Resistance to Rickettsia tsutsugamushi and persistence of infection in different wild rodents
Takahashi, M.; Murata, M.; Sasaki, M.; Saito, T.; Machida, K.; Hori, E.; Tanaka, H.; Kawamura, A.
Japanese Journal of Experimental Medicine 60(4): 241-245
1990
ISSN/ISBN: 0021-5031 PMID: 2127293 Document Number: 364547
The competence of different wild rodents as reservoir hosts of R. tsutsugamushi was evaluated. Resistance to infection and persistence of infection with R. tsutsugamushi were studied in Microtus montebelli, M. arvalis, Apodemus speciosus and in A. argenteus as a preliminary trial. The maximum period of persistent infection following innoculation was 5 months in M. montebelli, 9 months in M. arvalis, 8 months in A. speciosus and 3 months or longer in A. argenteus. The persistent period varied not only by species but by individuals within a species. The distribution of R. tsutsugamushi was studied in M. montebelli and M. arvalis by isolation from various organs. The organism was isolated from all organs in both species at 30 days post-innoculation. After 240 days R. tsutsugamushi was not isolated at all from M. montebelli but was isolated from the various organs from M. arvalis.