Screening for tick-borne and tick-associated viruses in ticks collected in Ghana.

Ticks are blood-sucking arthropods that transmit many pathogens, including arboviruses. Arboviruses transmitted by ticks are generally referred to as tick-borne viruses (TBVs). TBVs are known to cause diseases in humans, pets, and livestock.

Dengue Virus Infection in during the 2014 Autochthonous Dengue Outbreak in Tokyo Metropolis, Japan.

In 2014 in Japan, 162 autochthonous dengue cases were reported for the first time in nearly 70 years. Here, we report the results of the detection and isolation of dengue virus (DENV) from mosquitoes collected in Tokyo Metropolis in 2014 and 2015. The phylogenetic relationship among DENV isolates from mosquitoes and from patients based on both the entire envelope gene and whole coding sequences was evaluated.

Isolation and characterization of Kabuto Mountain virus, a new tick-borne phlebovirus from Haemaphysalis flava ticks in Japan.

In Japan, indigenous tick-borne phleboviruses (TBPVs) and their associated diseases first became evident in 2013 by reported human cases of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS). In this study, we report a novel member of the genus Phlebovirus designated as Kabuto Mountain virus (KAMV), which was isolated from the ixodid tick Haemaphysalis flava in Hyogo, Japan. A complete viral genome sequencing and phylogenetic analyses showed that KAMV is a novel member of TBPVs, which is closely related to the Uukuniemi and Kaisodi group viruses.

First isolation and characterization of a mosquito-borne orbivirus belonging to the species Umatilla virus in East Asia.

An orbivirus was isolated from a sample from the ornithophilic mosquito Culex sasai in Japan. The virus, designated Koyama Hill virus (KHV), replicated to high titer in a mosquito cell line and to a low titer in an avian cell line, but the release of progeny viruses was not observed in mammalian cell lines inoculated with KHV. Electron microscopic examination of KHV-infected mosquito cells showed approximately 70-nm virus particles and viral tubules typical of members of the genus Orbivirus, family Reoviridae.

Molecular identification of avian haemosporidia in wild birds and mosquitoes on Tsushima Island, Japan.

We investigated for the first time the prevalence of avian haemosporidia of genera Plasmodium, Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon among birds and mosquitoes on Tsushima Island of Japan, which is located between Japan and the Korean Peninsula. Of 55 wild birds belonging to 33 species, 16 (29.1%) tested positive for haemosporidia as follows: Plasmodium spp.

Blood meal identification and prevalence of avian malaria parasite in mosquitoes collected at Kushiro wetland, a subarctic zone of Japan.

In Japan, the prevalence of avian Plasmodium in birds and mosquitoes has been partially examined in the temperate and subtropical zones; however, mosquitoes in the Japanese subarctic zone have not been adequately investigated. In this study, mosquito collections and avian Plasmodium detections from the mosquito samples were carried out to demonstrate the avian Plasmodium transmission between vector mosquitoes and birds inhabiting in Kushiro Wetland, subarctic zone of Japan. A total of 5657 unfed mosquitoes from 18 species and 320 blood-fed mosquitoes from eight species was collected in summer 2008, 2009, and 2010.

Prevalence of avian haematozoa in wild birds in a high-altitude forest in Japan.

The infection dynamics of avian haematozoa, which includes the genera Plasmodium, Haemoproteus, and Leucocytozoon, are complicated by a variety of environmental factors and host-parasite interactions. In Japan, the prevalence of haematozoa in wild birds has recently been determined in several local areas. However, no information on the annual prevalence of avian haematozoa in a single study site has been reported.

Entomological study on transmission of avian malaria parasites in a zoological garden in Japan: bloodmeal identification and detection of avian malaria parasite DNA from blood-fed mosquitoes.

Several species of captive and wild birds have been found to be infected with various avian blood protozoa in Japan. We investigated the prevalence and transmission of avian malaria parasite and determined the bloodmeal hosts of mosquitoes collected in a zoological garden in Tokyo, Japan, by using the polymerase chain reaction. In total, 310 unfed and 140 blood-fed mosquitoes of seven species were collected by using sweep nets and CDC traps.

Molecular identification of blood source animals from black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) collected in the alpine regions of Japan.

One of vector-borne avian protozoa, Leucocytozoon lovati, has been found in the Japanese rock ptarmigans (Lagopus mutus japonicus), the endangered bird species distributed in the alpine regions in Japan. Vector arthropod species of L. lovati has also been estimated as Simuliidae black flies distributed in the same habitat of the host bird, however, possible blood meals of the black flies were not identified yet.

Prevalence of avian malaria parasite in mosquitoes collected at a zoological garden in Japan.

Several species of captive birds at zoological gardens of Japan were found to be infected with avian Plasmodium. However, incriminated vector mosquito species have not been identified yet. To indicate the competent vectors of avian malaria parasite, we collected mosquitoes at a zoological garden in Japan and examined for the avian malaria parasite DNA.

Molecular detection of Leucocytozoon lovati from probable vectors, black flies (Simuliudae) collected in the alpine regions of Japan.

Probable arthropod vectors of avian blood protozoa, Leucocytozoon lovati, were collected in the alpine regions of Japan, the habitats of the host birds of Japanese rock ptarmigan (Lagopus mutus japonicus). Seven alpine regions of Japan, Asahidake, Chogatake, Tateyama, Jiigatake, Norikura, Kitadake, and Senjyogatake were investigated for black fly collection during 2004 to 2007. The collected 490 insects were morphologically identified as six species of female black flies, including Prosimulium hirtipes group (n = 59), Prosimulium mutata (n = 13), Prosimulium yezoense (n = 10), Similium japonicum (n = 359), Similium uchidai (n = 39), and Twinnia japonensis (n = 10).