Publications by authors named "Wuttikon Rodkvamtook"

Article Synopsis
  • Before the 2015 earthquake, scrub typhus was not recognized as a widespread disease in Nepal, unlike in India, where it is endemic and causes outbreaks.
  • A study examining cases from 2009-2010 in two Nepali hospitals found that 31.5% of patients with acute febrile illness tested positive for scrub typhus, indicating it was more prevalent than previously thought.
  • The findings highlight the need for increased awareness and better diagnostic methods to address the ongoing public health challenge of scrub typhus in Nepal.
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The majority of cases of undifferentiated acute febrile illness (AFI) in the tropics have an undefined etiology. In Thailand, AFI accounts for two-thirds of illnesses reported to the Ministry of Public Health. To characterize the bacterial and viral causes of these AFIs, we conducted molecular pathogen screening and serological analyses in patients who sought treatment in Chum Phae Hospital, Khon Kaen province, during the period from 2015 to 2016.

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Background And Aim: spp. are Gram-negative zoonotic bacteria that are transmitted to humans by several types of animal hosts, including rodents. Several studies have been conducted on the prevalence of infections in rodents.

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Article Synopsis
  • Malaria remains a significant health issue in Thailand, particularly in border areas with mobile populations that facilitate its spread.
  • A study of 112 Plasmodium falciparum isolates showed prevalent resistance mutations, including pfmdr1-Y184F and various pfk13 point mutations, linked to increased survival rates against treatment.
  • The rise in resistant genotypes during 2014-2015 implies a connection with treatment failures in neighboring Cambodia, highlighting the need for coordinated efforts among countries to address malaria elimination.
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Rickettsial zoonotic diseases, in particular scrub typhus, murine typhus, and tick typhus, are caused by , , and infections. Rickettsiae exposure is typically related to a rodent host in various habitats of marginal regions, including between rural areas and communities such as the Salaya suburb. This allows the oriental house rat (OHR), a highly adaptive species, to live in close proximity to the community and possibly introduce rickettsial diseases.

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Scrub typhus, murine typhus, and leptospirosis are widely neglected infectious diseases caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi, Rickettsia typhi, and pathogenic Leptospira spp., respectively. Patients usually present with non-specific symptoms and therefore are commonly diagnosed with acute undifferentiated febrile illness.

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Rickettsial infections (Rickettsioses) are the causes of acute fever found in Thailand. It is classified as acute febrile illnesses transmitted by bloodsucking arthropod vectors (tick, flea, and chigger). This research investigated pathogens of scrub typhus in vectors from Bangkaew District, Phatthalung Province.

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We report findings of field surveillance for disease vectors and the prevalence of Orientia tsutsugamushi, the causative agent for scrub typhus, and other Rickettsial species that cause murine typhus and spotted fever group rickettsioses, in chigger mites and small rodents; and Leptospira in rodent kidney, urine, and environmental water samples. The study sites included various Royal Thai Army military installations and other training sites, and surrounding areas where the multinational military training exercise Cobra Gold was conducted in Thailand in 2017 and 2018. The overall prevalence of O.

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Investigation of a scrub typhus outbreak in Thailand during September 2013 found that 9.1% of Thai soldiers and 11.1% of residents living in areas surrounding training sites had antibodies against the causative agent, Orientia tsutsugamushi.

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We developed a rapid dot-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (dot-ELISA) using the combination of recombinant 56-kDa protein antigens that exhibited broad reactivity with serum antibodies against the four most prevalent strains (Karp, Kato, Gilliam, and TA763) of Orientia tsutsugamushi. The assay is rapid (30 minutes), and can be done at room temperature, and results can be read by the naked eye. Only a simple shaker is required to wash the membrane.

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During a scrub typhus outbreak investigation in Thailand, 4 isolates of O. tsutsugamushi were obtained and established in culture. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 56-kDa type-specific antigen gene demonstrated that the isolates fell into 4 genetic clusters, 3 of which had been previously reported and 1 that represents a new genotype.

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Scrub typhus caused by the Orientia tsutsugamushi. Rodents, particularly rats, serve as principal reservoir hosts. Infection in man is transmitted by the, chigger bite.

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Orientia tsutsugamushi, an obligate intracellular Gram-negative bacterium, is the causative agent of scrub typhus, a vector-borne disease transmitted by infected chiggers (trombiculid mite larvae). In 2002, an outbreak of scrub typhus occurred among Royal Thai Army troops during the annual field training at a military base in Bothong district, Chonburi province, central Thailand. This report describes the outbreak investigation including its transmission cycle.

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Scrub typhus is common among patients with acute fever in rural areas of Thailand. The authors prospectively recruited patients with acute fever from provincial Thai army hospitals. Dot-ELISA test for scrub typhus was done in hospitals and then compared with standard immunofluorescent assay for diagnosis of scrub typhus.

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The hepatitis E virus (HEV) is thought to be endemic throughout much of the world, particularly where sanitary infrastructure remains inadequate. HEV has been considered a military health threat and has been reported in several military environments. This study determined HEV seroconversion (defined by a 4-fold increase in antibody titers) occurring in Thai soldiers deployed to the HEV-endemic areas of East Timor, Afghanistan, and Iraq, as part of the U.

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