The status of plague in Zimbabwe

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Abstract
The results of tests in Zimbabwe from 1975 to 1978 showed the presence of antibodies to Yersinia pestis in 4·24% of 3964 dog sera; 0·86% of 1048 human sera and 0·88% of 454 small mammal sera. Antibodies to plague were demonstrated in the following rodent species: Aethomys chrysophitus, A. namaquensis, Tatera teucogasler and Pedetes capensis. The significance of the results is discussed in relation to the 1974–75 epidemic in Zimbabwe, and the distribution of human cases of plague in southern Africa is linked to the distribution of species B of the Praomys (Mastomys) natalensis species complex.