[Leptotrombidium scutellare in transmission of epidemic hemorrhagic fever virus].

To further elucidate the role of Leptotrombidium scutellare in transmission of epidemic hemorrhagic fever virus (EHFV), a series of studies were carried out from 1988 to 1990. EHFV was isolated from both larvae of free mites collected from the grassland of endemic areas and larvae of filial mites hatched in the laboratory. The suckling mice bitten by these larvae were infected by EHFV. Because only the larvae of chigger mite can bite vertebrate hosts and only take a full meal in its entire life cycle, the pathogen carried by it can only be originated from its parent mite via transovarial route. Thus it can be confirmed that the natural infection of EHFV in these mites is transferred via transovarial transmission. The results demonstrate that L (L.) scutellare can naturally be infected by EHFV; EHFV can be transmitted to the vertebrate host by biting of the larvae and can be transferred via transovarial transmission in mites; and therefore, L (L.) scutellare can serve as a transmitting vector of EHF.