Seroconversions to Rickettsiae in US Military Personnel in South Korea

摘要

To the Editor: Infections with typhus group rickettsiae (TGR), spotted fever group rickettsiae (SFGR), and scrub typhus group orientiae (STGO) have been reported among persons in South Korea in increasing numbers over the past decade (1,2). During 2001–2011 in South Korea, 51,825 ori - entiae group infections were reported (mean incidence 9.95 cases/100,000 residents/year) (2). TGR (Rickettsia typhi), SFGR (R. akari, R. japonica, R. monacensis, and R. felis), and STGO (Orientia tsutsugamusi) have been identified in their arthropod vectors and reservoirs in northern provinces and at US military training facilities in South Korea (3–5).