Seasonal Prevalence of Ticks at Bukhansan Dullegil and Detection of Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus

Abstract

The study examined the seasonal pattern of larvae, nymph, and adult life stages for Haemaphysalis longicornis and the rate of infection with severe fever from the thrombocytopenia syndrome virus in ticks collected from 12 sections (Jichukdong), 14 sections (Uldaeri), and 18 sections (Howondong) in Bukhansan dullegil for April-October 2019. Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks have been considered the main vector for severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS). Haemaphysalis flava and Ixodes nipponensis were collected using the dragging and flagging method. The ratios of Haemaphysalis longicornis of the collected ticks were 91% (Jichukdong), 94% (Uldaeri), and 98% (Howondong). Monthly distributional studies of Haemaphysalis longicornis based on the developmental stage showed that the adults peaked in September while nymphs were collected more frequently from April through June. The larvae peaked in September and October. SFTS virus detection was performed using 2 × OneStep RT-PCR and nested PCR. On the other hand, no SFTS virus-specific gene was detected in 1,158 ticks of Haemaphysalis longicornis. This result provides estimates of the population densities for the life stages of Haemaphysalis longicornis and the associated disease risk in Bukhansan dullegil, where many people have visited since opening in 2010.

A case of SFTS coinfected with E. coli bacteremia

“…The incubation period of the SFTS is 4–15 days followed by major clinical manifestations of high grade fever, myalgia, gastrointestinal symptoms, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, lymph node enlargement, raised hepatic enzymes, neurological disorders and occasionally coagulopathies and the estimated mortality rates of SFTS cases are proportionately high in South Korea (21.8%) followed by Japan (18.8%) and China (4.8%) [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]. In South Korea, the yearly incidence of SFTS cases gradually increased from 36 cases in 2013 to around 212 cases in 2017 [ 5 ]. In the years 2013 to 2016, the SFTS prevalence rate in this region was 1.19 per 100,000 inhabitants [ 6 ].…”