Analysis of the monitoring results of the host animals(rodents)of serub typhus and ectoparasitic chigger mites in Jingzhou
HAO Haibo
NIE Xiaopei
ZHOU Minghua
DONG Juan
LIU Jianzhao
Abstract：Objective To understand the distribution of the host animals(rodents)and transmission vectors of scrub typhus in Jingzhou,so as to provide evidence for the prevention and control of scrub typhus.Methods From 2022 to 2024,the night trapping method was used to capture rodents in 8 counties(cities,districts)of Jingzhou,parasitic chigger mites on the body surface were collected and identified,the infestation rate and index of chigger mites were calculated.Samples of liver,spleen and kidney from some rodents were taken for the detection of Orientia tsutsugamushi.Results A total of 516 rodents belonging to 4 genera and 7 species were captured,with a capture rate of 2.16％.Apodemus agrarius was the dominant species.All rodents were examined for ectoparasitic chigger mites,and a total of 91 rodents carrying chigger mites,with an overall infestation rate of 17.64％and a mite index of 2.98.Higher indices of chigger mites were observed in Rattus losea(4.60),Niviventer confucianus(4.43),and A.agrarius(4.20).The infestation rate in field-captured rodents was significantly higher than that in residential areas(x2=20.033,P＜0.01).A total of 458 chigger mites were identified,comprising 6 species from 4 genera,with the dominant species being Gahrliepia octosetosa(73.70％).O.tsutsugamushi testing was performed on 204 rodents,with no positive detections.Conclusion There is a risk of scrub typhus transmission in Jingzhou.It is recommended to strengthen the monitoring of host animals and vector chigger mites,and focus on health education and rodent control in rural areas to reduce the risk of scrub typhus transmission.
Keywords：scrub typhushost animalschigger mite
Publication Date：2026-02-20
Online Publishing Date：2026-04-02(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：3( 104-106 )