PLoS ONE (Jan 2014)

Transovarial transmission of Orientia tsutsugamushi in Leptotrombidium palpale (Acari: Trombiculidae).

  • Eun Hee Shin,
  • Jong Yul Roh,
  • Won Il Park,
  • Bong Gu Song,
  • Kyu-Sik Chang,
  • Wook-Gyo Lee,
  • Hee Il Lee,
  • Chan Park,
  • Mi-Yeoun Park,
  • E-Hyun Shin

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0088453
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9, no. 4
p. e88453

Abstract

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Transovarial transmission of Orientia tsutsugamushi in colonies of Leptotrombidium palpale was studied in the parent and F1 and F2 generations. Both transovarial transmission and filial infection rates were 100% in the parent and F1 generations of Leptotrombidium palpale. The filial infection rate in the F1 generation was 100%, but it declined to 94.3% in the F2 progeny. The sex ratio of the F1 generation from infected L. palpale was 1∶0.8 (male:female) and the proportion of males was relatively high. This study is the first to report on the transovarial transmission of O. tsutsugamushi in L. palpale. High transovarial transmission rates in L. palpale suggest that this species might be one of the major vectors of tsutsugamushi disease in Korea.