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I hereby declare marmot the winner. No further posts necessary - thanks all!
http://www.cababstractsplus.org/abstrac ... 9912083876
Title: Epidemiological significance of eradicating marmot (Marmota baibacina) in a natural plague focus located in Tianshan mountain range within the limits of Hutubi County, Xinjiang.
Personal Authors: Lu, C. F. (et al.)
Author Affiliation: Endemic Dis., Controlling Office, Hutubi County, Xinjiang, China.
Editors: No editors
Document Title: Endemic Diseases Bulletin
Abstract:
During 1967-87, mechanical and chemical methods were used in a campaign to eradicate grey marmots (Marmota baibacina, the local reservoirs of Yersinia pestis) from mountainous areas of Hutubi County in China. The marmot population (per 10 ha) was reduced from 14.52 animals in 1975 to 0.91 in 1987. Bacteriological and serological examination of about 5000 marmots and serological examination of over 2000 domestic dogs gave negative results for infection with Y. pestis in recent years, except for 3 dogs in 1980-87 with a low titre of antibodies. No human cases of plague have occurred and the authors conclude that maintenance of marmot densities at <1.0 animal/10 ha should control epizootic plague in such areas.
[In a previous paper (pp. 1-4) R.R. Xi et al. describe an outbreak of plague in a mountainous region of Tibet. The primary case was infected from contact with a dead marmot (M. hymalayana) and there were 6 secondary cases.]
Carolyn A. Brown
Publisher:
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