The incidence of mite- and tick-borne infectious disease is increasing with climate change and the development of diagnostic tools. Tick-borne infectious diseases include Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), and Japanese spotted fever. Rickettsial pox and scrub typhus are mite-borne infectious diseases. Scrub typhus and SFTS are the most common mite- and tick-borne infectious diseases in Korea, respectively. They are often difficult to diagnose at an early stage of disease. To make a definite diagnosis of mite- and tick-borne infectious disease, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests or serologic testing for antibodies during the acute and convalescent periods are necessary. If patients with nonspecific symptoms, such as fever, headache, nausea, and vomiting, have a history of outdoor activity or a tick bite, it is reasonable to consider the possibility of mite- or tick-borne infectious diseases clinically. There are no vaccinations against mite- and tick-borne infectious diseases. Therefore, preventing mite or tick bites is the best way to prevent the diseases.
Anaplasmosis ; Animals ; Antibodies ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Climate Change ; Communicable Diseases* ; Diagnosis ; Ehrlichiosis ; Fever* ; Headache ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea* ; Lyme Disease ; Mites ; Nausea ; Phlebovirus ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Scrub Typhus* ; Serologic Tests ; Thrombocytopenia* ; Tick Bites ; Tick-Borne Diseases ; Vaccination ; Vomiting

The incidence of vector-borne infectious diseases is increasing due to developments in diagnostic techniques, as well as due to economic, environmental, and ecological factors such as global warming, increased rainfall, globalization, and urbanization. Tick-borne infectious diseases occurring in Korea include severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome, Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and Japanese spotted fever. Various skin lesions, such as erythema migrans, tick bite sites, rash, and eschar, are associated with tick-borne infectious diseases. It is necessary to remove ticks immediately to prevent transmission of these tick-borne infectious diseases. Especially for conditions such as Lyme disease, at least 24 to 48 hours of tick attachment to the host is required for transmission of the causative pathogens to the host. Tick-borne diseases are acquired after outdoor activities and have nonspecific symptoms such as fever, headache, and chills, which make them difficult to identify without a diagnostic test. Rapid diagnosis and early treatment can reduce the otherwise significant morbidity and mortality associated with these conditions; therefore, therapy should not be delayed until laboratory confirmation is received.
Anaplasmosis ; Animals ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Chills ; Communicable Diseases* ; Diagnosis ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Erythema ; Exanthema ; Fever ; Global Warming ; Headache ; Humans ; Incidence ; Internationality ; Korea* ; Lyme Disease ; Mortality ; Rickettsia Infections ; Scrub Typhus ; Skin ; Thrombocytopenia ; Tick Bites ; Tick-Borne Diseases ; Ticks ; Urbanization

OBJECTIVELyme disease and Human granulocytic anaplasmosis are tick-borne diseases caused by Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum respectively. We have investigated infection and co-infection of the two diseases in the population of forest areas of eight provinces in China by measuring seroprevalence of antibodies against B. burgdorferi and A. phagocytophilum.

METHODSForest areas in 8 provinces were chosen for investigation using whole sampling and questionnaire survey methods. 3 669 serum samples from people in the forest areas were tested for the presence of antibodies by indirect immunofluorescent assay (IFA).

RESULTSSeroprevalence against B. burgdorferi was 3% to 15% and against A. phagocytophilum was 2% to 18% in the study sites in the 8 provinces in China. We also found co-infection of B. burgdorferi and A. phagocytophilum in 7 of the 8 provinces (the exception being the Miyun area in Beijing). The seroprevalence for both B. burgdorferi and A. phagocytophilum was significantly higher among people exposed to ticks than among people who were not exposed to ticks.

