Trombiculid fauna and seasonal occurrence of Leptotrombidium scutellare and Leptotrombidium pallidum in endemic and non-endemic areas for tsutsugamushi disease in Oita Prefecture, Japan

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  • 大分県におけるツツガムシの種類相およびツツガムシ病の流行地および非流行地でのタテツツガムシとフトゲツツガムシの季節消長
  • Trombiculid fauna and sesonal occurrence of Leptotrombidium scutellare and Leptotrombidium pallidum in endemic and non-endemic areas for tsutsugamushi disease in Oita Prefecture,Japan

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Abstract

Trombiculid fauna and the seasonal occurrence of its components were surveyed at three fixed sites in an endemic area of tsutsugamushi disease (Taketa City and Asaji Town), and at four fixed sites in a non-endemic area (Oita City and Hasama Town) in Oita Prefecture, Japan. A monthly collection of unengorged larvae was made at each site from December 1996 to January 1998,from soil samples (taken from rodent nest tunnels and from the ground surface without tunnels) using the Tullgren funnel apparatus (Direct method), and/or from the ground surface with a black cloth (Suzuki method). A total of 19 species were identified, including five newly recorded species in Oita Prefecture. Leptotrombidium scutellare and L. pallidum, which had been suspected as vectors of tsutsugamushi disease in Oita Prefecture, were collected in both endemic and non-endemic areas. The former species seemed to be relatively abundant in the endemic area and very rare in the non-endemic area. By contrast, the latter species seemed to be more abundant in the non-endemic area than in the endemic area. Leptotrombidium scutellare larvae occurred from October to January, with a probable peak in November. On the other hand, L. pallidum occurred almost throughout the year with two peaks, one in September and the other between November and February. The Direct method, especially for soils of rodent nest tunnels, has been proved satisfactory in studying the fauna and seasonal occurrence of larval trombiculids, while the Suzuki method is more effective in sampling unengorged larvae of L. scutellare and Helenicula miyagawai.

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