The Re-Emergence and Emergence of Vector-Borne Rickettsioses in Taiwan
Rickettsial diseases, particularly vector-borne rickettsioses (VBR), have a long history in Taiwan, with studies on scrub typhus and murine typhus dating back over a century. The climatic and geographic diversity of Taiwan’s main island and its offshore islands provide many ecological niches for the...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2017-12-01
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| Series: | Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/3/1/1 |
| _version_ | 1798035057725669376 |
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| author | Nicholas T. Minahan Chien-Chung Chao Kun-Hsien Tsai |
| author_facet | Nicholas T. Minahan Chien-Chung Chao Kun-Hsien Tsai |
| author_sort | Nicholas T. Minahan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Rickettsial diseases, particularly vector-borne rickettsioses (VBR), have a long history in Taiwan, with studies on scrub typhus and murine typhus dating back over a century. The climatic and geographic diversity of Taiwan’s main island and its offshore islands provide many ecological niches for the diversification and maintenance of rickettsiae alike. In recent decades, scrub typhus has re-emerged as the most prevalent type of rickettsiosis in Taiwan, particularly in eastern Taiwan and its offshore islands. While murine typhus has also re-emerged on Taiwan’s western coast, it remains neglected. Perhaps more alarming than the re-emergence of these rickettsioses is the emergence of newly described VBR. The first case of human infection with Rickettsia felis was confirmed in 2005, and undetermined spotted fever group rickettsioses have recently been detected. Taiwan is at a unique advantage in terms of detecting and characterizing VBR, as it has universal health coverage and a national communicable disease surveillance system; however, these systems have not been fully utilized for this purpose. Here, we review the existing knowledge on the eco-epidemiology of VBR in Taiwan and recommend future courses of action. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T20:52:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8c49638d8be34cbd9584827efb286d1a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2414-6366 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T20:52:55Z |
| publishDate | 2017-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease |
| spelling | doaj.art-8c49638d8be34cbd9584827efb286d1a2022-12-22T04:03:48ZengMDPI AGTropical Medicine and Infectious Disease2414-63662017-12-0131110.3390/tropicalmed3010001tropicalmed3010001The Re-Emergence and Emergence of Vector-Borne Rickettsioses in TaiwanNicholas T. Minahan0Chien-Chung Chao1Kun-Hsien Tsai2Institute of Environmental Health, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, No. 17, Xu-Zhou Road, Taipei 100, TaiwanViral and Rickettsial Diseases Department, Infectious Diseases Directorate, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USAInstitute of Environmental Health, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, No. 17, Xu-Zhou Road, Taipei 100, TaiwanRickettsial diseases, particularly vector-borne rickettsioses (VBR), have a long history in Taiwan, with studies on scrub typhus and murine typhus dating back over a century. The climatic and geographic diversity of Taiwan’s main island and its offshore islands provide many ecological niches for the diversification and maintenance of rickettsiae alike. In recent decades, scrub typhus has re-emerged as the most prevalent type of rickettsiosis in Taiwan, particularly in eastern Taiwan and its offshore islands. While murine typhus has also re-emerged on Taiwan’s western coast, it remains neglected. Perhaps more alarming than the re-emergence of these rickettsioses is the emergence of newly described VBR. The first case of human infection with Rickettsia felis was confirmed in 2005, and undetermined spotted fever group rickettsioses have recently been detected. Taiwan is at a unique advantage in terms of detecting and characterizing VBR, as it has universal health coverage and a national communicable disease surveillance system; however, these systems have not been fully utilized for this purpose. Here, we review the existing knowledge on the eco-epidemiology of VBR in Taiwan and recommend future courses of action.https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/3/1/1vector-borne rickettsioses (VBR)scrub typhusmurine typhusspotted fever group rickettsiaeRickettsia felisAnaplasmataceaere-emergingemergingTaiwan |
| spellingShingle | Nicholas T. Minahan Chien-Chung Chao Kun-Hsien Tsai The Re-Emergence and Emergence of Vector-Borne Rickettsioses in Taiwan Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease vector-borne rickettsioses (VBR) scrub typhus murine typhus spotted fever group rickettsiae Rickettsia felis Anaplasmataceae re-emerging emerging Taiwan |
| title | The Re-Emergence and Emergence of Vector-Borne Rickettsioses in Taiwan |
| title_full | The Re-Emergence and Emergence of Vector-Borne Rickettsioses in Taiwan |
| title_fullStr | The Re-Emergence and Emergence of Vector-Borne Rickettsioses in Taiwan |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Re-Emergence and Emergence of Vector-Borne Rickettsioses in Taiwan |
| title_short | The Re-Emergence and Emergence of Vector-Borne Rickettsioses in Taiwan |
| title_sort | re emergence and emergence of vector borne rickettsioses in taiwan |
| topic | vector-borne rickettsioses (VBR) scrub typhus murine typhus spotted fever group rickettsiae Rickettsia felis Anaplasmataceae re-emerging emerging Taiwan |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/3/1/1 |
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