Seroepidemiology of human parechovirus types 1, 3, and 6 in Yamagata, Japan, in 2014.

To clarify the seroepidemiology of human parechovirus type 1 (HPeV1), 3 and 6, neutralizing antibodies (NT Abs) were measured in 214 serum specimens collected in 2014 in Yamagata, Japan. The seroprevalence against HPeV1 was 100% in all age groups, while that against HPeV3 and HPeV6 was 79.4% and 66.

Development of an endpoint genotyping assay to detect the Mycoplasma pneumoniae 23S rRNA gene and distinguish the existence of macrolide resistance-associated mutations at position 2063.

The prevalence of macrolide-resistant Mycoplasma pneumoniae harboring a mutation in the 23S rRNA gene is increasing, and rapid detection assays are needed for clinical management. We developed an endpoint genotyping assay to detect the M. pneumoniae 23S rRNA gene and determine the existence of macrolide resistance-associated mutations at position 2063 (A2063G, A2063T and A2063C mutations).

Chronological changes of mumps virus genotypes in Japan between 1999-2013.

Background: The molecular epidemiology of mumps virus (MuV) has been carried out worldwide based on genotyping proposed by the World Health Organisation. However, longitudinal molecular epidemiological studies of MuV are still limited.

Methods: This study carried out genotyping of MuVs isolated in Yamagata prefecture, which is located in northern Japan, between 1999-2013, using standard nomenclature based on the sequence analysis of the entire 316 nucleotides of the small hydrophobic (SH) gene.

Detection of the human coronavirus 229E, HKU1, NL63, and OC43 between 2010 and 2013 in Yamagata, Japan.

The available literature on human coronaviruses (HCoVs) in Japan is limited to epidemiological studies conducted over a maximum of 1 year. We conducted a 4-year study of HCoVs by analyzing 4,342 respiratory specimens obtained in Yamagata, Japan, between January 2010 and December 2013. A pan-coronavirus reverse transcription-PCR screening assay was performed, and all HCoV-positive specimens were subsequently confirmed by sequencing of the PCR products.

Molecular epidemiology of enterovirus 71 strains isolated from children in Yamagata, Japan, between 1990 and 2013.

Enterovirus 71 infections have become a major public issue in the Asia-Pacific region due to the large number of fatal cases. To clarify the longitudinal molecular epidemiology of enterovirus 71 (EV71) in a community, we isolated 240 strains from children, mainly with hand-foot-and-mouth diseases, between 1990 and 2013 in Yamagata, Japan. We carried out a sequence analysis of the VP1 region (891 bp) using 223 isolates and identified six subgenogroups (B2, B4, B5, C1, C2 and C4) during the study period.

Analysis of antibody responses by commercial western blot assay in horses with alveolar echinococcosis.

Commercial western blot (WB) assay was used to detect serum antibodies specific to Echinococcus multilocularis in 23 horses in which infection was confirmed by postmortem inspection at a slaughterhouse. Livers contained from 1 to >20 nodular lesions; foci diameter ranged from 1 to 25 mm. Antibody tests of serum from all 23 animals were negative for antigen bands at 7, 16, 18, and 26-28 kDa, which show specificity in the serum of human patients.