Osong Public Health and Research Perspectives

Original Articles

Epidemiological Characteristics of Field Tick-Borne Pathogens in Gwang-ju Metropolitan Area, South Korea, from 2014 to 2018: Jung Wook Park, Seung Hun Lee, Gi Seong Lee, Jin Jong Seo, Jae Keun Chung; Osong Public Health Res Perspect. 2020;11(4):177-184. Published online August 31, 2020; DOI: https://doi.org/10.24171/j.phrp.2020.11.4.06

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Objectives

The importance of tick-borne diseases is increasing because of climate change, with a lack of long-term studies on tick-borne pathogens in South Korea. To understand the epidemiological characteristics of tick-borne diseases, the monthly distribution of field ticks throughout the year was studied in South Korea between May 2014 and April 2018 in a cross sectional study.

Methods

The presence of various tick-borne pathogens (Rickettsia species, Borrelia species, Anaplasma phagocytophilum) was confirmed by using polymerase chain reaction, to provide information for a prevention strategy against tick-borne pathogenic infections, through increased understanding of the relationship between seasonal variation and risk of infection with Rickettsia species. This was performed using logistic regression analysis (SPSS 20, IBM, USA) of the data obtained from the study.

Results

During the study period there were 11,717 ticks collected and 4 species identified. Haemapysalis longicornis was the most common species (n = 10,904, 93.1%), followed by Haemapysalis flava (n = 656, 5.6%), Ixodes nipponensis (n = 151, 1.3%), and Amblyomma testudinarium (n = 6, 0.05%) The results of this cross-sectional study showed that Haemapysalis flava carried a higher risk of transmission of Rickettsia species than other tick species (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

In conclusion, due attention should be paid to preventing tick-borne infections in humans whilst engaged in outdoor activities in Spring and Autumn, particularly in places where there is a high prevalence of ticks.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Effective Methods of Estimation of Pathogen Prevalence in Pooled Ticks
Gerardo Fracasso, Marika Grillini, Laura Grassi, Francesco Gradoni, Graziana da Rold, Michela Bertola
Pathogens.2023; 12(4): 557. CrossRef
Applying next generation sequencing to detect tick-pathogens in Dermacentor nuttalli, Ixodes persulcatus, and Hyalomma asiaticum collected from Mongolia
Graham A. Matulis, Jira Sakolvaree, Bazartseren Boldbaatar, Nora Cleary, Ratree Takhampunya, B. Katherine Poole-Smith, Abigail A. Lilak, Doniddemberel Altantogtokh, Nyamdorj Tsogbadrakh, Nitima Chanarat, Nittayaphon Youngdech, Erica J. Lindroth, Jodi M. F
Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases.2023; 14(5): 102203. CrossRef
Molecular Detection of Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Ehrlichia Species in Ticks Removed from Humans in the Republic of Korea
Yu-Jung Kim, Ji Ye Seo, Seong Yoon Kim, Hee Il Lee
Microorganisms.2022; 10(6): 1224. CrossRef
Molecular Detection and Phylogeny of Tick-Borne Pathogens in Ticks Collected from Dogs in the Republic of Korea
A-Tai Truong, Jinhyeong Noh, Yeojin Park, Hyun-Ji Seo, Keun-Ho Kim, Subin Min, Jiyeon Lim, Mi-Sun Yoo, Heung-Chul Kim, Terry A. Klein, Hyunkyoung Lee, Soon-Seek Yoon, Yun Sang Cho
Pathogens.2021; 10(5): 613. CrossRef
iSeq 100 for metagenomic pathogen screening in ticks
Ju Yeong Kim, Myung-hee Yi, Alghurabi Areej Sabri Mahdi, Tai-Soon Yong
Parasites & Vectors.2021;[Epub] CrossRef
Molecular Identification of Borrelia spp. from Ticks in Pastures Nearby Livestock Farms in Korea
Haeseung Lee, Seung-Hun Lee, SungShik Shin, Dongmi Kwak
Insects.2021; 12(11): 1011. CrossRef

Serological Detection of Lyme Borreliosis Agents in Patients From Korea, 2005–2009: Sang-Hee Park, Kyu-Jam Hwang, Hyuk Chu, Mi-Yeoun Park; Osong Public Health Res Perspect. 2011;2(1):29-33. Published online June 30, 2011; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phrp.2011.04.004