CONCLUSIONWe conclude that both pathogens are endemic in the forest areas in the eight provinces, but the prevalence of B. burgdorferi and A. phagocytophilum differs between the provinces.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Anaplasma phagocytophilum ; pathogenicity ; Anaplasmosis ; blood ; epidemiology ; Animals ; Borrelia burgdorferi ; pathogenicity ; Child ; China ; Coinfection ; Female ; Humans ; Lyme Disease ; blood ; epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Tick-Borne Diseases ; blood ; epidemiology ; Trees ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVES: Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease. People seek health information on Lyme disease from YouTube™ videos. In this study, we investigated if the contents of Lyme disease-related YouTube™ videos varied by their sources. METHODS: Most viewed English YouTube™ videos (n = 100) were identified and manually coded for contents and sources. RESULTS: Within the sample, 40 videos were consumer-generated, 31 were internet-based news, 16 were professional, and 13 were TV news. Compared with consumer-generated videos, TV news videos were more likely to mention celebrities (odds ratio [OR], 10.57; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.13–52.58), prevention of Lyme disease through wearing protective clothing (OR, 5.63; 95% CI, 1.23–25.76), and spraying insecticides (OR, 7.71; 95% CI, 1.52–39.05). CONCLUSION: A majority of the most popular Lyme disease-related YouTube™ videos were not created by public health professionals. Responsible reporting and creative video-making facilitate Lyme disease education. Partnership with YouTube™ celebrities to co-develop educational videos may be a future direction.
Cross-Sectional Studies* ; Education ; Health Communication ; Insecticides ; Lyme Disease* ; Protective Clothing ; Public Health ; Social Media ; Tick-Borne Diseases

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the Anaplasma phagocytophilum (A. phagocytophilum), Ehrlichia canis (E. canis), Dirofilaria immitis (D. immitis) (canine heartworm), Borrelia burgdorferi (B. burgdorferi) infections in countryside dogs from Yunnan, Hainan and Anhui provinces.

METHODSSerum samples were collected from 26 dogs in Yunnan, Hainan and Anhui provinces. The samples were tested using a commercial ELISA rapid diagnostic assay kit (SNAP(®) 4Dx(®); IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. U.S.A.). Meanwhile, indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) recommended by WHO was conducted to detect IgG to A. phagocytophilum. Two methods were analyzed and compared.

RESULTSThe number of serologically positive dogs for IgG to A. phagocytophilum was only 2 which was from Hainan province and none of the 26 dogs responded positive for E. canis, D. immitis (canine heartworm), and B. burgdorferi by ELISA rapid diagnostic method. The number of serologically positive dogs for IgG to A. phagocytophilum was 13 (50%) by IFA method. Data of the two methods were analyzed by statistical software and the difference was statistically significant (P=0.002).

CONCLUSIONSIt can be concluded that IFA method was more sensitive than ELISA rapid diagnostic method. However, we need conduct further and intensive epidemiology survey on tick-born diseases pathogens including A. phagocytophilum, E. canis, D. immitis (canine heartworm), and B. burgdorferi which have public health significance.

Anaplasma phagocytophilum ; immunology ; Animals ; Borrelia burgdorferi ; immunology ; China ; epidemiology ; Dirofilaria immitis ; immunology ; Dirofilariasis ; blood ; epidemiology ; immunology ; Disease Vectors ; Dog Diseases ; epidemiology ; Dogs ; Ehrlichia canis ; immunology ; Ehrlichiosis ; blood ; epidemiology ; immunology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; methods ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect ; methods ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Lyme Disease ; blood ; epidemiology ; immunology ; Tick-Borne Diseases ; epidemiology

OBJECTIVETo study the existence of Ehrluichiosis, lyme disease and tick-borne spotted fever coinfection in some areas in China.

METHODSUsing polymerase chain reaction (PCR), B. burgdorferi sensu lato, spotted fever group (SFG) Rickettsiae and human granulocytic ehrlichia (HGE), Ehrlichia chaffeensis (EC) were detected in ticks and mouse samples collected from Inner Mogolia autonomous region, Heilongjiang province, Beijing and Fujian province.

