Research Institute of Public Health, National Medical Center, 245, Eulji-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul, 04564, Republic of Korea; Department of Public Health, Korea University College of Medicine, 73, Inchon-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea.
Women's Association for the Future of Korean Peninsula, 131, Mokdongseo-ro, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, 07988, Republic of Korea.
Int J Infect Dis. 2021 May;106:23-28. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2021.02.111. Epub 2021 Mar 3.
The aim of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence of antibodies against scrub typhus, murine typhus and spotted fever groups among North Korean refugees within 1 year of their arrival in South Korea.
We recruited North Korean refugees who had settled in South Korea after a short stay in a third country and did not have any health problems. The antibody titer was measured using a commercial indirect fluorescence assay immunoglobulin G antibody kit.
The seroprevalence of antibodies against scrub typhus, murine typhus, and spotted fever groups among the 99 participants was 22.2%, 17.2%, and 10.1%, respectively, with 8.1% of participants testing positive for both spotted fever and murine typhus.
Refugees may be exposed to rickettsial infections in North Korea and their journey from North Korea. This study is the first to report the seroprevalence of antibodies against the 3 common rickettsial diseases among North Korean refugees. The findings suggest that rickettsial infections should be added to the list of differential diagnoses for North Koreans with fever after entering South Korea.
本研究旨在调查一年内抵达韩国的朝鲜难民中，恙虫病、鼠型斑疹伤寒和斑点热群的血清抗体阳性率。
我们招募了在第三国短暂停留后定居韩国且无任何健康问题的朝鲜难民。使用商业间接荧光抗体 IgG 抗体试剂盒测量抗体滴度。
99 名参与者中，恙虫病、鼠型斑疹伤寒和斑点热群的血清抗体阳性率分别为 22.2%、17.2%和 10.1%，8.1%的参与者同时对斑点热和鼠型斑疹伤寒呈阳性。
难民可能在朝鲜及其从朝鲜的旅程中接触过立克次体感染。本研究首次报告了朝鲜难民中 3 种常见立克次体病的血清抗体阳性率。这些发现表明，对于进入韩国后发热的朝鲜人，应将立克次体感染添加到鉴别诊断列表中。
