The Most Common Mite- and Tick-borne Infectious Diseases in Korea: Scrub Typhus and Severe Fever Thrombocytopenia Syndrome

Abstract

The incidence of mite-and tick-borne infectious disease is increasing with climate change and the development of diagnostic tools. Tick-borne infectious diseases include Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), and Japanese spotted fever. Rickettsial pox and scrub typhus are mite-borne infectious diseases. Scrub typhus and SFTS are the most common mite-and tick-borne infectious diseases in Korea, respectively. They are often difficult to diagnose at an early stage of disease. To make a definite diagnosis of mite-and tick-borne infectious disease, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests or serologic testing for antibodies during the acute and convalescent periods are necessary. If patients with nonspecific symptoms, such as fever, headache, nausea, and vomiting, have a history of outdoor activity or a tick bite, it is reasonable to consider the possibility of mite-or tick-borne infectious diseases clinically. There are no vaccinations against mite-and tick-borne infectious diseases. Therefore, preventing mite or tick bites is the best way to prevent the diseases.

Distribution Variations of Chigger Mites Collected in Jinan, Jeollabuk-do

“…그리고 국내 털진드기 종류 분포로 보았을때 북쪽 지역(경기, 강원, 충 북, 경북 등)에서는 대잎털진드기(L. pallidum), 호남, 경남, 제 주 남쪽 지역에서는 활순털진드기(L. scutellare)가 우점종임을 보고하였다 [12,13]. 또한 계절적 발생 분포양상에서 일반적으 로 9월 하순에 보고되기 시작하여 11월에 최고조에 이르지만 [5] 최근 남부와 제주지역으로 갈수록 12월달까지 늦춰지는 경향을 보인다 [14]. 이는…”

Density of Chigger Mites as Tsutsugamushi Vectors Collected from Jinan, Jeollabuk-do

“…에는 11∼12월의 발생률이 보다 증가하는 경향을 보였다 [4]. 우 리나라도 지구 온난화의 영향으로 땅이 얼기 시작하는 시기가 늦춰지면서 진드기 유충이 성충이 되기 위해서는 사람과 같은 온혈동물을 물 수 있는 시기도 늦춰지는 것과 연관이 있을 것으 로 추측된다 [5].…”