Epidemiology of tsutsugamushi disease in Kagoshima Prefecture

在草地、天然木材（金针木和橡树）和杉木上采集黄芩细蛾。在天然树木、杉木和草地上均采集到大量黄褐夜蛾幼虫。鹿儿岛县天然木材和杉木是黄柳的适宜生境。在山腰道路上考察了黄花月牙幼虫的分布。采用黑布法每隔1公里采集黄褐夜蛾幼虫，52个点中有41个点检出黄褐夜蛾幼虫，占78.8%。鹿儿岛县似乎分布广泛。捕获斑点姬蚊，检测恙虫病东方体抗体。18人中有10人（55.6%）有恙虫病恙虫体抗体。鹿儿岛野生啮齿动物对恙虫病虫体抗体阳性率较高。在疑似接触恙虫病患者的5个园地点和15个树林点采用黑布法采集褐皮蚧幼虫。采用两步PCR法检测恙虫病恙虫体DNA。在花园的1点和树林的3点采集到立克次体DNA。通过PCR产物核酸内切酶片段长度多态性分析立克次体类型，确定立克次体类型为Karp型、Kawasaki型和Kuroki型。

The collection of Leptotrombidium scutellare was carried out on grassland, natural woods (chinquapin and oak) and Japanese cedar woods. Many L. scutellare larvae were collected on natural woods and Japanese cedar woods as well as on grassland. The natural woods and Japanese cedar woods were suitable habitats for L. scutellare in Kagoshima Prefecture.The distribution of L. scutellare larva was examined along roads of mountainside. L. scutellare larvae were collected using the black cloth method at intervals of one kilometer, and larvae were found out at 41 points out of 52 points (78.8%). L. scutellare seemed to be widely distributed in Kagoshima Prefecture.Apodemus speciosus was captured and the antibody against Orientia tsutssugamushi was examined. Ten out of 18 (55.6%) had the antibody against O. tsutsugamushi. Wild rodents in Kagoshima seemed to have the antibody against O. tsutsugamushi at high rate.L. scutellare larvae were collected using black cloth method at 5 points of garden and 15 points of woods where patients were suspected to have contact with the tsutsugamushi disease at these areas. The detection of O. tsutsugamushi DNA from collected L. scutellare was carried out by Two-step PCR. Rickettsial DNA was detected from L. scutellare collected at one point of garden and 3 points of woods.The analysis of rickettsial types by endonuclease fragment length polymorphism of PCR products was carried out, and the rickettsial type was identified as Karp, Kawasaki or Kuroki types.