[Study on natural infection of epidemic haemorrhagic fever virus in Leptotrombidium scutellare].

Leptotrombidium (L.) scutellare was considered to be the suspected vector of epidemic haemorrhagic fever (EHF). In order to clarify the relationship between this mite and EHF, from Oct to Nov 1988 and Oct of 1989, the larvae of this mite were collected from rats in areas with constantly high incidence of EHF in Shanxi Province and larvae with only small quantity of meal were selected and for more than 15 days before isolation of EHFV. Six strains of virus were isolated. The viruses isolated were identified to be EHFV by serum test, immunofluorescent blocking test as well as neutralization test. The above results further demonstrate this mite can naturally be infected by EHFV and therefore serve as vector of EHF.