Detection of Orientia sp. DNA in rodents from Asia, West Africa and Europe

Abstract

Abstract Orientia bacterium is the agent of the scrub typhus, a seriously neglected life-threatening disease in Asia. Here, we report the detection of DNA of Orientia in rodents from Europe and Africa. These findings have important implications for public health. Surveillance outside Asia, where the disease is not expected by sanitary services, needs to be improved.

Keywords

• Scrub typhus
• Zoonoses
• Emerging disease
• Rodent-borne disease
• Metagenomics