[Studies on three types of natural foci of tsutsugamushi disease in eastern part of China].
OBJECTIVE
In order to identify the types of natural foci of tsutsugamushi disease to provide basis for prevention, a series of studies were carried out in Fujian, Zhejiang and Jiangsu Provinces.


METHODS
(1) Representative points for investigation in three Provinces were selected. (2) Data on geographical landscape and epidemiology were collected. (3) Field survey and experimental studies on rats and chigger mites in relation to the disease.


RESULTS
Three representative types of natural foci of tsutsugamushi disease were demonstrated. They were (1) Coastal island type, mainly in Fujian with major reservoir host as Rattus losea and major vector mite as L. deliense; prevalent season: summer; type of Rt: Gilliam: (2) Inland mountain - forest type in Zhejiang with major reservoir host as R. confucianus and major vector miteas L. gaohuense; prevalent season: summer; type of Rt: Gilliam. (3) Inland plain - hills type in Jiangsu with major reservoir hosts: Apodemus agrarius, R. confucianus, R. norvegicus and Crocidura lasiura; major vector mite: L. scutellare; prevalent seasons: autumn and winter; type of Rt: Kawasaki.


CONCLUSIONS
The types of Rt, reservoir hosts, vector chigger mites and epidemiological features of tsutsugamushi disease in Fujian, Zhejiang and Jiangsu Province were found different. Thus, the preventive measures should also be distinct from one another.
Wu
G
G
Department of Epidemiology, Institute of Military Medicine, Nanjing Command, Nanjing 210002, China.
Guo
H
H
Yu
M
M
D000818:Animals; D001096:Arachnid Vectors; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008925:Mites / Q000382:microbiology*; D009115:Muridae / Q000382:microbiology*; D012285:Orientia tsutsugamushi / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D051381:Rats; D012612:Scrub Typhus / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D012621:Seasons