American Journal of Epidemiology · 1977 · 20 citations · 0 references
Veterinary MedicineImmunologyInfectious DiseasesImmunology Of Infectious DiseasesInfectious Disease EpidemiologyMedical MicrobiologyBacterial InfectionsRickettsial DiseasesDisease Incidence RateIncidence RateIncidence Rate RatioRickettsia Typhi InfectionScrub Typhus
Personnel assigned to infantry units of the army of the Republic of China (Taiwan) stationed in the Pescadores Islands experienced the highest incidence rate of scrub typhus (4%) and the highest rate of Rickettsia tsutsugamushi infection (12%) of the units studied during 1976. The ratio of scrub typhus to infection with R. tsutsugamushi was 30%. Non-immune personnel, when infected, were more likely to develop scrub typhus than were those who had previously been infected. There was a correlation between clinical illness and high antibody titers developed in response to the infection.