Marmots and Strains in Two Plague Endemic Areas of Tien Shan Mountains.

The main purpose of this study was to clarify the role of gray marmots () in the long-term maintenance of highly virulent strains of in two plague endemic foci of the Tien Shan Mountains in Kyrgyzstan. We present data from regular observations of populations of and small rodents cohabiting with marmots in the mountainous grasslands of the Sari-Dzhas (east of Issyk-Kul Lake) and the Upper-Naryn (south of Issyk-Kul Lake) natural foci. During 2012-2017, an abundance of marmots and their ectoparasites (fleas and ticks) was significantly higher in Upper-Naryn comparing to Sari-Dzhas, although there were no differences in a number and diversity of small rodents cohabiting with marmots.

Current Status of the Sari-Dzhas Natural Focus of Plague, Kyrgyzstan: Epizootic Activity and Marmot Population.

The Sari-Dzhas natural mountain focus of plague with an area of 5000 sq. km is located mainly in Kyrgyzstan. This enzootic area belongs to a group of Tien-Shan mountain plague foci and crosses the boundaries of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and China.