WEITZEL, THOMAS
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WEITZEL, THOMAS
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thomas.weitzel@gmail.com
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14007561700

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Novel Vector of Scrub Typhus in Sub-Antarctic Chile: Evidence From Human Exposure

2021 , WEITZEL, THOMAS , María Carolina Silva-de la Fuente , Constanza Martínez-Valdebenito , Alexandr A Stekolnikov , Caricia Pérez , Ruth Pérez , Katia Abarca , VIAL COX, MARIA CECILIA , Gerardo Acosta-Jamett

Abstract The exposure of a research team to chigger mites in southern Chile allowed the first identification of a trombiculid species as vector and reservoir of scrub typhus outside the tsutsugamushi triangle, providing unique insights into the ecology and transmission of this recently discovered rickettsial infection in South America.

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SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen detection tests

2021 , WEITZEL, THOMAS , Caricia Pérez , Danixa Tapia , LEGARRAGA RADDATZ, PAULETTE , PORTE TORRE, LORENA ISABEL

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Campylobacter spp. Prevalence in Santiago, Chile: A Study Based on Molecular Detection in Clinical Stool Samples from 2014 to 2019

2023 , PORTE TORRE, LORENA ISABEL , Caricia Pérez , Mario Barbé , Carmen Varela , Valeska Vollrath , LEGARRAGA RADDATZ, PAULETTE , WEITZEL, THOMAS

Campylobacter spp. is an emerging cause of infectious diarrhea worldwide. In South American countries such as Chile, its prevalence is underestimated due to inadequate detection methods. Gastrointestinal multiplex PCR panels (GMP) permit rapid and sensitive detection of bacterial pathogens and provide important epidemiological information. This study aimed to analyze Campylobacter epidemiology using the results of molecular methods and to compare molecular detection results to those of culture methods. We performed a retrospective, descriptive analysis of Campylobacter spp. detected in clinical stool samples between 2014–2019 by GMP and culture. Within 16,582 specimens examined by GMP, Campylobacter was the most prevalent enteropathogenic bacteria (8.5%), followed by Salmonella spp. (3.9%), Shigella spp./enteroinvasive Escherichia coli (EIEC) (1.9%), and Yersinia enterocolitica (0.8%). The highest Campylobacter prevalence occurred in 2014/2015. Campylobacteriosis affected more males (57.2%) and adults from 19–65 years (47.9%) and showed a bimodal seasonality with summer and winter peaks. In 11,251 routine stool cultures, Campylobacter spp. was detected in 4.6%, mostly C. jejuni (89.6%). Among 4533 samples tested by GMP and culture in parallel, GMP showed a superior sensitivity (99.1% versus 50%, respectively). The study suggests that Campylobacter spp. is the most frequent bacterial enteropathogen in Chile.

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Eco-epidemiology of rodent-associated trombiculid mites and infection with Orientia spp. in Southern Chile

2023 , María Carolina Silva de la Fuente , Caricia Pérez , Constanza Martínez-Valdebenito , Pérez Ball, Ruth , VIAL COX, MARIA CECILIA , Alexandr Stekolnikov , Katia Abarca , Gerardo Acosta-Jamett , WEITZEL, THOMAS , Jessica N. Ricaldi

Background Scrub typhus is a potentially severe infection caused by bacteria of the genus Orientia, endemic in Asia-Pacific and recently discovered in southern Chile. The presented study aimed to determine the prevalence and species richness of rodent-associated trombiculid mites and their infection with Orientia spp. in different areas of two regions in southern Chile. Methodology/Principal findings During summer 2020, trombiculid mites were collected from rodents captured in three areas in southern Chile known to be endemic for scrub typhus (Cochamó and Chiloé Island in the Los Lagos Region and Tortel in the Aysén Region). A total of 132 rodents belonging to five species were captured using Sherman-like traps; 89.4% were infested with trombiculids. Mite specimens were morphologically identified and subsequently tested by Orientia-specific qPCR. Six mite species were identified. Among chigger-infested rodents, 33.9% carried Orientia-positive mites; this rate was higher in Tortel (63.8%) than in Cochamó (45.0%) and Chiloé Island (2.0%). The analysis of individual mites (n = 901) revealed that 31.2% of Herpetacarus antarctica samples (n = 202) were positive for Orientia DNA; the prevalence was 7.0% in Paratrombicula neuquenensis (n = 213), 6.9% in Herpetacarus eloisae (n = 144), 3.6% in Argentinacarus expansus (n = 55), and 0% in Paratrombicula goffi (n = 110) and Quadraseta chiloensis (n = 177). The southernmost site (Tortel) showed the highest rates of trombiculid infestation, trombiculid load, and Orientia infection in the captured rodents. Conclusions/Significance Our study provides new insights into the trombiculid fauna and prevalence of Orientia in mites collected from wild rodents in southern Chile. Orientia DNA was detected in four of the six mite species. Rates of infestation, mite loads, and Orientia prevalences differed geographically and were highest in the Aysén Region. Our data improve our knowledge on possible vectors of scrub typhus and their distribution in Chile.

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