This study was performed to investigate the distribution of ticks and the rate of infection with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) virus in ticks collected at Mt. Gwanak and the Seoul National University campus, Korea. Ticks (n = 273) were collected from May to October and included 76 Haemaphysalis longicornis (4 adult females, 72 nymphs), 49 Haemaphysalis flava (9 adult females, 3 adult males, 37 nymphs), and 148 Haemaphysalis spp. larvae. SFTS virus detection was performed by using one-step RT PCR and nested PCR. The SFTS virus was detected in 7 samples (1 Haemaphysalis longicornis nymph, 3 Haemaphysalis flava nymphs, and 3 Haemaphysalis spp. larva). The overall minimum field infection rate was 2.6%, whereas the minimum field infection rates of adult, nymphal, and larval ticks were 0%, 3.2%, and 2.0%, respectively. For a more accurate indication of the prevalence of SFTS virus in Korea, further in-depth investigations of tick species and SFTS virus occurrence over a larger area and longer period are needed.
Adult ; Female ; Fever* ; Humans ; Korea* ; Larva ; Male ; Nymph ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevalence* ; Seoul ; Thrombocytopenia* ; Ticks*

This study investigated the development characteristics of Dermacentor everestianus under laboratory conditions. The time taken for D. everestianus to complete the whole life cycle was 110.2 days on average, and the average developmental durations of larvae and nymphs were 17.1 days and 29.5 days, respectively. The summation of the prefeeding, feeding, and preoviposition periods of females was 17.8 days, and the oviposition and egg incubation lasted for 18.1 days and 27.7 days, respectively. A highly positive correlation was observed between the weight of engorged female and the number of egg mass laid (r=0.947). The reproductive efficiency index and the reproductive fitness index were 7.1 and 6.1, respectively.
Dermacentor* ; Female ; Genetic Fitness ; Humans ; Larva ; Life Cycle Stages* ; Nymph ; Oviposition ; Ovum

PURPOSE: Home exposure to aeroallergens are an important environmental factor in allergic sensitization and in the development and exacerbation of asthma. Most studies of aeroallergens were dust mite in Korea, but cockroach distribution was little been known in Korea. The aim of this study was to evaluate species of cockroaches and seasonal distribution of cockroaches in Seoul area. METHODS: The study was performed during April 2000 through January 2001, from 63 houses in Korea. The total of 63 residential homes from different districts in Seoul were selected for the home environment survey. Bait traps (10 x 20 x 4 cm2, Zoro Zoro, Taisho Pharmacy, Tokyo, Japan) were placed on four different places of kitchen floor and one in the side of balcony in the house and left for 5 days to capture cockroaches. RESULTS: The cockroaches were captured in 23 houses(36.5%) out of 63 houses. And the inhabitant density of cockroaches was highest in the autumn(43.3%) followed by summer (29.2%), spring(18.3%) and winter(9.2%). In only 3 species were collected in Seoul area. The most common species were Blattella germanica showing 72.5% of the collected cockroaches, followed by Periplaneta japonica(25.2%) Periplaneta americana(2.3%). The total number of captured cockroaches was 504 and the number of nymph was 314(62.2%). Isolated house type showed higher trapping rates than the apartment. Positive skin test rates were 46.2% in the healthy control group and 43.8% in the allergy patients. CONCLUSION: Periplaneta americana was captured in Seoul area, which had not been found previously. The inhabitant density of cockroaches was the lowest in the winter.
Allergens* ; Asthma ; Cockroaches* ; Dust ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Korea ; Mites ; Nymph ; Periplaneta ; Pharmacy ; Seasons* ; Seoul* ; Skin Tests

