|
KMID : 1143420220150502954
|
|
Public Health Weekly Report
2022 Volume.15 No. 50 p.2954 ~ p.2970
|
|
|
Monitoring of Chiggers (Scrub Typhus Vector) in the Republic of Korea, 2021
|
|
Kim Tae-Kyu
Ju Jung-Won
Lee Hee-Il
|
|
|
Abstract
|
|
|
Scrub typhus is an acute febrile disease in autumn and is known to be transmitted by chiggers infected with Orientia
tsutsugamushi. In order to survey occurrence of chiggers in the Republic of Korea, chiggers were collected weekly at 16 locations nationwide from August 25, 2021, to December 15, 2021. The number of chiggers collected per trap per week was calculated for comparison. The period of increasing of chiggers was delayed by 2 weeks compared to 2020. Moreover, after showing the highest occurrence (week 44), it decreased gradually because of the warmer temperature. Of the total 4,636 chiggers, 4,614 were identified as 16 species in 5 genera. Among them, Leptotrombidium scutellare was the dominant species with 1,207 specimens (26.0%). In 2021, the incidence of scrub typhus (per 100,000 population) was the highest in Jeollanam-do (60.69), and the species composition of L. scutellare was high (70.6%). In addition, after the increase in the occurrence of L. scutellare, the patient incidence increases around the distribution area of the species. Considering these facts, it appears that the occurrence of L. scutellare is closely related to patient incidence. Given the recent aging of the rural population and an increase in the number of people working outdoors, there is a high concern that the number of scrub typhus patients will increase. Therefore, continuous investigation is necessary.
|
|
|
KEYWORD
|
|
|
Scrub typhus, Chiggers, Leptotrombidium scutellare
|
|
|
FullTexts / Linksout information
|
|
|
|
|
|
Listed journal information
|
|
|
|
|