Nationwide Survey of Vector-Borne Diseases in Rodents and Mites in Korea: Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, and Rickettsia

초록

Simple Summary Rodents are known to carry a variety of pathogens that can cause diseases in humans, especially those transmitted through small parasites like mites. This study investigated the presence of three specific bacteria, Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, and Rickettsia, in rodents and their mites across Korea in 2022 and 2023. We found that 10.3% of the 835 rodents were infected with Anaplasma phagocytophilum, 0.5% with Ehrlichia muris, 0.2% with Ehrlichia ruminantium, and 2.9% with Rickettsia raoultii. In addition, 8.8% of 7971 mites tested positive for Anaplasma, and lower percentages of the mites tested positive for the other bacteria. Importantly, this is the first time these bacteria have been detected in rodents and mites in Korea, and in some cases, globally. Our findings highlight the need for ongoing monitoring and better systems to track these diseases to prevent future outbreaks, especially as climate and environmental changes may increase their spread. This information is vital for public health awareness and protection from vector-borne diseases.Abstract Rodents are reservoirs for zoonotic pathogens, making it essential to study both rodents and their ectoparasites. In 2022 and 2023, we investigated the spatial distribution of rodents and their mites across Korea, focusing on three vector-borne diseases (VBDs): Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, and Rickettsia. A total of 835 wild rodents were collected from 16 locations, each consisting of five distinct environmental settings (mountains, waterways, reservoirs, fields, and paddy fields), with 20 traps per setting, totaling 100 Sherman live folding traps per site. Each rodent was identified using a taxonomic key, and post-mortem examinations led to the collection of 7971 mites (498 pools), followed by PCR analysis. Among the rodents, Anaplasma phagocytophilum was detected in 10.3%, Ehrlichia muris in 0.5%, Ehrlichia ruminantium in 0.2%, and Rickettsia raoultii in 2.9%. In mites, A. phagocytophilum was found in 8.8%, E. muris in 0.2%, R. raoultii in 0.2%, R. endosymbiont in 1.6%, and R. australis in 1.2%. This study marks the first detection of E. muris and R. raoultii in Korean rodents and the first global discovery of E. ruminantium in rodents. The detection of multiple pathogens in mites worldwide highlights the importance of continuous VBD monitoring to mitigate public health risks.

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