Since 1982, 31 cases of tick bites were reported in Korea and only one case of Haemaphysalis longicornis related to tick bites was included. Until now, nymph related or multiple tick(more than three) related to tick bites were not reported in the Korean literatures. We report three cases of tick bites by Haemaphysalis longicornis. The first case is a 71-year-old Korean woman who had a tick stuck on the anterior chest area. The second case is a 64-year-old Korean man who visited a clinic for pruritic, multiple, erythematous papules and nodules. The third case is 50-year-old man who visited the hospital for pruritic, erythematous nodules on calf area. Eight ticks were collected from three patients which were one female in the first case, two females in the second case and two females and three nymphs in the third case and all of them were identified as Haemaphysalis longicornis.
Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Middle Aged ; Nymph ; Thorax ; Tick Bites* ; Ticks*

Ticks are parasites that usually suck the blood of wild or domestic animals; rarely, they ingest human blood and spread various febrile infectious diseases along with skin problems. Out of 40 cases of tick bite reported in Korea, only 3 were caused by nymphal ticks, and tick bites by nymphal Amblyomma testudinarium have not been reported previously. Herein, we report a rare case of tick bite by nymphal A. testudinarium. A 57-year-old woman presented with an asymptomatic solitary erythematous nodule on the left thigh that had been present for 6 days. The tick, which the patient removed from the lesion and brought to the hospital, was identified as a nymphal A. testudinarium. Doxycycline (200 mg) was used as treatment, and after seven days of use, the patient improved and no other lesions were detected.
Animals, Domestic ; Communicable Diseases ; Doxycycline ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Middle Aged ; Nymph ; Parasites ; Skin ; Thigh ; Tick Bites* ; Ticks*

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is firstly reported in China in 2011. Thereafter it is reported an infectious disease in Japan and Korea. It is caused by bunyavirus, called SFTS virus (SFTSV). The main vector of SFTS is Haemaphysalis longicornis tick. We investigated the distribution and detection of SFTSV in ticks collected from the environment using the dragging method and dry ice fogging method from May to November 2014 in Jeollanam-do, Korea. Sampling was taken from the province Suncheon, Gokseong, Boseong, Goheung where patients have occurred in 2013 and Gurye as control. Among the total 3,048 ticks collected, 3,030 ticks were H. longicornis (99.4%) and 18 were Amblyomma testudinarium. H. longicornis was collected 1,330 ticks in Gokseong, 1,188 ticks in Boseong, 240 ticks in Suncheon, 150 ticks in Goheung and 140 ticks in Gurye. Developmental stages by month of H. longicornis were revealed that nymph (92%) was collected from May to June, adult (30%) and nymph (70%) in July, and 93% of larvae from September to October. These results showed the different dominant stage of ticks according to seasons. However, no SFTSV-specific gene was detected in 3,030 ticks of H. longicornis.
Adult ; China ; Communicable Diseases ; Dry Ice ; Fever* ; Humans ; Japan ; Jeollanam-do* ; Korea* ; Larva ; Methods ; Nymph ; Orthobunyavirus ; Seasons ; Thrombocytopenia* ; Ticks* ; Weather

The seasonal abundance of hard ticks that transmit severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus was monitored with a collection trap method every April to November during 2015–2018 and with a flagging method every July and August during 2015–2018 in Ganghwa-do (island) of Incheon Metropolitan City, Republic of Korea. This monitoring was performed in a copse, a short grass field, coniferous forest and broad-leaved forest. A total of 17,457 ticks (8,277 larvae, 4,137 nymphs, 3,389 females, and 1,654 males) of the ixodid ticks comprising 3 species (Haemaphysalis longicornis, H. flava, and Ixodes nipponensis) were collected with collection traps. Of the identified ticks, H. longicornis was the most frequently collected ticks (except larval ticks) (94.26%, 8,653/9,180 ticks (nymphs and adults)), followed by H. flava (5.71%, 524/9,180) and Ix. nipponensis (less than 0.04%, 3/9,180). The ticks collected with collecting traps were pooled and assayed for the presence of SFTS virus with negative results. In addition, for monitoring the prevalence of hard ticks, a total of 7,461 ticks (5,529 larvae, 1,272 nymphs, 469 females, and 191 males) of the ixodid ticks comprising 3 species (H. longicornis, H. flava, and Ix. nipponensis) were collected with flagging method. H. longicornis was the highest collected ticks (except larval ticks) (99.53%, 1,908/1,917 ticks (nymphs and adults)), followed by H. flava (1.15%, 22/1,917).
Climate Change ; Coniferophyta ; Female ; Fever ; Forests ; Humans ; Incheon ; Ixodes ; Ixodidae ; Larva ; Methods ; Nymph ; Poaceae ; Prevalence ; Republic of Korea ; Seasons ; Thrombocytopenia ; Ticks

