A Novel Genotype of Orientia tsutsugamushi in Human Cases of Scrub Typhus from Southeastern India

Scrub typhus is a mite-borne, re-emerging public health problem in India, particularly in Tamil Nadu, South India. More than 40 serotypes of Orientia tsutsugamushi have been documented worldwide. However, the information on the circulation of its molecular sub-types in India is scanty. A retrospective study was conducted among serologically confirmed cases of scrub typhus. DNA isolated from blood was screened by a nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) targeting the GroEL and the 56 kDa type-specific antigen (TSA) genes. Out of 59 samples, 14 partial fragments of GroEL and the twelve 56 kDa genes were PCR-amplified and DNA-sequenced. The neighbor-joining (NJ) analysis indicated three distinct phylogenetic clades, including a novel genotype designated as Ot-Thanjavur-Tamil Nadu (Ot-TJTN, 9 nos. 64.3%); Karp-like (4 nos. 28.6%); and Kuroki-Gilliam type (1 no. 7.1%). Also, phylogenetic analysis of twelve 56 kDa variable domains (VDΙ-ΙΙΙ) of TSA gene sequences revealed a distinctive new genotypic cluster of eight samples (66.6%), and the remaining four (33.4%) were Karp-like genotypes. The Simplot analysis for the similarity and event of recombination testing elucidated the existence of the new genotype of the Ot-TJTN cluster, which was undescribed so far, in the Kato and TA716 lineages. The significant findings recommend further studies to understand the ongoing transmission dynamics of different O. tsutsugamushi strains in vector mites, rodent hosts, and humans in this region.