Seasonal and environmental determinants of leptospirosis and scrub typhus in small mammals captured at a U.S. military training site (Dagmar North), Republic of Korea, 2001-2004.
OBJECTIVE
This study sought to identify seasonal and environmental determinants of scrub typhus, murine typhus, and leptospirosis in small mammals trapped at Dagmar North training area, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea.


METHODS
Small mammals received titer assays to the aforementioned diseases. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine whether associations existed between risk of small-mammal infection and independent variables such as season of capture, habitat, small-mammal species, and sex.


RESULTS
Murine typhus was not detected among the animals assayed. Risk of scrub typhus infection was associated with season, habitat, and small-mammal species. Risk of leptospirosis infection was associated with season and habitat.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicate determinants of infection exist for scrub typhus and leptospirosis at this training site. This information can be used for developing appropriate preventive medicine plans and coordinating troop activity during periods of reduced exposure decreasing the likelihood of disease transmission to humans.
Payne
Kevin S
KS
Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Division of Preventive Medicine, 503 Robert Grant Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA.
Klein
Terry A
TA
Otto
Jean L
JL
Kim
Heung-Chul
HC
Chong
Sung-Tae
ST
Ha
Si Jung
SJ
Gu
Se Hun
SH
Jeong
Ji Hae
JH
Baek
Luck Ju
LJ
Song
Jin-Won
JW
D000818:Animals; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D017753:Ecosystem; D007723:Korea; D007922:Leptospirosis; D016015:Logistic Models; D008322:Mammals / Q000382:microbiology*; D008887:Military Medicine; D012612:Scrub Typhus; D012621:Seasons; D014437:Typhus, Endemic Flea-Borne; D014481:United States