Tick saliva is critically important for continuous attachment to the host, blood feeding for days, and transmission of tick-borne pathogens. To characterize the patterns of inflammatory cytokine gene expression during its attachment and blood sucking time, peripheral blood samples of rabbits infested with Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks were collected at different intervals. Blood histamine concentration was evaluated as well as gene encoding IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-2, IL-6, IL-4, and IL-10 were compared with non-infested rabbits. Blood histamine concentration of tick-infested rabbits during fast feeding time was significantly higher than that of non-infested rabbits. In both nymph and adult tick infested rabbits, expression of TNF-α and IFN-γ genes were decreased significantly (P < 0.05), while expression of IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10 were increased 1.3 to 7 folds in adult infested rabbits with the exception of IL-6 that was significantly (P < 0.05) decreased in nymph infested rabbits. IL-2 was not expressed in either nymph or adult infestation. H. longicornis saliva is capable of modulate host responses through a complex correlation with histamine and Th1, Th2 mediated cytokines that suppress the inflammatory responses directed toward inflammatory mediators introduced into the host during tick feeding.
Adult ; Cytokines ; Gene Expression ; Histamine ; Humans ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-2 ; Interleukin-4 ; Interleukin-6 ; Nymph ; Rabbits ; Saliva ; Ticks

Dual biocontrol of both insects and plant pathogens has been reported for certain fungal entomopathogens, including Beauveria bassiana and Lecanicillum spp. In this study, we demonstrate, for the first time, the dual biocontrol potential of two fungal isolates identified by morphological and phylogenetic analyses as Isaria javanica. Both these isolates caused mortality in the greater wax moth, and hence can be considered entomopathogens. Spores of the isolates were also pathogenic to nymphs of the green peach aphid (Myzus persicae), with an LC₅₀ value of 10⁷ spores/mL 4 days after inoculation and an LT₅₀ of 4.2 days with a dose of 10⁸ spores/mL. In vitro antifungal assays also demonstrated a strong inhibitory effect on the growth of two fungi that are pathogenic to peppers, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Phytophthora capsici. These results indicate that I. javanica isolates could be used as novel biocontrol agents for the simultaneous control of aphids and fungal diseases, such as anthracnose and Phytophthora blight, in an integrated pest management framework for red pepper.
Aphids* ; Beauveria ; Capsicum ; Colletotrichum ; Fungi* ; Hemiptera ; In Vitro Techniques ; Insects ; Mortality ; Moths ; Nymph ; Pest Control ; Phytophthora ; Plants* ; Prunus persica ; Spores

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the prevalence of nymphal stages of L. serrata in mesenteric lymph nodes of camels slaughtered in Mashhad slaughterhouse, Northeast of Iran.

METHODSFor this purpose, mesenteric lymph nodes of 400 camels of different sex and age were examined. The lymph nodes were examined macroscopically and a digestion method was also applied for investigation of samples which was negative macroscopically.

RESULTSThe mesenteric lymph nodes of 73 camels out of 400 (18.25%) were infected by L. serrata nymphs.

CONCLUSIONSPrevalence of L. serrata nymphs in males and females and different age was not significantly different (P>0.05), but difference was observed between the prevalence in different seasons (P< 0.05). The potential importance of these findings to human health is discussed. This is the first report of infection with L. serrate of camels in camels slaughtered at northeast of Iran.

Abattoirs ; Animals ; Camelus ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Iran ; epidemiology ; Lymph Nodes ; parasitology ; Male ; Nymph ; Parasitic Diseases, Animal ; epidemiology ; parasitology ; Pentastomida ; Prevalence