No abstract available.
Korea* ; Typhus, Epidemic Louse-Borne*

No abstract available.
Fever* ; Korea* ; Leptospirosis* ; Scrub Typhus* ; Typhus, Epidemic Louse-Borne*

Il Chun Yu was the first Korean microbiologist and the Korean student who studied in Germany He got the two doctor degree : one in Freiburg University of Germany in 1924 and the other Keio University of Japan in 1926 He became a professor of Kyungsung Medical Junior College in 1926 and as the first grade scholar in the Korean microbiology field He issued many essays in several mass communication media to cultivate people and played an important role in the field of health hygiene by contributing to the improvement of health hygiene.
Germany ; History, 20th Century ; Hygiene/*history ; Korea ; Microbiology/*history ; Typhus, Epidemic Louse-Borne/*history

In this study, new real-time PCR method based on the groEL gene was developed and investigated. Four spotted fever group (SFG) strains, four typhus group (TG) strains, and four scrub typhus group (STG) strains were easily differentiated as a distinct entity. This PCR assay was applied to detect Rickettsia DNA from 100 ticks. Twelve Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks were found positive and identified as spotted fever group Rickettsia. This real-time PCR method could simultaneously perform the rapid identification of rickettsiae and the differential diagnosis of SFG, TG, and STG in a single reaction.
Diagnosis, Differential ; DNA ; Fever ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rickettsia ; Scrub Typhus ; Ticks ; Typhus, Epidemic Louse-Borne

Objective: To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of typhus in China from 1950 to 2021, and discuss the challenges in typhus prevention and control in China and suggest future prevention and control strategies. Methods: Based on the reported data of typhus from 1950 to 2021 in China from the Infectious Disease History Database of China Public Health Science Data Center and the National Notifiable Infectious Disease Reporting Information System of Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, we conducted a descriptive statistical analysis. Mann-Kendall test and circular distribution method were used to analyze the incidence, mortality and case fatality of typhus to reveal the temporal, spatial and population distributions and diagnosis of typhus in China. Results: From 1950 to 2021, a total of 452 965 typhus cases and 7 339 typhus deaths were reported in China, with the cases numbers exceeding 10 000 in 14 years of the 1950s, 1960s and 1980s, respectively. Since 1990s, the reported cases and incidence rate of typhus have decreased dramatically and the most cases were sporadic. However, the reported typhus cases in Anhui, Hubei, Hunan Provinces showed significant uptrends. Although typhus could occur all the year round, but the seasonality was observed with the incidence mainly in summer and autumn. For different provinces from the north to the south, the peaks of typhus' monthly incidence tended to shift to earlier dates. The male to female ratio of the cases was 1.01∶1 (18 529∶18 366). However, more cases occurred in women in recent years. The cases aged ≤9 years accounted for the highest proportion (18.9%), but the number of cases aged ≥50 years showed an upward trend. Most cases were farmers with the proportion increasing year by year. Moreover, the cases in students and scattered-living children also accounted for relatively higher proportions. The median of the interval between onset and diagnosis of typhus was 6 days. Most cases were clinically diagnosed, while the proportion of laboratory-confirmed cases was low and most laboratory cases were confirmed by Well-Felix reaction. Conclusions: Although the incidence and mortality of typhus in China has decreased significantly, the risk for local typhus outbreaks still exists. The prevention and control of typhus still face many challenges. It is indispensable to strengthen the pathogen detection and surveillance for typhus in China.
Child ; Humans ; Male ; Female ; Scrub Typhus/epidemiology* ; Typhus, Epidemic Louse-Borne/epidemiology* ; China/epidemiology* ; Incidence ; Disease Notification

