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Successful diagnosis using scab for PCR specimen in Tsutsugamushi disease.

We treated a case of Tsutsugamushi disease diagnosed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using a scab specimen at the bite site of trombiculid mites. Otherwise the diagnosis could not be confirmed by serum antibody test nor the PCR test of blood. The genome of Rickettsia tsutsugamushi was detected and identified as the Kawasaki serotype strain. An attempt to extract the genome from the scab has not been reported, thus our data suggest that the scab is a useful specimen to confirm the diagnosis of Tsutsugamushi disease.

Animals↗

Epidemiological studies on host animals of tsutsugamushi disease in Korea.

Epidemiological studies on host rodents of tsutsugamushi disease were carried out during the period of July-September 1990 at nine localities of central Korea. Among total 111 wild rodents trapped by the modified Sherman live traps, 103 were Apodemus agrarius (92.8%), seven were Crocidura lasiura (6.3%) and one was Microtus fortis (0.9%), showing 24.0% of trapping rate in winter, 11.7% in spring, 11.2% in summer and 12.0% in autumn. Out of 103 A. agrarius 84 were parasitized by chiggers, showing 81.6% of the infestation rate and 43.0 of the chigger index. The antibody positive rate of A. agrarius sera to Rickettsia tsutsugamushi was significantly variable by locality, being in the range of 0-78.6%. The seasonal change of the antibody positive rate at Dorai 5-ri, Goyang-gun was 75.8% in average during November-March, decreased to 30.3% in April and further decreased to 13.3% in average during May-August. Among 33 antibody positives, 31 were Karp strain and two were Gilliam. Seven Crocidura lasiura sera showed all negative. R. tsutsugamushi organisms were isolated from three A. agrarius out of 94 mice tested, showing 3.2% of the infection rate.

Animals↗

Study on vector mites of tsutsugamushi disease in Cheju Island, Korea.

Because no reference on trombiculid mites (Acarina: Trombiculidae) in Cheju Island where tsutsugamushi disease is highly endemic had been available, studies on trombiculid mites in Cheju Island were implemented during the period of August 1991-April 1992, and the results obtained are summarized as follows: (1) The species and numbers of the field rodents collected were 143 Apodemus agrarius chejuensis (92.3%), 11 Crocidura lasiura (7.1%) and 1 Micromys minutus (0.6%). From total 12,075 chiggers harvested, 9 species of 4 genera in Trombiculidae were identified. (2) The predominant species through all seasons was L. zetum (43.3%), followed by L. orientale (27.4%) and L. scutellare (26.6%). However, in autumn when the most cases of tsutsugamushi disease occur, L. scutellare was prominently predominant, having 79.8% of the collected chiggers. (3) Among 1,142 L. scutellare examined for Rickettsia tsutsugamushi by means of IFA test, 6 individuals were found positive showing 0.5% of infection rate. This is the first finding that L. scutellare is the second vector species of tsutsugamushi disease in Korea. (4) Antibody positive rate of A. agrarius chejuensis sera were 31.2% (44/139), and 1 M. minutus serum was also found positive. The seropositive rates by season were not so significantly different.

Animals↗

Comparative epidemiological studies on vector/reservoir animals of tsutsugamushi disease between high and low endemic areas in Korea.

Comparative epidemiological studies on vector reservoir animals of tsutsugamushi disease were carried out in between south coast (the highest endemic) areas and east coast (low endemic) areas in October 1993. Fauna of field rodents and their population densities were not different between two areas. Antibody positive rate of Apodemus agrarius sera was higher in east coast (43.2% in south coast and 63.6% in east coast). High correlation (r = 0.87) was shown between antibody positive rate of A. agrarius sera and population density of the vector mites (Leptotrombidium scutellare and L. pallidum). L. scutellare was predominant in south coast, showing 110.6 chigger index (74.9% of the total chiggers), whereas L. pallidum was predominant in east coast, showing 126.3 chigger index (60.4% of the total). As higher population density of L. scutellare was found in south coast where the prevalence rate of tsutsugamushi disease is the highest, it is believed that L. scutellare is more important vector species than L. pallidum, which may result from more frequent vector-human contact.

Animals↗

[Population density of chigger mites, the vector of tsutsugamushi disease in Chollanam-do, Korea].

The geographical distribution and population density of rodents and chigger mites at six localities of Chollanam-do were investigated from October to December in 1993. Among total 142 field rodents collected by the modified Chemla wooden traps, 131 rodents were Apodemus agrarius (92.3%) and 11 were Crocidura lasiura (7.7%). Out of 142 field rodents, 92 were parasitized by chiggers, showing 69.0% of the infestation rate and 74.2 of the chigger index. Infestation rate and chigger index of A. agrarius and C. lasiura were 73.3%, 80.4 and 18.2%, 0.5, respectively. From the trapped field rodents, 10,532 chiggers were collected and identified with 11 species of 4 genera. Leptotrombidium pallidum, the vector species of tsutsugamushi disease, was the dominant species, showing 8,038 chiggers (76.3%). L. scutellare was the second dominant species showing 1,359 chiggers (12.9%). The distribution of chigger mites was clearly localized by the species, showing the different dominant species according to localities. The predominant species was L. scutellare (100%) in Changhung-gun, L. scutellare (41.5%) in Posong-gun, L. pallidum (88.8%) in Hwasun-gun, L. pallidum (59.2%) in Koksong-gun, L. zetum (77.3%) in Hampyong-gun, and L. palpale (63.4%) in Tamyang-gun. Regarding to the geographical distribution of chigger population density, the infestation rate and chigger index was most high in Hwasun-gun as 62.4% and 216.2 respectively, and next high in Koksong-gun as 22.4% and 77.7% respectively.

Animals↗

Tsutsugamushi infection-associated acute rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure.

Rhabdomyolysis is a rare complication that emerges in a variety of infectious diseases, such as tsutsugamushi infection. In this study, we report a 71-year-old female patient with tsutsugamushi infection who exhibiting rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure. On admission, an eschar, which is characteristic of tsutsugamushi infection, was found on her right flank area. Moreover, her tsutsugamushi antibody titer was 1:40960. The elevated values of serum creatinine phosphokinase (CPK), aldolase, creatinine and dark brown urine secondary to myoglobinuria are consistent with indications of rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure due to tsutsugamushi infection. Her health improved without any residual effects after treatment with doxycyclin and hydration with normal saline.

Acute Disease↗