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Page No. : 41-44

ABSTRACT

Scrub typhus is a zoonotic disease transmitted by mites that feed on rodents. The present study was undertaken for molecular characterization of Orientia tsutsugamushi in rodents and their ectoparasites captured nearby human dwellings in and around Nagpur region employing nested PCR. From 18 captured rats, total 314 samples were taken including 81 blood, 81 liver, 81 spleen, and 71 serum samples. A total of 191 ectoparasites comprising of six pools of fleas, three pools of mites, and two pools of lice were harvested from these rodents. All the blood, tissue, and ectoparasite samples were subjected to nested PCR targeting 56kDa and 47kDa HtrA genes. The molecular prevalence of Orientia tsutsugamushi was determined to be 25.92% for the 47kDa HtrA gene and 9.87% for the 56kDa gene by nested PCR. Weil-Felix screening of 71 serum samples showed 45.05% positivity. Among all the rats that were caught, the overall flea infestation rate was 40.74% followed by mite infestation rate as 23.45%, and the lice infestation rate as 18.51%. Overall, the study concludes that nested PCR is a virtuous tool to detect the Orientia tsutsugamushi in the rodents.

Keywords: Scrub typhus, chiggar mites, nested PCR, Orientia tsutsugamushi