Unusual Genotypic Distribution of Orientia tsutsugamushi Strains Causing Human Infections on Jeju Island

Jeong Rae Yoo Division of Infectious Disease, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkynkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Departments of Internal Medicine, Microbiology, and Immunology, Jeju National University School of Medicine, Jeju, Republic of Korea; Department of Internal Medicine, Seogwipo Medical Center, Jeju, Republic of Korea

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Sang Taek Heo Division of Infectious Disease, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkynkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Departments of Internal Medicine, Microbiology, and Immunology, Jeju National University School of Medicine, Jeju, Republic of Korea; Department of Internal Medicine, Seogwipo Medical Center, Jeju, Republic of Korea

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Young-Sang Koh Division of Infectious Disease, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkynkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Departments of Internal Medicine, Microbiology, and Immunology, Jeju National University School of Medicine, Jeju, Republic of Korea; Department of Internal Medicine, Seogwipo Medical Center, Jeju, Republic of Korea

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Sohyun Kim Division of Infectious Disease, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkynkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Departments of Internal Medicine, Microbiology, and Immunology, Jeju National University School of Medicine, Jeju, Republic of Korea; Department of Internal Medicine, Seogwipo Medical Center, Jeju, Republic of Korea

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Seok Kim Division of Infectious Disease, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkynkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Departments of Internal Medicine, Microbiology, and Immunology, Jeju National University School of Medicine, Jeju, Republic of Korea; Department of Internal Medicine, Seogwipo Medical Center, Jeju, Republic of Korea

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.13-0511
Volume/Issue:
Volume 90: Issue 3
Page(s):
507–510
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We investigated the clinical characteristics and serologic types of tsutsugamushi disease on the largest island of South Korea. There were 141 patients with tsutsugamushi disease at Jeju National University Hospital and Seogwipo Medical Center between November of 2003 and December of 2012. Median age of patients was 61 years, and 59% were women. The major clinical manifestations were fever (80.5%) and skin rash (55.7%), with eschars evident in 75.8% of the patients. Genotype analysis of Orientia tsutsugamushi was conducted in 33 specimens. The genotype was identified as Boryong type in 17 of 33 patients and Taguchi type in 15 of 33 patients. In our study, although the Taguchi genotype is rarely reported in the endemic area, it was common on Jeju Island. This genotype may be associated with mild and moderate forms of tsutsugamushi disease.

Author Notes

* Address correspondence to Sang Taek Heo, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Jeju National University, 102 Jejudaehakno, Jeju, 690-756, Republic of Korea. E-mail: neosangtaek@naver.com
† These authors contributed equally.

Financial support: This work was supported by a research grant from Jeju National University in 2012.

Authors' addresses: Jeong Rae Yoo, Division of Infectious Disease, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkynkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea, E-mail: mdyoojr@gmail.com. Sang Taek Heo, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Jeju National University, Jeju, Republic of Korea, E-mail: neosangtaek@naver.com. Young-Sang Koh, and Sohyun Kim, Departments of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Jeju National University, Jeju, Republic of Korea, E-mails: yskoh7@jejunu.ac.kr and just_so@naver.com. Seok Kim, Department of Internal Medicine, Segwipo Medical Center, Jeju, Republic of Korea, E-mail: gimuseog@daum.net.

Copyright:
© The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 2014
Received:
04 Sep 2013
|
Accepted:
17 Dec 2013
|
Published Online:
05 Mar 2014
Cover The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Print ISSN:
0002-9637
Online ISSN:
1476-1645
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