Integrated Molecular Diagnostic and Research Laboratory (BSL-2), District Hospital Tuensang, Tuensang-798612, Nagaland, India.
Department of Biosciences, Assam Don Bosco University, Tapesia Garden, Sonapur, Guwahati-782402, Assam, India.
Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2024 Mar 4;118(3):206-222. doi: 10.1093/trstmh/trad082.
Scrub typhus is one of the most neglected tropical diseases, a leading cause of acute undifferentiated febrile illness in areas of the 'tsutsugamushi triangle', diagnosed frequently in South Asian countries. The bacteria Orientia tsutsugamushi is the causative agent of the disease, which enters the human body through the bite of trombiculid mites (also known as chiggers) of the genus Leptotrombidium deliense. Diagnosis of the disease is challenging, as its early symptoms mimic other febrile illnesses like dengue, influenza and corona viruses. Lack of rapid, reliable and cost-effective diagnostic methods further complicates the identification process. Northeast India, a mountainous region with a predominantly rural tribal population, has witnessed a resurgence of scrub typhus cases in recent years. Various ecological factors, including rodent populations, habitat characteristics and climatic conditions, influence its prevalence. Entomological investigations have confirmed the abundance of vector mites, highlighting the importance of understanding their distribution and the probability of transmission of scrub typhus in the region. Proper diagnosis, awareness campaigns and behavioural interventions are essential for controlling scrub typhus outbreaks and reducing its impact on public health in Northeast India. Further research and community-based studies are necessary to accurately assess the disease burden and implement effective prevention strategies.
恙虫病是最被忽视的热带病之一，是“恙虫病三角区”内导致急性不明原因发热的主要原因，在南亚国家经常被诊断出。恙虫病东方体是该病的病原体，通过恙螨属（也称为恙螨）的恙螨叮咬进入人体。由于该病的早期症状类似于登革热、流感和冠状病毒等其他发热性疾病，因此诊断具有挑战性。缺乏快速、可靠和具有成本效益的诊断方法进一步使识别过程复杂化。东北部印度是一个多山的地区，主要是农村部落人口，近年来恙虫病病例再次出现。各种生态因素，包括鼠类种群、栖息地特征和气候条件，都影响其流行。昆虫学调查证实了媒介螨的丰度，强调了了解其在该地区的分布和传播恙虫病的可能性的重要性。在东北部印度，正确的诊断、宣传活动和行为干预对于控制恙虫病的爆发和减少其对公共卫生的影响至关重要。需要进一步的研究和基于社区的研究来准确评估疾病负担并实施有效的预防策略。
