Synergistic Effects of Anti-echinococcosis Drug Candidates Combined With Atovaquone in Culture Assays and Mice With Primary Infections of Echinococcus multilocularis.

Background Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a fatal zoonotic disease distributed mainly in the Northern Hemisphere. At present, its curative treatment relies on surgery, and the development of effective drugs is needed. We previously demonstrated the anti-echinococcal effect of atovaquone (ATV) as a mitochondrial complex III inhibitor in both in vitro and in vivo experiments.

Narrowing the region of candidate genes that control the development of protoscoleces of Echinococcus multilocularis in the mouse liver.

Alveolar echinococcosis is a zoonosis caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus multilocularis. In previous studies, QTL analysis using C57BL/6 N (B6) and DBA/2 (D2) which differ in susceptibility suggested the presence of genes on chromosome 1 that control protoscolex development. In this study, we constructed several congenic mice with different chromosome 1 regions substituted to confirm the presence of responsible genes and to narrow down the regions where the responsible genes exist.

Ecological factors associated with fox feces density in an endemic zone in Japan.

Introduction: Human alveolar echinococcosis caused by is an important zoonotic disease in the northern hemisphere. The life cycle of is maintained primarily in wild animals and requires an intermediate host (mainly small mammals). Human can become an intermediate host through accidental ingestion of eggs.

Geographical Variation of Antimicrobial Resistance of in Japanese Chicken.

Chicken is a potent source of infection in humans. Occasionally, patients with severe enteritis require antimicrobial therapy. Antimicrobials are used to prevent and treat bacterial infections in broiler and breeder farms.

Changes in the Phenotypes of spp. in Japanese Broiler Flocks.

infections represent a leading cause of foodborne illnesses; resistance to third-generation cephalosporins (TGCs), which are a first-choice antimicrobial for treating human enteritis, has become a serious public health concern worldwide. Because the consumption of undercooked chicken meat products is a major cause of foodborne salmonellosis in Japan, we conducted three surveys at different periods between 2017 and 2022, with the cooperation of four abattoirs (two in Eastern and two in Western Japan). The first survey was conducted at abattoir A, which is located in Eastern Japan.

Verification Study of the Detection Method for Unauthorized Genetically Modified Papaya by Combining DNA Polymerases and Real-time PCR Instruments.

In the Japanese official detection method for unauthorized genetically modified (GM) papayas, one of two types of real-time PCR reagents with DNA polymerase (TaqMan Gene Master Mix [TaqMan Gene] or FastGene QPCR Probe Mastermix w/ROX [FastGene]) is primarily used for measurement. In 2022, we conducted a laboratory performance study on the unauthorized GM papaya line PRSV-YK, and the results revealed that high threshold cycle (Cq) values for the PRSV-YK detection test were obtained using TaqMan Gene with the 7500 Fast & 7500 Real-Time PCR System (ABI7500) and QuantStudio 12K Flex (QS12K), indicating the possibility of false negatives. The possibility of similar problems with all unauthorized GM papaya lines detection tests needs to be evaluated.

[Development of a PCR Method to Detect a Mysid Species Causing False Positives in Tests for Crustacean Allergens].

Mysids are small crustaceans that are closely related to shrimp/prawns and crabs but not subject to food allergen labeling requirements for raw materials. In the past, a processed food that contained Japanese smelt (wakasagi) was suspected of producing a false-positive result in shrimp/prawn and crab allergen test because of the presence of consumed mysids. However, there was no reported methods to confirm mysid presence.

Case report: infection in a dog showing gastrointestinal signs in Hokkaido, Japan.

is a cestode that causes human alveolar echinococcosis, a lethal zoonotic disease distributed in the northern hemisphere. The life cycle of this parasite is maintained in nature by voles as intermediate hosts and foxes as definitive hosts in Hokkaido, Japan. Although dogs are also susceptible to the parasite, the infection has been considered typically asymptomatic.

A case of tick-borne Yezo virus infection: Concurrent detection in the patient and tick.

A 76-year-old woman infected with Yezo virus (YEZV) developed liver dysfunction and thrombocytopenia following a tick bite. Despite the severity of her elevated liver enzymes and reduced platelet counts, the patient's condition improved spontaneously without any specific treatment. To our knowledge, this represents the first documented case where the YEZV genome was detected simultaneously in a patient's serum and the tick (Ixodes persulcatus) that bit the patient.

Tick-borne Disease with Yezo Virus and Borrelia miyamotoi Coinfection.

Yezo virus is a novel virus transmitted by tick bites that causes fever with thrombocytopenia. To date, two reports have been published on patients with Yezo virus infection. However, the clinical characteristics of Yezo virus infection remain unclear.

