关键词: 鼠种鉴定, 鼠疫疫源地, 东方田鼠

Abstract: Objective To identify and classify newly-recorded rodent species in the epidemic focus of plaque in Dingbian county, Shaanxi province. Methods Morphological observation and DNA barcode technology were applied for rodent identification and classification. Results A total of 6 voles were captured with the body length between 120 mm and 140 mm, body weight ranging from 41.75 g to 71.58 g and skull length less than 32 mm. The tail length exceeded one third of the body length. The voles were covered by dark brown skin but their abdomen was sand-yellow in colour. The COⅠgene extracted from the samples was amplified through PCR and sequenced, with the maximum genetic distance between these samples and those of Microtus fortis from other areas being 1%. Conclusion The voles captured from the salt marshes in the southern edge of Ordos Plateau in the plague area of Dingbian county are identified as M. fortis through morphological analysis and DNA comparision. M. fortis is recorded for the first time in the plague natural foci of Shaanxi province, which provides useful information and a basis for further monitoring of vetor, plaque and related diseases in the area.

Key words: Identification, Plague focus, Microtus fortis