Monitoring Chigger Mites for Orientia tsutsugamushi in Field Small Mammals in Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea, 2019-2020
10.3347/kjp.2021.59.3.319
- Author:
Young Yil BAHK
1
;
Seong Kyu AHN
;
Jinyoung LEE
;
Hyung Wook KWON
;
Sung Jong HONG
;
Tong-Soo KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Biotechnology, College of Biomedical and Health Science, Konkuk University, Chungju 27478, Korea
- Publication Type:Brief Communication
- From:The Korean Journal of Parasitology
2021;59(3):319-324
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Incidence of tsutsugamushi disease (scrub typhus) caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi, is steadily increasing. It is a mite-borne disease transmitted by chigger mites. In this study, the chigger mites were collected from field small mammals in Hwaseong-si (city), Gyeonggi-do (province), Korea, 2019 and 2020. The field small mammals captured were 56 Apodemus agrarius (94.9%) and 3 Crocidura lasiura (5.1%). A total of 7,531 chigger mites were collected from the captured small mammals. Using PCR test, 153 chigger mite pools were examined and 17 pools were reported positive for O. tsutsugamushi. The O. tsutsugamushi were identified to 5 strains; Jecheon strain was most prevalent, followed by Boryong strain. The other strains were OI011, Taguchi, and Shimokoshi. Collectively, these results provide essential regional information on mite-borne tsutsugamushi disease in the Hwaseong-si, and further contribute to bring awareness and rapid diagnosis for the tsutsugamushi disease.
