[Identification of Fish Species Involved with Ciguatera Food Poisoning in Okinawan Waters by Using PCR-RFLP analysis].

Ciguatera fish poisoning (CFP), known as a seafood-borne disease, is caused by consumption of fish contaminated with ciguatoxins in tropical and subtropical sea. The ciguatera fishes, Variola louti, Lutjanus monostigma and L. bohar have an absolute majority in the Ryukyu Archipelago, southwestern Japan.

The Spread of Heat-Labile Enterotoxin-Harboring Escherichia fergusonii in Broiler Chickens and Pigs in Okinawa, Japan.

In 2012, Escherichia fergusonii harboring a heat-labile enterotoxin (LT) was isolated from healthy chickens in South Korea. However, little is known regarding the prevalence, spread, and pathogenicity of these strains in humans and animals. This study aimed to understand the public health threats, such as the distribution, antimicrobial resistance, and genetic diversity of E.

Nationwide and long-term molecular epidemiologic studies of mumps viruses that circulated in Japan between 1986 and 2017.

In Japan, major mumps outbreaks still occur every 4-5 years because of low mumps vaccine coverage (30-40%) owing to the voluntary immunization program. Herein, to prepare for a regular immunization program, we aimed to reveal the nationwide and long-term molecular epidemiological trends of the mumps virus (MuV) in Japan. Additionally, we performed whole-genome sequencing (WGS) using next-generation sequencing to assess results from conventional genotyping using MuV sequences of the small-hydrophobic (SH) gene.

[Analysis of Ciguatoxins in the Spotted Knifejaw, Oplegnathus punctatus from the Waters of Japan].

Ciguatera fish poisoning (CFP) is recognized as the most frequent seafood poisoning due to the consumption of fish containing the principal toxins, ciguatoxins (CTXs). In Japan, CFP events have been reported annually from Okinawa and Amami Islands, locating subtropical regions. In addition, there have been reported several outbreaks due to consumption of the fish caught from the Pacific coast of the Mainland and they were often caused by the matured spotted knifejaw, Oplegnathus punctatus.

Leptospirosis with multiple organ dysfunction in a mongoose-scat-detection dog infected with Leptospira interrogans serogroup Hebdomadis, Okinawa, Japan.

A 2-year-old male mongoose-scat-detection dog was diagnosed with leptospirosis by urine PCR. The patient developed acute renal failure, hepatic dysfunction, and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Treatment with antibiotics was administered, including ampicillin and doxycycline, and supportive care management was provided.

Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus RNA in Ticks from Wild Mongooses in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan.

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging zoonotic tick-borne disease caused by SFTS virus (SFTSV). SFTSV has a wide spectrum of animal hosts and is considered to circulate in an enzootic tick-vertebrate-tick cycle. A previous seroepidemiological study showed the presence of anti-SFTSV antibodies in wild mongooses (Herpestes auropunctatus) and indicated that outdoor activity was associated with an increased risk of tick bites among Okinawa residents.

Laboratory diagnostic, epidemiological, and clinical characteristics of human leptospirosis in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, 2003-2020.

Background: Leptospirosis is considered an endemic disease among agricultural workers in Okinawa Prefecture, which is the southernmost part of Japan and has a subtropical climate, but data on the current status and trend of this disease are scarce.

Methodology/principal Findings: We conducted a retrospective study of clinically suspected leptospirosis patients whose sample and information were sent to the Okinawa Prefectural Institute of Health and Environment from November 2003 to December 2020. Laboratory diagnosis was established using culture, nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and/or microscopic agglutination test (MAT) with blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and/or urine samples.

Seroepidemiological study of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome in animals and humans in Okinawa, Japan.

In Okinawa prefecture, Japan, the first case of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) was confirmed in August 2016, and this case remains to be the only reported case of SFTS in Okinawa. The epidemiological investigation indicated that the patient had been infected on the main island of Okinawa, but source and route of infection were unknown. Therefore, to understand the possible source and route of SFTS virus (SFTSV) infection in Okinawa, we performed a seroepidemiological study of SFTSV among animals and dwellers in Okinawa and conducted a questionnaire survey to investigate risk factors for tick bites in Okinawa.

Toxoplasma gondii antibody prevalence and isolation in free-ranging cats in Okinawa, Japan.

Cats are an important host of Toxoplasma gondii from an epidemiological perspective because they are the only definitive hosts that excrete oocysts in their feces. In this study, 201 free-ranging cats in Okinawa were examined for T. gondii infection.

Molecular and serological epidemiology of Leptospira infection in cats in Okinawa Island, Japan.

Leptospirosis is a zoonosis caused by pathogenic Leptospira spp. Cats have been reported to be infected with Leptospira spp. and shed the bacteria in the urine.

Characteristics of Household Transmission of COVID-19 during Its Outbreak in Okinawa, Japan from February to May 2020.

The Okinawa prefecture confirmed 142 cases of coronavirus disease from February 14 to May 2020. Among them, 78 were the first cases of a household with 174 household contacts. Of the 174 contacts, 21 contracted the disease, indicating a secondary attack rate of 12.

Development of a simple and cost-effective gel-based duplex PCR method to identify both encapsulated and unencapsulated Neisseria meningitidis applicable under resource-limited conditions.

Tens of thousands of cases of invasive meningococcal diseases (IMD) with thousands of deaths are reported annually worldwide; however, only approximately 40 cases occur each year in Japan. Therefore, the majority of medical technologists in Japan have never performed or prepared for analyses of the causative agent, Neisseria meningitidis. Since IMD outbreaks have been reported at mass gathering events, the risk of IMD will increase in Japan in 2021 because of the Olympics.

Evaluating Methods for Detecting Escherichia albertii in Chicken Meat.

Abstract: Escherichia albertii is an emerging foodborne pathogen. The source of the E. albertii infection in most foodborne outbreaks is unknown because E.

Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus exhibiting reduced susceptibility to baloxavir due to a PA E23K substitution detected from a child without baloxavir treatment.

Human-to-human transmission of PA I38 mutant influenza A(H3N2) viruses with reduced baloxavir susceptibility has been reported in Japan. In December 2019, we detected a PA E23K mutant A(H1N1)pdm09 virus from a child without baloxavir treatment. The PA E23K mutant virus exhibited reduced baloxavir susceptibility but remained susceptible to neuraminidase inhibitors.

Clinical characteristics of stonefish "Oni-daruma-okoze" envenomation in Japan.

Aim: Stonefish, known in Japan as "Oni-daruma-okoze" ( Block et Schneider), inhabit the waters surrounding the Okinawa/Amami districts. By far, habubites have been limited to these areas mainly due to climatic conditions. Due to changes promoted by global warming and increasing tourism, concerns regarding the potential for stonefish envenomation as well as jellyfish stings on the main island of Japan are increasing.

Novel genotypes of serogroup Sejroe isolated from human patients in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan.

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease caused by pathogenic spirochetes of species. It is a public health issue in the tropics, including Okinawa, the southernmost prefecture of Japan. This study reports the first isolation of serogroup Sejroe from two human patients in Japan, and describes its molecular characterization using multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA).

Detection of antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii in cats using an immunochromatographic test based on GRA7 antigen.

Toxoplasmosis, caused by Toxoplasma gondii, is one of the most common parasitic diseases worldwide. The GRA7 of T. gondii (TgGRA7) is an essential component of the parasitophorous vacuole (PV) and PV membrane surrounding the tachyzoites and the cyst wall of the bradyzoites.