Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro have made a groundbreaking discovery, finding a new pathogen in North Carolina that is carried by chiggers. The bacteria, known as Orientia tsutsugamushi, causes scrub typhus, a disease transmitted to humans through bites from infected chiggers. This is the first time the disease has been described in North America.
Dr. Gideon Wasserberg, an infectious disease expert from the UNCG Department of Biology, expressed surprise at the finding, stating, “That is a disease that has never been described in North America or in the Americas altogether.” Symptoms of scrub typhus include fever, headache, muscle pain, and rash. In severe cases, it can lead to organ failure.
While there is currently no vaccine available to prevent scrub typhus, the antibiotic doxycycline can be administered to those affected. Treatment with doxycycline has shown to lead to quick recovery, especially when given as soon as symptoms become noticeable.
Chiggers, which are small mites found in grassy areas, have not been considered a major concern for disease transmission in the past. However, the discovery of scrub typhus in North Carolina has raised concerns about their potential role in spreading the disease. Researchers conducted surveillance of chiggers by scraping them off rodents and collecting them using a black tile placed in the field. Analysis of the chiggers revealed high infection rates, with some sites showing infection in up to 90% of the chiggers collected.
Despite these alarming findings, the sample size used in the study was relatively small, consisting of around 10 chiggers. Therefore, further research with larger sample sizes is needed to gain a better understanding of the link between chiggers and scrub typhus in North Carolina.
In light of this discovery, individuals are advised to use insect repellents registered for use against chiggers when spending time outdoors. For those with babies or children, it is recommended to dress them in protective clothing or cover their cribs, strollers, or carriers with mosquito netting. It is important not to apply insect repellent directly to a child’s face or on irritated skin, instead spraying it on the hand and then applying it to the child’s face.
The researchers at UNC Greensboro are now working to expand their studies and gather more information about the prevalence and impact of scrub typhus in North Carolina.