Objective: To understand the epidemiological characteristics of tick-borne infectious diseases (TBID) and the risk factors of severe illness and death in Hubei Province from 2016 to 2021. Methods: Based on the incidence data of fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), tsutsugamushi disease, typhus and other TBID reported during 2016-2021, the epidemiological analysis was conducted. Field investigation results of TBID in areas with high incidence in 2021, logistic regression analysis of population characteristics, epidemiological history and other factors were used to explore the risk factors of severe and fatal cases. In the field vector investigation, free ticks and surface ticks of the host animals in the cases' home and surrounding grassland were monitored and detected. Results: A total of 3 826 TBID cases were reported in Hubei from 2016 to 2021, of which 71.30% (2 728/3 826) were SFTS, 13.04% (499/3 826) were tsutsugamushi disease and 15.66% (599/3 826) were typhus. A total of 44 cases died in 6 years; the fatality rate was 1.15% (44/3 826). In the peak seasons of incidence from May to July, the cases in people engaged in agriculture related work accounted for 84.61% (3 237/3 826). The incidence rate in women was higher than that in men, and the cases aged ≥50 years accounted for 81.02% of the total (3 100/3 826), and the incidence rate increased with age (P<0.001). The TBID cases were distributed in 86 counties and districts in 16 prefectures (municipality). The incidence rates of different areas had significant differences (P<0.05), and there was a certain spatial-temporal clustering and expasion. Bovis microplus and Haemaphysalis longicornis were captured in the field, and the positive rates in host animals and grassland ticks were 10.94% (7/64) and 40.00% (2/5), respectively. Univariate logistic regression analysis results showed that age ≥50 years and leukocyte <2.0×10⁹/L were risk factors for severe illness and death. Conclusions: The TBID reported in Hubei were mainly SFTS, tsutsugamushi disease and typhus. In order to reduce the incidence of TBID, it is necessary to strengthen the prevention and control in women aged ≥50 years and reduce field exposure and tick bites during the epidemic period.
Animals ; Female ; Typhus, Epidemic Louse-Borne ; Scrub Typhus/epidemiology* ; Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome ; Ticks ; Communicable Diseases ; Phlebovirus ; China/epidemiology* ; Tick-Borne Diseases/epidemiology*

Bacteriology ; history ; France ; History, 19th Century ; History, 20th Century ; Humans ; Male ; Philately ; Typhus, Epidemic Louse-Borne ; history ; therapy

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of the study was to investigate the gastric involvement of Orientia tsutsugamushi and the relationship between the clinical features and gastritis in patients with scrub typhus. METHODS: The study included 98 patients who had been diagnosed with scrub typhus between January 2003 and December 2006. Sixteen patients were selected to undergo gastroduodenoscopy with endoscopic biopsy for molecular study. The clinical severity index score (CSIS) was evaluated. Rickettsial DNA was amplified using the paraffin- embedded biopsy tissue by performing nested PCR. The expressions of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 were investigated by immunohistochemistry to evaluate their roles in the pathogenesis of scrub typhus. RESULTS: The endoscopic findings were gastritis (n=1), erosion (n=4) and ulcer (n=11). The average CSIS was 3.65+/-1.09. Four cases of nested PCR of the 16 gastric mucosal biopsies were positive. The gastric samples that were taken earlier after therapy tended to be PCR-positive (2.00+/-00 days vs. 3.83+/-1.27 days, p<0.001). There was no difference of the clinical features and the CSISs between the PCR-positive and PCR-negative patients. The biopsied tissue revealed no vasculitis findings. Staining for ICAM-1 was more expressed in the scrub typhus group as compared with the normal control group. Staining for VCAM-1 was sporadically expressed in the scrub typhus group and normal control group. In comparison with the patients with Helicobacter pylori-associated gastritis, the immunohistochemical staining showed no difference of expression in the patients with O. tsutsugamushi-infected gastritis. CONCLUSIONS: The gastritis seen in scrub typhus patients could be typhus that is related to the direct involvement of O. tsutsugamushi. The increased expression of ICAM-1 may be related with gastric mucosal endothelial injury due to direct infection.
Biopsy ; DNA ; Gastritis ; Helicobacter ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; Orientia tsutsugamushi ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Scrub Typhus ; Typhus, Epidemic Louse-Borne ; Ulcer ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; Vasculitis