A new subgenus, Australixodes n. subgen. (Acari: Ixodidae), for the kiwi tick, Ixodes anatis Chilton, 1904, and validation of the subgenus Coxixodes Schulze, 1941 with a phylogeny of 16 of the 22 subgenera of Ixodes Latreille, 1795 from entire mitochondrial genome sequences.

A new subgenus, Australixodes n. subgen., is described for the kiwi tick, Ixodes anatis Chilton, 1904.

The first record of Brachylaima ezohelicis (Trematoda: Brachylaimidae) in the red fox (Vulpes vulpes schrencki).

Brachylaima spp. are trematodes that have a unique life cycle as they exclusively use land snails as the intermediate host. Although their intermediate host has been well studied, very little information is available about their definitive host, partly as isolation of its adult stage from wild animals is rare.

Mitogenomic exploration supports the historical hypothesis of anthropogenic diffusion of a zoonotic parasite .

Animal movement across regions owing to human activity can lead to the introduction of pathogens, resulting in disease epidemics with medical and socioeconomic significance. Here, we validated the hypothesis that human activity, such as the transportation of infected animals, has played a significant role in introducing the zoonotic parasite into Hokkaido, Japan, by synthesizing and evaluating parasite genetic data in light of historical records. Our analysis indicates that a major genetic group in Hokkaido originated from St.

[Determination of Flubendazole and Metabolite in Livestock Products Using LC-MS/MS].

This study proposes a method to determine flubendazole and metabolite R35475 in livestock products using tandem mass spectrometry coupled with positive ion electrospray ionization. Acetone is used to extract flubendazole and metabolite R35475 from the livestock samples. These extracts were purified using an SCX cartridge column (500 mg).

Outbreaks of Campylobacteriosis Caused by Drinking Raw Milk in Japan: Evidence of Relationship Between Milk and Patients by Using Whole Genome Sequencing.

Raw milk may contain some infectious bacteria and usually requires pasteurization before drinking. In this study, we report rare outbreaks of campylobacteriosis associated with raw milk in Japan, and the application of whole genome sequencing (WGS) to studies on foodborne diseases. In August 2018, there were three outbreaks of campylobacteriosis, presumably caused by the consumption of unpasteurized raw milk, derived from the same farm; thus, these three outbreaks seemed to be associated with a single contaminant at the farm.

Quantifying the direct and indirect effects of sika deer (Cervus nippon) on the prevalence of infection with Rickettsia in questing Haemaphysalis megaspinosa: A field experimental study.

Sika deer (Cervus nippon) are important hosts for all life stages of Haemaphysalis megaspinosa, a suspected Rickettsia vector. Because some Rickettsia are unlikely to be amplified by deer in Japan, the presence of deer may decrease the prevalence of Rickettsia infection in questing H. megaspinosa.

Distribution of Human Sapovirus Strain Genotypes over the Last Four Decades in Japan: a Global Perspective.

Sapovirus (SaV) infections are a public health problem because they cause acute gastroenteritis in humans of all ages, both sporadically and as outbreaks. However, only a limited amount of SaV sequence information, especially whole-genome sequences for all the SaV genotypes, is publicly available. Therefore, in this study, we determined the full/near-full-length genomic sequences of 138 SaVs from the 2001 to 2015 seasons in 13 prefectures across Japan.

Killing Two Birds with One Stone: Discovery of Dual Inhibitors of Oxygen and Fumarate Respiration in Zoonotic Parasite, Echinococcus multilocularis.

Ascofuranone (AF), a meroterpenoid isolated from various filamentous fungi, including , has been reported as a potential lead candidate for drug development against parasites and cancer. In this study, we demonstrated that AF and its derivatives are potent anthelminthic agents, particularly against Echinococcus multilocularis, which is the causative agent of alveolar echinococcosis. We measured the inhibitory activities of AF and its derivatives on the mitochondrial aerobic and anaerobic respiratory systems of E.

Alginic Acid Beads Containing Fluorescent Solvatochromic Dyes Display an Emission Color Response to a Cationic Surfactant.

Lipophilic fluorescent dyes can be employed as sensors for surfactants present in concentrations above the critical micellar concentration (CMC) where the dyes are monodispersed in micelles. However, the surfactant concentration range over which these dyes are effective is narrowed because by the sigmoidal nature of their responses. To overcome this limitation, we developed a novel sensor material comprised of a labeled fluorescent solvatochromic dye covalently bonded to alginate gel, which is known to strongly adsorb cationic surfactants.

[Determination of Quinclorac in Livestock Products by LC-MS/MS].

A liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)-based method was developed for determining quinclorac in livestock products. Quinclorac was extracted from the samples using a solution of acetone and hydrochloric acid mixed in a 99 : 1 ratio. The crude extract was purified with ethyl acetate under basic conditions, followed by quinclorac extraction with ethyl acetate under acidic conditions and analysis using LC-MS/MS.