Leptotrombidium

Leptotrombidium is a genus of mites in the family Trombiculidae that are known to be vectors of disease in humans. They are commonly referred to as "chiggers", "red bugs", or "harvest mites".

Description

Leptotrombidium mites are tiny, typically less than 1 mm in length, and are often bright red in color. They are parasitic in their larval stage, feeding on the skin of various animals, including humans, birds, and reptiles. The larvae are the only parasitic stage of the mite's life cycle.

Disease Transmission

Leptotrombidium mites are best known for their role in transmitting scrub typhus, a disease caused by the bacterium Orientia tsutsugamushi. The mites become infected with the bacterium when they feed on an infected host. The bacterium then multiplies within the mite and is passed on to the next host the mite feeds on.

Prevention and Control

Prevention of scrub typhus involves avoiding areas where infected mites are likely to be found, such as grassy and bushy areas. Insect repellents can also be used to deter the mites. If a person is bitten by a mite, the bite should be cleaned and disinfected to prevent infection.

See Also

• Trombiculidae
• Scrub typhus
• Orientia tsutsugamushi

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References

External Links

• CDC - Chiggers - Detailed information about chiggers and the diseases they transmit from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• WHO - Scrub Typhus - Information about scrub typhus from the World Health Organization.