Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
Postgraduate Institute of Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
Acta Parasitol. 2021 Dec;66(4):1326-1340. doi: 10.1007/s11686-021-00372-w. Epub 2021 May 16.
Otoacariasis is a parasitic otopathy reported in many parts of the world. This study presents the seasonal pattern, risk factors, and case notes on human otoacariasis in two climatically different districts: Anuradhapura and Kandy in the Dry and Wet/Intermediate zone of Sri Lanka, respectively.
Ticks removed from the ear canal of patients were collected. Risk factors of otoacarisis were determined by a case/control follow-up study.
Nymphal Dermacentor auratus (90.8%) was the main tick species associated otoacariasis. In the Kandy District, infestation was year-round, while in the Anuradhapura District, it was seasonal with a peak in December-February. Children < 10 years were a risk group in both districts. Females were a risk group in the Kandy District. Engagement in outdoor activities was a risk factor in both districts. In addition, the presence of wildlife and domesticated animals were risk factors in the Kandy and Anuradhapura districts, respectively. The treatment protocols in the two hospitals were different. An infant with otoacariasis from the Anuradhapura District developed rickettsia.
Although the tick species was the same, seasonality, risk groups, and risk factors in the two districts were different which could be due to the establishment and persistence of tick populations influenced by biotic and abiotic factors.
耳恙螨病是一种在世界许多地区都有报道的寄生虫性耳病。本研究报告了在斯里兰卡干燥区和湿润/中间区的两个气候不同的地区（阿努拉德普勒和康堤）的人类耳恙螨病的季节性模式、危险因素和病例。
从患者耳道中取出的蜱虫被收集。通过病例/对照随访研究确定耳恙螨病的危险因素。
与耳恙螨病相关的主要蜱种是若虫期的 Dermacentor auratus（90.8%）。在康堤区，感染全年存在，而在阿努拉德普勒区，感染呈季节性，高峰期在 12 月至 2 月。两个地区的儿童（<10 岁）都是感染的风险群体。在康堤区，女性是感染的风险群体。在两个地区，户外活动的参与都是感染的危险因素。此外，野生动物和家养动物的存在是康堤区和阿努拉德普勒区的感染危险因素。两家医院的治疗方案不同。来自阿努拉德普勒区的一名耳恙螨病婴儿出现了立克次体。
尽管蜱种相同，但两个地区的季节性、风险群体和危险因素不同，这可能是由于受生物和非生物因素影响的蜱种群的建立和持续存在所致。
