Natural foci of tsutsugamushi disease in the Nan Peng Lie Islands in China.
- Author:
Shanshan WANG
1
;
Jialiang HUANG
;
Guifu PENG
;
Pulin JIANG
;
Nianhua ZHENG
;
Jinhua LIU
;
Shaofan ZHU
;
Zhibin WANG
Author Information
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH: Animals; Antibodies, Bacterial; blood; Cattle; China; epidemiology; DNA, Bacterial; genetics; Geography; Humans; Incidence; Orientia tsutsugamushi; genetics; growth & development; isolation & purification; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; Rats; Scrub Typhus; epidemiology; microbiology; Seasons; Sheep; Species Specificity; Tropical Climate
- From: Chinese Medical Journal 2002;115(2):272-275
- CountryChina
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVETo investigate natural foci of tsutsugamushi disease whose incidence has increased in the Nan Peng Lie Islands in China, an area where this disease has not been previously recorded.
METHODSWe recorded the natural foci and isolated Orientia tsutsugamushi (O. tsutsugamushi) organism. We also studied prevention measures.
RESULTSThese islands had the natural foci of a south subtropical zone. The main host and vector were Rattus norvegicus and Leptotrombidium deliens (L. deliens), respectively. The seasonal quantity trends of Rattus norvegicus and Leptotrombidium deliens were consistent with the incidence of human infection. Thirty-five strains of O. tsutsugamushi were isolated from Rattus norvegicus and L. deliense. The identification of 7 strains showed that most strains were Karp. Seroepidemiology showed a high prevalence of antibody against O. tsatsugamushi among local people. After prevention measures were used, the incidence was decreased.
CONCLUSIONThis was the first successful confirmation that the Nan Peng Lie Islands were natural foci of tsutsugamushi disease.