Changes in the Activities of several antioxidant enzymes in transformed human dermal microvascular endothelial Cells (HMEC-1) by infection with the obligate intracellular bacterium Orientia tsutsugamushi, the causative agent of scrub typhus, were investigated. The activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase were significantly decreased in HMEC-1 cells infected with Ο. tsutsugamushi. However, the level of superoxide dismutase increased slightly. Furthermore, Increased levels of intracellular peroxide was observed in HMEC-1 during infection. These results support the hypothesis that cells infected by this intracellular bacterium experience oxidant-mediated injury that may eventually contribute to cell death.