then be infected). Instead, the bacterium persists in the mites through transovarial transmission, where infected mites transmit the infection to their unborn offspring. Leptotrombidium mites are therefore both vector and reservoir for O. tsutsugamushi. The infection predominantly affects female mites, and does not appear to otherwise harm the mites.

Life history

The larvae are pale orange in colour and feed on liquified skin tissue, not blood, as their mouth parts (chelicerae)

1.Previous
3.Next