[The effect of trace elements on the infectious process in plague in an experiment].

The influence of Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu and Zn on experimental Yersinia pestis infection in three species of gerbils (Rhombomys opimus, Meriones meridianus, M. tamariscinus) under conditions, imitating natural biogeochemical anomalies, was studied. The addition of Co and Ni to the fodder given to the animals for the period of 2-4 weeks prior to infection aggravated the course of infection. In similar experiments Cu, Fe and Mn aggravated or, on the contrary, inhibited the development of infection, depending on the environmental conditions. The addition of Zn produced practically no effect on the course of the disease, but its use in combination with Cu, depending on the dose, inhibited or enhanced the action of this element. The addition of Cu, Fe and Mn to fodder made it possible to reproduce the effect of protection from plague, observed in nature in the presence of some biogeochemical anomalies. This result may serve as an argument in support of the concept stating that the chemical composition of the environment is a factor capable of regulating the infectious process in animals in nature.