Studies on Tsutsugamushi Disease in Gifu Prefecture

I. Isolation of Rickettsia tsutsugamushi from wild rodents at new area and Epidemiological studies on Patients and Latent Patients in the Prefecture

Abstract

We isolated Rickettsia tsutsugamushi from wild rodents (Apodemus speciosus) at the new area in Gifu Prefecture, Japan.
The isolated R. tsutsugamushi was demonstrated to have natures of Karp strain in antibody analysis of Apodemus and ddY mice inoculated with spleen of wild rodents.
Gahrliepia saduski, Leptotrombidium fuji, L. palpale and L. kitasatoi were collected from wild rodents.
Survery of antibody to R. tsutsugamushi in healthy people in different areas in Gifu Prefecture was performed. The positive rates were 30.2% to 4.0%. A tendency that the positive rates of antibody were high in endemic area was observed.