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. 2020 Apr;58(2):153-159.
doi: 10.3347/kjp.2020.58.2.153. Epub 2020 Apr 30.

Relative Abundance of a Vector of Scrub Typhus, Leptotrombidium sialkotense, in Southern Yunnan Province, China

Yan Lv  1   2 , Xian-Guo Guo  1   2   3 , Dao-Chao Jin  1 , Wen-Yu Song  2 , Rong Fan  2 , Cheng-Fu Zhao  2 , Zhi-Wei Zhang  2 , Ke-Yu Mao  2 , Yun-Ji Zou  2 , Zhi-Hua Yang  2
Affiliations

Relative Abundance of a Vector of Scrub Typhus, Leptotrombidium sialkotense, in Southern Yunnan Province, China

Yan Lv et al. Korean J Parasitol. 2020 Apr.

Abstract

The chigger mite Leptotrombidium sialkotense is one of the 6 main vectors of scrub typhus in China. Before present study, L. sialkotense was found in some parts of Hunan province, China with a narrow geographical distribution. During field investigation 2016-2017, we found L. sialkotense in Jingha, southern Yunnan, China. Of 15 small mammal host species, L. sialkotense were collected from 6 species of the hosts. Rattus brunneusculus was a dominant host of L. sialkotense, from which 98.3% of the mites were collected. The chigger mite showed a relatively high infestation prevalence (PM=11.7%) and mean abundance (MA=0.5) in comparison with the rest 5 host species. These results reveal a certain host specificity of L. sialkotense to a rat R. brunneusculus. The mite L. sialkotense showed an aggregated distribution on the host (P<0.05). A positive correlation observed between L. sialkotense and the body length of hosts. There was a positive interspecific association between L. sialkotense and 2 other dominant vectors, L. deliense and L. scutellare.

Keywords: Leptotrombidium sialkotense; chigger mite; host selection; rodent; scrub typhu; vector.

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Conflict of interest statement

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest related to this study.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Morphology of Leptotrombidium sialkotense. (A) Larva (10 ×20). (B) scutum (10×40).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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