title: Influence of Orientia tsutsugamushi infection on the developmental biology of Leptotrombidium imphalum and Leptotrombidium chiangraiensis (Acari: Trombiculidae).
abstract: Leptotrombidium chiangraiensis Tanskul & Linthicum, and Leptotrombidium imphalum Vercammen-Grandjean are important vectors of scrub typhus in rice field habitats in northern Thailand. The developmental biology of all stages of the life cycle of two generations of these species of mites infected with Orientia tsutsugamushi (Hayashi) and uninfected mites is reported. The development of the infected lines of both F1 and F2 L. chiangraiensis were significantly longer than their respective uninfected lines (P < 0.05). The developmental times of uninfected and infected F1 lines of L. imphalum were not significantly different; however, F2 infected lines took significantly longer to develop (P < 0.05). Both F1 and F2 generations of infected L. imphalum and L. chiangraiensis oviposited on average >150 fewer eggs than uninfected mites.
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, U.S. Army Medical Component, Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand.
authors.forename: Siriporn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Phasomkusolsil
authors.forename: Panita
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tanskul
authors.forename: Supaporn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ratanatham
authors.forename: Pochaman
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Watcharapichat
authors.forename: Duangporn
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Phulsuksombati
authors.forename: Stephen P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Frances
authors.forename: Kriangkrai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lerdthusnee
authors.forename: Kenneth J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Linthicum
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001096:Arachnid Vectors / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D008136:Longevity; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D012285:Orientia tsutsugamushi / Q000502:physiology*; D052287:Oviparity; D012744:Sex Ratio; D014324:Trombiculidae / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology*