1989년 7월∼11월에 걸쳐 9개 지역에서 생포한 48마리의 등줄쥐(Apodemus agrarius)로부터 4,142개체의 털진드기(Acarina: Trombiculidae) 유충을 채집하였다. 이들 중 10종 990개체를 해부하여 그 내용 물질로부터 쭈쭈가무시병의 병원체를 간접 면역형광항체법으로 조사하였다 L. pallidum 유충 447개체 가운데 2개체에서 병원체인 Rickettsia tsutsugamushi를 발견하여 본중이 쭈쭈가무시병의 매개종임을 확인하였고, 감염률은 0.4%이었다.
In order to determine the vector species of tsutsugamushi disease in Korea chiggers were individually dissected, and internal contents were tested for Rickettsia tsutsugamushi organisms by means of indirect FA test, and each exoskeleton was mounted on slide for identification. Among 4,142 chiggers collected from 48 Apodemus agrarius at nine different localities during the period of July-November, 1989, 990 chiggers of 10 species of Trombiculidae were dissected and tested. Rickettsiae were confirmed in two Leptotrembidium pallidum larvae out of 447 tested, giving 0.4% of the infection rate. The chiggers of the other species tested were found negative. Key words: Leptotrombidium pallidum, Rickettsia tsutsugamushi, tsutsugamushi disease, vector species, epidemiology
