title: Serosurveillance of scrub typhus in small mammals collected from military training sites near the DMZ, Northern Gyeonggi-do, Korea, and analysis of the relative abundance of chiggers from mammals examined.
abstract: Comprehensive quarterly serosurveillance on scrub typhus in small mammals collected from military training sites located near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), northern Gyeonggi-do (Province), ROK was conducted to determine the potential rodent-borne and associated ectoparasite disease risks to military personnel. A total of 1,196 rodents and insectivores representing 8 species, Apodemus agrarius (87.3%, n = 1,044), Mus musculus (5.4%, n = 65), Crocidura lasiura (3.3%, n = 40), Microtus fortis (2.6%, n = 31), Micromys minutus (0.3%, n = 4), Tscherskia triton (0.3%, n = 4), Rattus norvegicus (0.3%, n = 4), and Myodes regulus (0.3%, n = 4) were assayed for the presence of antibodies to Orientia tsutsugamushi. O. tsutsugamushi antibodies were detected in 6 of 8 species and seroprevalence determined; A. agrarius (45.6%), M. musculus (23.1%), M. fortis (48.4%), M. minutus (50.0%), T. triton (50.0%), and R. norvegicus (25.0%). A total of 31,184 chigger mites collected from 508 rodents and insectivores were slide-mounted and 10 species belonging to 4 genera were identified. Leptotrombidium pallidum (53.4%) was the most frequently collected, followed by L. palpale (15.7%), Neotrombicula tamiyai (14.3%), L. orientale (10.7%), L. zetum (3.1%), Walchia fragilis (2.1%), and L. gemiticulum (0.8%), while the remaining 3 species, L. subintermedium, N. gardellai, and Euschoengastia koreaensis were rarely observed (prevalence < 10%). In contrast to previous surveys, higher chigger indices of the primary scrub typhus vectors, L. pallidum (165.4), L. orientale (45.0), and L. palpale (21.4), were observed during the spring season.
authors.affiliation: 5th Medical Detachment, 168th Multifunctional Medical Detachment, 65th Medical Brigade, Unit #15247, APO AP 96205-5247, USA.
authors.forename: Heung Chul
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: In Yong
authors.initials: IY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sung Tae
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Chong
authors.forename: Allen L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Richards
authors.forename: Se Hun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Jin-Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: John S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Terry A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Klein
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D001096:Arachnid Vectors / Q000145:classification / Q000382:microbiology*; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000145:classification / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D006801:Humans; D058749:Military Facilities; D012285:Orientia tsutsugamushi / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012377:Rodentia / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D012612:Scrub Typhus / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission* / Q000662:veterinary*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014324:Trombiculidae / Q000145:classification / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial