To elucidate the epidemiology of murine typhus, which is infrequently reported in Japan, we conducted a cross-sectional study involving 2,382 residents of rickettsiosis-endemic areas in Honshu Island during August-November 2020. Rickettsia typhi seroprevalence rate was higher than that of Orientia tsutsugamushi, indicating that murine typhus is a neglected disease.
Keywords: Japan; Japanese spotted fever; Orientia tsutsugamushi; Rickettsia japonica; Rickettsia typhi; bacteria; cross-sectional studies; flea borne; murine typhus; rickettsia; scrub typhus; seroepidemiological studies; spotted fever group rickettsiosis; typhus; vector-borne infections.