RESULTS408 Ixodes persulcatus collected from Inner Mogolia autonomous region, HGE and B. burgdorferi sensu lato and SFG Rickettsiae were detected positive, with rates as 6.8%, 7.8%, 45.6%, respectively. 5 (5/408) were coinfection with HGE and B. burgdorferi sensu lato while 1 (1/408) was coinfection with HGE and SFG Rickettsiae. 46 Ixodes persulcatus collected from Helongjiang province were determined positive, with rates as 6.5%, 10.8% and 34.8%, respectively including 1 (1/46) coinfected with HGE and B. burgdorferi sensu lato. 2 of 922 ticks collected from Beijing were detected positive with B. burgdorferi sensu lato. Among 283 groups of Haemaphysalis yeni ticks (3/group) and from 38 rodent samples collected from Ninghua county of Fujian province HCE and B. burgdorferi sensu lato and SFG Rickettsiae were detected. Out of them, 25 groups were positive with EC and the minimal positive rate was 3.8% while 21 rodent samples were positive with EC with a positive rate of 56.4%. 2 ticks and 1 rodent sample were detected positive with EC and spotted fever group.

CONCLUSIONCoinfection of HGE and B. burgdorferi sensu lato or spotted fever group Richi did exist in Ixodes persulcatus collected from Inner Mogolia autonomous region and Heilongjiang province. Coinfection of EC and spotted fever group Richi was found in the ticks and rodents collected from Fujian province.

Animals ; Arachnid Vectors ; Borrelia burgdorferi Group ; isolation & purification ; China ; epidemiology ; DNA, Bacterial ; analysis ; Disease Vectors ; Ehrlichia ; isolation & purification ; Ehrlichiosis ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Ixodes ; microbiology ; Lyme Disease ; epidemiology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rats ; Rickettsia ; isolation & purification ; Rickettsia Infections ; epidemiology ; Rodentia ; microbiology ; Tick-Borne Diseases ; epidemiology ; Ticks ; microbiology

Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS) and Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) are tick-borne diseases belonging to the family Bunyaviridae. Since SFTS was first reported in China in 2009, the virus was isolated and confirmed in 2011, with additional reports of SFTSV expanding its geographic range from China to South Korea and Japan. CCHFV has the widest geographic distribution of any tick-borne virus, encompassing around 30 countries from eastern China through Asia, the Middle East, and southeastern Europe to Africa. During the past decade, CCHFV has emerged in new areas of Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia and has increased in endemic areas. Migratory birds are considered to play a role in dispersing CCHFV vectors, and the virus. This review summarises SFTSV and CCHFV, highlighting the role of migratory birds in the transmission of tick-borne disease.
Africa ; Asia ; Birds* ; Bunyaviridae ; China ; Europe ; Fever* ; Hemorrhagic Fever Virus, Crimean-Congo ; Humans ; Japan ; Middle East ; Republic of Korea ; Thrombocytopenia* ; Tick-Borne Diseases ; Viruses*

In 2006, the annual number of Koreans traveling internationally increased to 11 million. With this increased number of Koreans traveling to developing countries, various infectious diseases have been reported to be imported into Korea. Immunization is an important tool for the prevention of such diseases. Vaccination offered to international travelers is divided into 3 categories, i.e., obligatory vaccination, vaccines against diseases with an increased risk in developing countries, and routine vaccination. Vaccination that is obligatory for travelers includes yellow fever vaccine for travelers entering yellow fever-endemic areas and meningococcal vaccination for pilgrims traveling to Saudi Arabia. Recent reports of the adverse event following yellow fever vaccination, i.e., vaccine-associated viscerotropic disease, pose a caution in the administration of yellow fever vaccine to the elderly or individuals with thymic diseases. Protein-conjugated meningococcal vaccines are generally preferred; however, polysaccharide vaccines are also effective in short-term travelers. The vaccinations recommended for the health of travelers include administration of hepatitis A (HAV), meningococcal, typhoid, rabies, tick-borne encephalitis, and plague vaccines. As many young Korean adults lack immunity against hepatitis A, the administration of the HAV vaccine is recommended for all Korean individuals in their 20s and all Korean seronegative individuals in their 30s. The risk of acquiring typhoid fever is high among travelers traveling to the rural areas of developing countries for 2 weeks or more. The rabies vaccine may be recommended for travelers traveling for longer than 3 months and animal handlers. Both tick-borne encephalitis and plague are rarely encountered among Korean travelers; furthermore, vaccines for these diseases are not available in Korea. As Japanese encephalitis is endemic in Korea, vaccination against encephalitis is not essential for Korean adults. Pre-travel counseling is an important opportunity for catch-up vaccination of healthy travelers who missed routine vaccinations.
Adult ; Aged ; Animals ; Communicable Diseases ; Counseling ; Developing Countries ; Encephalitis ; Encephalitis, Japanese ; Encephalitis, Tick-Borne ; Hepatitis A ; Humans ; Immunization ; Korea ; Meningococcal Vaccines ; Plague ; Rabies ; Rabies Vaccines ; Saudi Arabia ; Typhoid Fever ; Vaccination ; Vaccines ; Whooping Cough ; Yellow Fever ; Yellow Fever Vaccine

