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KMID : 1143420160090440882
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Public Health Weekly Report
2016 Volume.9 No. 44 p.882 ~ p.888
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Molecular epidemiology of Orientia tsutsugamushi from scrub typhus patients in South Korea, 2014-2015
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Jeong Hang-Jin
Lee Jeong-Min
Gill Byoung-Chul
Lee Yeong-Seon
Kim Dong-Min
Kim Tong-Soo
Kim Yeon-Sook
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Abstract
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BACKGROUND: Scrub typhus is an acute febrile mite-borne disease caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi, which is endemic to the Asia-Pacific region. In Korea , it is a seasonal disease which occurs in autumn and the incidence has been increasing steadily; 5,000-6,000 cases were reported from 2005 to 2011 and 9,513 cases were reported in 2015. The pathogen is antigenically diverse and divided into several types including Gilliam, Karp, Kato, and other regional genotypes. So far, the endemic genotype which is the most frequently found in Korea is known as Boryong. This study was conducted to identify the diversity and distribution of O. tsutsugamushi genotypes in scrub typhus patients in Korea, 2014-2015.
METHODOLOGY/RESULTS: Blood samples were collected from suspected patients for scrub typhus at Chosun University Hospital, Inha University Hospital in 2014 and 2015, and Chungnam National University Hospital in 2015. A total of 320 and 533 suspected patients were enrolled in 2014 and 2015, respectively, and clinical features were confirmed. The gene for 56-kDa type-specific antigen (TSA56) was amplified by nested PCR, and the nucleotide sequences of the PCR products were analyzed. Results showed that 197 (61.6%) and 271 (50.8%) samples were PCR-positive in 2014 and 2015, respectively, and the major genotype was Boryong (85.3% in 2014 and 90.4% in 2015). Other genotypes such as Karp, Jecheon, Pajoo, Kawasaki, Taguchi and Nishino were also identified. The majority of the patients were aged 70-79 and females in both 2014 and 2015. Symptoms such as eschar, fever, and rash were commonly found in those who were infected with scrub typhus.
CONCLUSION: Results revealed that the most prevalent genotype among scrub typhus patients was Boryong. However, other genotypes that originated from Korea and Japan were also found. Consecutive and nationwide survey for genotypes is needed for the control and prevention of scrub typhus in other endemic regions of Korea.
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KEYWORD
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