Korean J Parasitol.  2020 Apr;58(2):153-159. 10.3347/kjp.2020.58.2.153.

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

• Lv Y
• Guo XG
• Jin DC
• Song WY
• Fan R
• Zhao CF
• Zhang ZW
• Mao KY
• Zou YJ
• Yang ZH

• KMID: 2501972
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2020.58.2.153

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 (P_M=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.

Keyword

chigger mite; vector; scrub typhu; host selection; rodent