Korean J Parasitol.  1997 Sep;35(3):171-179. 10.3347/kjp.1997.35.3.171.

Geographical distribution of vectors and sero-strains of tsutsugamushi disease at mid-south inland of Korea

• Ree HI
• Lee IY
• Jeon SH
• Yoshida Y

• KMID: 658269
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.1997.35.3.171

Abstract

Studies of geographical distributions and relative population densities of the vector mites of tsutsugamushi disease were carried out in October 1996 at 12 locations of the mid-south inland of the Korean peninsula, where chigger mites have been never studied. Of 177 field rodents and insectivores collected, 154 (87.0%) were Apodemus agrarius. Total 25,707 chigger mites were collected and 14 species were identified, of which Leptotrombidium pallidum was predominant (79.8%) and L. palpale the next (8.9%). L. pallidum, the vector species, was widely distributed in all study areas, showing the highest density at Cho-o 2-dong, Sangju-si (chigger index 201.8), and the lowest at Tanwol-dong. Chungju-si (chigger index 40.7). The other vector species, L. scutellare was found only at the southern part of the study area such as Yobae and Mipyong, Kumrunggun and Unsu, Kimchon-si. The northernmost areas of the L. scutellare distribution were coincided with the areas where anual mean air temperature is above 10.0 C. Among 157 A. agrarius sera tested, 48.3% was Karp, 1.7% Gilliam and 3.3% Kuroki. The rest of the sera were not able to determine the sero-type because of the cross antigen-antibody reactions among the tested sero-types.

MeSH Terms

Animal
Antibodies, Bacterial/analysis
Antigens, Bacterial/immunology
Arachnid Vectors/microbiology*
Insectivora/parasitology*
Korea/epidemiology
Orientia tsutsugamushi/immunology
Orientia tsutsugamushi/classification*
Rodentia/parasitology*
Serotyping
Temperature
Trombiculid Mites/microbiology*