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ISOLATION OF RICKETTSIA TSUTSUGAMUSHI FROM TROMBICULID MITES (ACARI:TROMBICULIDAE) IN FEIXIAN COUNTY, SHANDONG PROVINCE, CHINA
Author(s) -
Liu Yunxi,
Yang Zhanqing,
Wu Qinyong,
Sun Hailong,
Meng Xiangrui,
Peng Zuolin,
Miao Zhongshui
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
insect science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.991
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1744-7917
pISSN - 1672-9609
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-7917.1999.tb00164.x
Subject(s) - trombiculidae , scrub typhus , apodemus agrarius , biology , orientia tsutsugamushi , mite , veterinary medicine , acari , vector (molecular biology) , ecology , rodent , virology , medicine , biochemistry , gene , recombinant dna
Investigations on trombiculid mites and isolation of Rickettsia tsutsugamushi therefrom were carried out in Feixian County, Shandong Province. A total of 11 762 trombiculid mites, consisting of 5 species from two genera, were collected from 352 rodents (including 247 Apodemus agrarius , 80 Cricetulus triton , 23 Rattus noruegicus , 2 Crocidura suaveolens ), and Walchia pacifica was the most predominant (36.73%), followed by Leptotrombididium linhuaikonense (24.04%), L. scutellare (21.65%), L. palpale (13. 57%), and L. taishanium (3. 96%). L. scutellare was found from September to December with a remarkable peak in November, whereas L. palpale occurred from October to April (the second year) with peak in December. L. linhuaikonense was found from May to November, with peak in August. W. pacifica appeared from April to December with peak in July. R. tsutsugamushi was isolated from L. scutellare, L. palpale, L. linhuaikonense and W. pacifica . The main serotypes of R. tsutsugamushi isolated from the chigger mites were of the Gilliam type, but Karp type also existed in L. linhuaikonense . These results indicate that the surveyed area has a high probability of occurrence of tsutsugamushi disease, and L. scutellare, L. palpale, L. linhuaikonense and W. pacifica may serve as the vectors in this area. It is suggested that L. scutellare is the most important vector which has caused the endemic of this disease in Feixian County.