CHIGGER WORKSHOP 1.0: THE NEGLECTED VECTOR

The Chigger Workshop 1.0: Neglected Vector was a groundbreaking event organized by Entomological Malaysia (ENTOMA) in collaboration with the Tropical Infectious Diseases Research & Education Centre (TIDREC) at Universiti Malaya and the WHO Collaborating Centre for Arbovirus Reference and Research. Held on September 26, 2024, this one-day workshop took place at the High Impact Research Building and Rimba Ilmu of Universiti Malaya, bringing together a diverse group of 17 participants from various backgrounds, including senior lecturers, postdoctoral researchers, postgraduate and undergraduate students, as well as professionals from pest control companies.

Mission & Activities

The workshop featured a comprehensive curriculum that included:

Theoretical Sessions: Lectures on scrub typhus symptoms, transmission routes, life cycles of chigger mites, risk areas, and morphological identification.

Practical Sessions: Hands-on activities such as observing chigger mites under microscopes, collecting chiggers from rodents, and outdoor fieldwork to observe chigger habitats.

The Chigger Workshop 1.0 not only provided valuable insights into the ecology of chiggers but also fostered collaboration among institutions like Universiti Sains Malaysia, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, and others. The event marked a significant step towards enhancing Malaysia's awareness and understanding of neglected vector-borne diseases.

Join us in celebrating this successful initiative that aims to reduce the burden of scrub typhus through education and collaboration! Stay tuned for future events organized by ENTOMA that continue to inspire insect studies and research.

Workshop Overview

Designed to enhance understanding of chiggers and their role as vectors of scrub typhus, the workshop provided both theoretical and practical training. Participants learned essential skills for collecting chiggers from hosts and identifying them at the species level. The program also addressed the significant public health concerns associated with chigger-associated diseases, particularly scrub typhus, which is caused by the bacteria Orientia tsutsugamushi. This disease is a major health issue in many Asian regions, with chiggers serving as critical vectors.