Reliable estimates are lacking of key epizootiologicparameters for plague caused by Yersinia pestis infectionin its natural reservoirs. We report results of a 3-year longi-tudinal study of plague dynamics in populations of a main-tenance host, the great gerbil (Rhombomys opimus), in 2populations in Kazakhstan. Serologic results suggest amid-summer peak in the abundance of infectious hosts andpossible transmission from the reservoir to humans.Decrease in antibody titer to an undetectable level showedno seasonal pattern. Our findings did not support the use ofthe nitroblue-tetrazolium test characterization of plague-infected hosts. Y. pestis infection reduced survival of other-wise asymptomatic hosts
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