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Abstract PDF

Objectives
Laboratory tests are now being used to identify seropositive cases in patients suspected of having a Lyme borreliosis (LB) infection. From 2005 to 2009, we analyzed the serological and epidemiological characteristics of 53 LB positive cases in Korea using immunoblot assay.
Methods
During the five-year study period, a total of 1897 serum samples from suspected LB cases were referred to us for further laboratory diagnosis. The bacterial strains Borrelia afzeli pKo, Borrelia garinii 935T and Borrelia burgdorferi B31 were used for indirect immunofluorescent antibody assay. Immunoblot assay was performed using the recomBlot Borrelia.
Results
Based on the information from the clinicians, the main symptoms of LB infection were rash and fever (66.0%), neurological symptoms (30.2%), and arthritis (5.7%). Of the 53 cases, 16 (30.2%) were infected abroad and the remaining 37 cases (69.8%) were suspected to have been infected in Korea. Immunoblot assays detected high levels of the antigens p41 (FlaB) of B. burgdorferi and OspC of B. garinii in infected samples.
Conclusions
The causative bacteria of LB were not isolated from humans yet but from vector ticks and rodents in Korea, and a few cases were reported with serological diagnosis. Our results suggest that LB is present in all areas of Korea and indicate that B. garinii and B. burgdorferi may be the predominant bacteria in patients with LB. However, further studies are needed to isolate and identify the causative bacteria for LB in patients.

Citations

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Journal of Medical Entomology.2022; 59(1): 363. CrossRef
Seroepidemiologic Survey of Lyme Disease among Forestry Workers in National Park Offices in South Korea
Dilaram Acharya, Ji-Hyuk Park
International Journal of Environmental Research an.2021; 18(6): 2933. CrossRef
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Haeseung Lee, Seung-Hun Lee, SungShik Shin, Dongmi Kwak
Insects.2021; 12(11): 1011. CrossRef
A case of Henoch-Schönlein purpura associated with scrub typhus
Jae Hyoung Im, Suk Jin Choi, Moon-Hyun Chung, Seung Yun Lee, Young Kyoung Park, Hea Yoon Kwon, Ji Hyeon Baek, Jin-Soo Lee
BMC Infectious Diseases.2020;[Epub] CrossRef
Geographical Distribution of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in Ticks Collected from Wild Rodents in the Republic of Korea
Seong Yoon Kim, Tae-Kyu Kim, Tae Yun Kim, Hee Il Lee
Pathogens.2020; 9(11): 866. CrossRef
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Seung-Hun Lee, Youn-Kyoung Goo, Paul John L. Geraldino, Oh-Deog Kwon, Dongmi Kwak
Pathogens.2019; 8(4): 289. CrossRef
Development of a borreliosis assay: Mannan coated polyethylene sinter bodies as a new platform technology
Mohammed Alasel, Nina Dassinger, Doru Vornicescu, Michael Keusgen
Analytical Biochemistry.2018; 543: 55. CrossRef
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Mohammed Alasel, Michael Keusgen
Clinica Chimica Acta.2018; 479: 148. CrossRef
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Journal of Medical Entomology.2017; 54(5): 1397. CrossRef
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Jae-Hwa Suh, Heung-Chul Kim, Seok-Min Yun, Jae-Won Lim, Jin-Han Kim, Sung-Tae Chong, Dae-Ho Kim, Hyun-Tae Kim, Hyun Kim, Terry A. Klein, Jaree L. Johnson, Won-Ja Lee
Journal of Medical Entomology.2016; 53(3): 584. CrossRef
Epidemiological Features and Clinical Manifestations of Lyme Borreliosis in Korea during the Period 2005^|^ndash;2012
Shinje Moon, Yeongseon Hong, Kyu-Jam Hwang, Suyeon Kim, Jihye Eom, Donghyok Kwon, Ji-Hyuk Park, Seung-Ki Youn, Aeree Sohn
Japanese Journal of Infectious Diseases.2015; 68(1): 1. CrossRef
Autochthonous Lyme Borreliosis in Humans and Ticks in Korea
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