/year and 66,6% AFB(+). Age, educational level and economic level are related to late examination of tuberculosis infected people. Results of treatment was recovery 48,5%, completed treatment 24,3%, discontinued treatment 1%, death 9,1% and ongoing with treatment 17,1%. Late detection and strong AFB(+) prolonged the treatment period. Late detection and spiting of blood at hospital increased the mortality rate.
Tuberculosis ; Plague, Health ; Diagnosis ; Therapeutics

Backgound: Plague disease is one of three most seriously infectious diseases (plague, yellow fever and cholera disease). In Vietnam, this condition has been obviously controlled. The number of new cases and deaths of plague disease have decreased significantly: from 439.6 patients between 1991 and 1995 to 161.2 patients between 1996 and 2000. However, the disease is still circulating in some areas in the world. Objective: To survey plague disease related factors (rats and fleas) at Noi Bai international airport. Subjects and method: A surveillance to inspect plague disease related factors (rats and fleas) was conducted at Noi Bai international airport, Ha Noi, from January/2006 to December/2006. Results and Conclusion: There were two types of rats: R. flavipectus in majority and R. norvegicus. The enrichment index of the two kinds of rats had increased in April and May. R. flavipectus disposed at flat form T1 and R. norvegicus disposed at store area. The only flea species found at the surveillance site was X.cheopis. Bacterial isolation of 236 specimens of liver and spleen, and ELISA tests of 180 blood samples were performed. All of the specimens were negative to Yersinia pestis. The study suggests that the rat populations at Noi Bai airport have not been infected with Yesinia pestis.
Plague/ epidemiology ; pathology ; Siphonaptera/ pathogenicity ; Rats ;

OBJECTIVETo analyze the plasmid features and geographical distribution characteristics of Yersinia pestis of different plague foci in China.

METHODSA total of 2 213 Yersinia pestis strains were colected from 11 Chinese plague foci separated during 1943 to 2012, and plasmid DNA according to alkali cracking method, and measured the relative molecular mass (Mr) of plasmid DNA based on the standard plasmid contrast method, then analyzed the plasmid profiles by agar gel electrophoresis.

RESULTSA total of 2 213 strains had 16 kinds of plasmids with different Mr, including 4×10(6), 6×10(6), 7×10(6), 13×10(6), 16×10(6), 20×10(6), 22×10(6), 23×10(6), 27×10(6), 30×10(6), 36×10(6), 45×10(6), 52×10(6), 65×10(6), 72×10(6) and 90×10(6). Plasmid were classified into 26 kinds of plasmid profiles. A total of 2 213 Yersinia pestis strains contained 4 large plasmids, 52×10(6), 65×10(6), 72×10(6) and 90×10(6), whose ratio was 22.10% (589/2 213), 75.60% (1 672/2 213), 0.17% (4/2 213), 2.12% (47/2 213), respectively. Among which, strains with plasmid 52×10(6), 65×10(6), 90×10(6) distributed in Qinghai-Tibet plateau Himalayan Marmot natural plague foci, strains with 72×10(6) plasmid only distributed in Inner Mongolia Meriones unguiculatus natural plague foci and Junggar Basin R. opimus natural plague foci, and 65×10(6) plasmid distributed in all the other foci.

CONCLUSIONStrains in Chinese 11 plague foci contained 4 kinds of large plasmid, the Mr respectively were 52×10(6), 65×10(6), 72×10(6), 90×10(6), which were classified into 26 kinds of plasmid profiles with other plasmid. These plasmid profiles distributed in relatively independent epidemic focus.

OBJECTIVETo explore the spatial and temporal distributions of animal plague in Junggar Basin natural plague focus.

METHODSData regarding plague antibody (F1) in serum of Great Gerbil (Rhombomys opimus, R. opimus) which were collected from 2005 to 2012 in Junggar Basin and analyzed. The changing rates on the positivity of F1 that appeared spatially and temporally were also analyzed.

RESULTSA total of 4 825 R. opimus serum samples were collected in 13 administrative regions in Junggar Basin.

RESULTSshowed that plague R. opimus existed in two areas-Gurbantonggut desert in the eastern-center and the clay desert of western Junggar Basin. However, in these two areas, the intensity of animal plague prevalence was different. In the former region where Yesinia pestis positive serum was detected from R. opimus, the detected rate of R. opimus was 8.39%. However, in the latter areas, the average positive rate was 1.56%. The changing trends of R. opimus plague prevalence were also varied annually. In the western Junggar Basin, the trend showed a slowly downward profile. The serum positive rate of R. opimus for Yesinia pestis decreased, from 7.59% in 2005 to 0.61% in 2008, and appeared as a resting state that none of the positive sample could be found since then. However, in the eastern-center Junggar Basin area-also named as Gurbantonggut desert which had been divided into 3 segments(western, central and eastern, according to related geographical characteristics), the changing trends of animal plague seemed quite complex. In the western segment, the animal plague had two epidemic peaks-in 2006 and 2010, with the interval of 4 years, with the higher peak of all the three geographic segments as 45.65% in 2010 and the positive serum of R. opimus for plague could be detected each year from 2006 to 2012. However, there were 3 epidemic peaks in the same period in the central and eastern segments. In the central segment, the peaks appeared in 2006, 2009 and 2011, with the intervals as 2.5 years and the average positive rate 8.92% was seen the lowest in Gurbantonggut desert. In the eastern segment, the first 2 peaks appeared the same season as in the central segment, but the third peak appeared in 2012, with the peak interval as 3 years. The positive rate of R. opimus for plague was also different in seasons, with the positive rate higher in autumn than in spring. These findings showed that the animal plague could be continuously prevalent from spring to autumn in the natural foci of plague in the Junggar Basin.

CONCLUSIONBoth geographical and temporal fluctuations of animal plague existed in the natural foci of Junggar Basin which was also named as geographical heterogeneity. Consequently, animal plague could be divided into two areas-the clay plains desert in the western and the Gurbantonggut desert in the eastern-center Junggar Basin.