ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: This study was designed to determine the seropositivity for rickettsial infection among wild rodents captured in farms of Kyunggi province and in mountains of Kangwon province in Korea. METHODS: A total of 513 wild rodents of 5 species were captured in 1997~1998. Serological evidence for rickettsial infection was obtained using Orientia tsutsugamushi antigens by indirect immunofluorescent antibody technique(IFA). RESULTS: 168 Apodemus agrarius, 35 Microtus fortis, 3 Micromis minutus and 2 Eothenomys regulus were captured in Kyunggi province, of which 32 Apodemusagrarius, 4 Microtus fortis, 1 Micromis minutus were IF antibody positive against O. tsutsugamushi. 196 Apodemus agrarius, 77 Apodemus peninsulae and 29 Eothenomys regulus were captured in Kangwon province, of which 4 Apodemus agrarius and 5 Apodemus peninsulae were positive. CONCLUSION: Seropositivity rate against O. tsutsugamushi of wild rodents captured in Kyunggi and Kangwon provinces were 19.6% and 3.0% by IFA tests, respectively.