Objective: To study the biological characteristics of natural reservoirs of Yesinia (Y.) pestis in China.
Methods: Species and genera of natural reservoirs of Y. pestis in China and their faunal distribution were characterized with modern taxonomic techniques. The ecological roles of natural reservoirs of Y. pestis in the natural plague foci were determined according to the animal ecological experiments.
Results: There were 86 species of natural reservoirs of Y. pestis including 14 major reservoirs and 72 kinds of the secondary or occasional reservoirs.
Conclusion: The biological characteristics of major reservoirs of Y. pestis and their roles in natural plague foci were defined.