BACKGROUND: Although tetracycline or doxycycline is the drug of choice for the treatment of scrub typhus, they are not recommended for children and pregnant women. Futhermore, the emergence of doxycycline resistant strain of Orientia tustusgamushi has aroused to find new therapeutic drugs. So, this study was aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of telithromycin, the first ketolide antibiotic for the treatment of scrub typhus in comparison with doxycycline. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mild scrub typhus patients who were admitted to two university hospitals located in Incheon city from October 2004 through November 2004 were enrolled. Patients were assigned to telithromcyin (the first day, oral 800 mg every 12 hours and then 800 mg/day) and doxycycline treatment groups (oral 200 mg/day). Time and days to defevescence were analysed to evaluate the efficacy of the two antibiotics. RESULTS: Among a total of fifty patients, twenty six (52.0%) patients were excluded. Twenty four (48.0%) enrolled patients, telithromcyin and doxycycline were administered to thirteen (54.2%) and eleven patients (45.8%), respectively. In telithromycin treatment group, one patient (7.6%) was dropped out due to nausea and diarrhea. In doxycycline group, the mean age was higher (P=0.031) but the duration of fever before admission was shorter (P=0.015) than telithromycin group. There was no treatment failure nor relapse in either treatment groups. The mean time to defevescence was 17.7 hours for telithromycin group and 30.7 hours for doxycycline group (P=0.003). Ten patients (83.3%) in telithromycin group and four patients (36.4%) in doxycycline group became afebrile within the first day (P=0.048). CONCLUSION: Telithromycin has achieved good therapeutic outcome and more rapid response than doxycycline for the treatment of mild to moderate scrup typhus, so it suggests that telithromycin would be an alternative therapeutic agent for scrub typhus.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Child ; Diarrhea ; Doxycycline ; Female ; Fever ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Incheon ; Nausea ; Pregnant Women ; Recurrence ; Scrub Typhus* ; Tetracycline ; Treatment Failure ; Typhus, Epidemic Louse-Borne

BACKGROUND: Although tetracycline or doxycycline is the drug of choice for the treatment of scrub typhus, they are not recommended for children and pregnant women. Futhermore, the emergence of doxycycline resistant strain of Orientia tustusgamushi has aroused to find new therapeutic drugs. So, this study was aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of telithromycin, the first ketolide antibiotic for the treatment of scrub typhus in comparison with doxycycline. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mild scrub typhus patients who were admitted to two university hospitals located in Incheon city from October 2004 through November 2004 were enrolled. Patients were assigned to telithromcyin (the first day, oral 800 mg every 12 hours and then 800 mg/day) and doxycycline treatment groups (oral 200 mg/day). Time and days to defevescence were analysed to evaluate the efficacy of the two antibiotics. RESULTS: Among a total of fifty patients, twenty six (52.0%) patients were excluded. Twenty four (48.0%) enrolled patients, telithromcyin and doxycycline were administered to thirteen (54.2%) and eleven patients (45.8%), respectively. In telithromycin treatment group, one patient (7.6%) was dropped out due to nausea and diarrhea. In doxycycline group, the mean age was higher (P=0.031) but the duration of fever before admission was shorter (P=0.015) than telithromycin group. There was no treatment failure nor relapse in either treatment groups. The mean time to defevescence was 17.7 hours for telithromycin group and 30.7 hours for doxycycline group (P=0.003). Ten patients (83.3%) in telithromycin group and four patients (36.4%) in doxycycline group became afebrile within the first day (P=0.048). CONCLUSION: Telithromycin has achieved good therapeutic outcome and more rapid response than doxycycline for the treatment of mild to moderate scrup typhus, so it suggests that telithromycin would be an alternative therapeutic agent for scrub typhus.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Child ; Diarrhea ; Doxycycline ; Female ; Fever ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Incheon ; Nausea ; Pregnant Women ; Recurrence ; Scrub Typhus* ; Tetracycline ; Treatment Failure ; Typhus, Epidemic Louse-Borne