Epidemiological Analysis on Many Cases of Tsutsugamushi Disease Found in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan

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Other Title
  • 広島県において見いだされたツツガムシ病多数例の臨床的および疫学的解析
  • ヒロシマケン ニ オイテ ミイダサレタ ツツガムシビョウ タスウ レイ ノ リンショウテキ オヨビ エキガクテキ カイセキ

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Abstract

The clinical findings of tsutsugamushi disease and the fauna of trombiculid mites in HiroshimaPrefecture were studied in this report. We reviewed 63 cases of tsutsugamushi disease occurring between1990 and 1999, and most of cases were contracted in the area around the midportion of the Oota River (55 cases; 87.3%). Of these, 30 cases (47.1%) lived in Asakita-ku in Hiroshima City. Escharwas detected in 33/19 (84.6%) cases, and 97.6% (40/41), 88.9% (16/18) patients showed eruptionand lymphadenopathy respectively. Biochemical examination revealed liver dysfunction in 38.1% (8/21) patients. Of the 11 cases examined on peripheral blood smear, atypical lymphocytes weredetected in 10 cases (90.9%). Fifty-five cases (90.2%) occurred during the restricted season betweenSeptember and December each year. The predominance of Leptotrombidium scutellare was verified bycollection of trombiculid mites along the basin of the Oota River. Serum antibody titration on a patientin Asakita-ku showed reaction to Kawasaki type antigen definitive to L. scutellare. Therefore, wespeculate that L. scutellare is a candidate for the vector of Orientia tsutsugamushi in Hiroshima Prefecture.

Journal

  • Kansenshogaku Zasshi

    Kansenshogaku Zasshi 75 (5), 365-370, 2001

    The Japanese Association for Infectious Diseases

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