Survey on tick distribution and tick-borne pathogens in Daejeon and adjacent areas in South Korea

Ticks (Ixodidae, also known as hard ticks) as principal vectors of zoonotic diseases such as severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), Lyme borreliosis, relapsing fever, anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, babesiosis, coxiellosis (Q fever), and tularemia pose a major public health threat. This study was conducted to identify the distribution profile of ticks and tick-borne pathogens in Daejeon and the adjacent areas in South Korea, where no such epidemiological study has been conducted. From April to October 2019, 16,765 ticks were collected from three genera and four species: Haemaphysalis longicornis (n = 14,949; 89.2 %), Haemaphysalis flava (n = 987; 5.9 %), Ixodes nipponensis (n = 828; 5.0 %), and Amblyomma testudinarium (n = 1; 0.01 %). Homogenized samples of ticks were screened by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR), real-time PCR, and PCR for the presence of the following tick-borne pathogens: SFTS virus (SFTSV), Borrelia spp., Babesia microti, Coxiella burnetii, Francisella tularensis, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Ehrlichia spp. As a result, SFTSV (2 cases), Borrelia spp. (32 cases), and Babesia microti (7 cases) were detected. The findings of this study will contribute to the prevention and management of tick-borne zoonoses.

Automated summary

Ticks as principal vectors of zoonotic diseases pose a major public health threat, with this study in South Korea identifying the distribution profile of ticks and tick-borne pathogens, detecting SFTSV, Borrelia spp., and Babesia microti. These findings contribute to the prevention and management of tick-borne zoonoses.