Yu Dong-Jae, Kim Dong-Min, Kim Choon-Mee, Song Hyeon Je, Lee Jeong-Chi
Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Chosun University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea.
Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Chosun University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea.
Infect Genet Evol. 2025 Sep;133:105789. doi: 10.1016/j.meegid.2025.105789. Epub 2025 Jun 20.
Mite-borne diseases have been extensively studied; however, limited research has focused on the detection of Rickettsia species other than Orientia tsutsugamushi in Korean mites. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays were performed using mites collected from rodents. Nested PCR (N-PCR) targeting the 56 kDa gene of O. tsutsugamushi showed a 0.29 % positivity rate (11/3855) and a 0.1 % minimum infection rate (MIR). The sca1 gene-targeted N-PCR for Rickettsia showed a 1.27 % positivity rate (49/3855) and a 0.005 % MIR, revealing the presence of Rickettsia monacensis. For Anaplasma phagocytophilum detection, N-PCR targeting ankA gene showed a 4.31 % positivity rate (166/3855) and a 0.16 % MIR, while N-PCR targeting the 16S rRNA gene showed a 0.78 % positivity rate (30/3855) and a 0.03 % MIR. Our findings confirm the presence of A. phagocytophilum, R. monacensis, and O. tsutsugamushi DNA in trombiculid mites collected from wild rodents in Korea. Although these pathogens are recognized as human disease agents, the detection of DNA alone does not provide evidence of vector competence. Consequently, further experimental studies are warranted to clarify the potential role of trombiculid mites in the transmission cycles of A. phagocytophilum and R. monacensis. KEYPOINTS: Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Rickettsia monacensis were detected in trombiculid mites collected from wild rodents captured in Korea, suggesting the need for further research on the role of parasitic mites in the human transmission of A. phagocytophilum and R. monacensis.
螨媒疾病已得到广泛研究；然而，针对韩国螨类中除恙虫东方体之外的立克次体物种检测的研究却很有限。使用从啮齿动物身上采集的螨类进行聚合酶链反应（PCR）检测。针对恙虫东方体56 kDa基因的巢式PCR（N-PCR）显示阳性率为0.29%（11/3855），最低感染率（MIR）为0.1%。针对立克次体的sca1基因靶向N-PCR显示阳性率为1.27%（49/3855），MIR为0.005%，揭示了蒙氏立克次体的存在。对于嗜吞噬细胞无形体检测，靶向ankA基因的N-PCR显示阳性率为4.31%（166/3855），MIR为0.16%，而靶向16S rRNA基因的N-PCR显示阳性率为0.78%（30/3855），MIR为0.03%。我们的研究结果证实，在从韩国野生啮齿动物采集的恙螨中存在嗜吞噬细胞无形体、蒙氏立克次体和恙虫东方体的DNA。尽管这些病原体被认为是人类疾病病原体，但仅检测到DNA并不能提供媒介能力的证据。因此，有必要进行进一步的实验研究，以阐明恙螨在嗜吞噬细胞无形体和蒙氏立克次体传播周期中的潜在作用。要点：在从韩国捕获的野生啮齿动物采集的恙螨中检测到嗜吞噬细胞无形体和蒙氏立克次体，这表明需要进一步研究寄生螨在嗜吞噬细胞无形体和蒙氏立克次体人际传播中的作用。