BACKGROUNDTo disclose the species and distribution of tick-borne arboviruses in the southern part of Xinjiang.

METHODTotally 5045 ticks were collected from 36 collecting sites of 23 places in the southern Xinjiang, which were made into cDNA pools with pd(N)6 primer through RT-PCR method. Then PCR was used to detect viral nucleotide sequence from cDNA.

RESULTSAll 34 cDNAs showed negative to flavivirus and California serogroup virus primers; but nairovirus and primers derived from Xinjiang hemorrhagic fever virus had amplified and yielded some obvious bands corresponding to the nucleotide sequences of Xinjiang hemorrhagic fever virus. A phylogenetic analysis was done to the obtained partial sequences of L and S segments.

CONCLUSIONNucleotide sequences of Neither flaviviruses nor California serogroup viruses were detected from the samples. However partial L segment sequence was first reported in China. Phylogenetic analysis of partial L and S segments disclosed the molecular characteristic of Xinjiang hemorrhagic fever virus.

Animals ; Arboviruses ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; China ; Hemorrhagic Fever Virus, Crimean-Congo ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Phylogeny ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Tick-Borne Diseases ; virology ; Ticks ; virology

The identification and characterization of pathogenic and zoonotic tick-borne diseases like granulocytic anaplasmosis are essential for developing effective control programs. The differential diagnosis of pathogenic Anaplasma phagocytophilum and non-pathogenic A. phagocytophilum-like Anaplasma spp. is important for implementing effective treatment from control programs. The objective of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of Anaplasma spp. in horses in Korea by nucleotide sequencing and restriction enzyme fragment length polymorphism assay. Of the 627 horses included in the study, only 1 (0.2%) was infected with A. phagocytophilum. Co-infection with A. phagocytophilumlike Anaplasma spp. was not detected in the study. The 16S rRNA sequence of A. phagocytophilum was similar (99.5–100%) to A. phagocytophilum 16S rRNA isolated from horses in other countries. PCR adapted to amplify A. phagocytophilum groEL and msp2 genes failed to generate amplicons, suggesting genetic diversity in these genes. This study is the first molecular detection of A. phagocytophilum in horses in Korea. Human granulocytic anaplasmosis and animal infection of A. phagocytophilum have been reported in Korea recently. Because of vector tick distribution, global warming, and the increase of the horse industry, horses should be considered as a potential reservoir for A. phagocytophilum, and cross infectivity should be evaluated even though a low prevalence of infection was detected in this study. Furthermore, continuous surveillance and effective control measures for A. phagocytophilum should be established to prevent disease distribution and possible transmission to humans.
Anaplasma phagocytophilum ; Anaplasma ; Anaplasmosis ; Animals ; Coinfection ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Genetic Variation ; Global Warming ; Granulocytes ; Horses ; Humans ; Korea ; Phylogeny ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Prevalence ; Tick-Borne Diseases ; Ticks