Objective: To create the fingerprint library of Yunnan Yersinia pestis by pulse field gel electrophoresis(PFGE)with Fse I enzyme digestion method and to study its epidemiological significance.
Methods: We used rare cutting restriction enzyme Fse? to digest Yunnan Yersinia pestis strains that were isolated from foci including Rattus flavipectus Plague Focus,Apodemus chevrieri-Eothenomys miletus Plague Focus and Yulong Plague Focus. Fingerprints to Bionumerics software were used for cluster analysis.
Results: 30 tested strains were divided into 16 genotypes with the similarity value as 79.8%-100.0% . 16 genotypes wee formed into 4 clusters, with one consisted of only EV76 while the other three belonged to Rattus flavipectus,Apodemus chevrieri- Eothenomys miletus and Yulong clusters, respectively.
Conclusions: PFGE genotypes of Yunnan Yersinia pestis accorded with its ecotypes and biovars, with clustered regional features. The strains isolated from Yulong showed an unique PFGE type, indicating a new clone group was identified.