Geographical Distribution and Seasonality of the Prevalence of Leucocytozoon lovati in Japanese Rock Ptarmigans (Lagopus mutus japonicus) found in the Alpine Regions of Japan

Abstract

ABSTRACT. In this study, we investigated the geographical distribution and seasonality of Leucocytozoon lovati infection in the Japanese rock ptarmigan (Lagopus mutus japonicus); this bird is one of the special natural monuments of Japan that inhabits the Japanese alpine regions. We examined blood samples from birds captured in the Kubiki, Hida, and Akaishi mountain ranges for three years from 2002 to 2005. Seventy-three blood samples from 42 males, 19 females, and 12 birds of unknown sex were used for this study. The rate of infection with L. lovati was 78.1% in the 73 birds examined. We demonstrated that the L. lovati infection was distributed across wide ranges of ptarmigan populations from the northern to the southern alpine zones. There was no sex bias in the prevalence ratio. The prevalence of L. lovati and the level of parasitization of the blood cells tended to increase from spring through summer; in contrast, a decrease was observed from summer through autumn. Although L. lovati infection was observed in a number of local populations inhabiting three mountainous regions, no infected birds were found in Mt. Johnen-dake and Mt. Maejohnen-dake. It is necessary to continue surveying the relationship between the population dynamics of the ptarmigan and the density of the arthropod vector from the perspective of in situ conservation of this endangered species.

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

“…Our results suggest that at least three species of black flies might use Japanese rock ptarmigans, host bird of L. lovati, and other unidentified birds as blood sources. As described previously, both host birds and the vector black flies in the alpine region of Japan harbor L. lovati, suggesting that transmission of the pathogen occurs between them (Hagihara et al 2004;Murata et al 2007;Sato et al 2009). Adding to those evidences, this study supports that these black flies might be transmissible vector of L. lovati by biting the infected bloods of Japanese rock ptarmigans.…”

“…Recent studies have reported that the Japanese rock ptarmigan, Lagopus mutus japonicus, one of the endangered bird species distributed in the alpine regions in Japan, was infected with Leucocytozoon lovati with comparatively high infectious rates (Hagihara et al 2004;Murata et al 2007). Although the effects of L. lovati to host birds have not been elucidated yet, since infection of L. lovati to young sage grouse, Centrocercus urophasianus, could be detrimental to the bird populations in Nevada and Oregon in United States (Dunbar et al 2003), to understand the transmission cycle of this vector-borne bird disease should be investigated.…”

Prevalence of avian haemosporidia among injured wild birds in Tokyo and environs, Japan

“…This is a large element as to why the prevalence of avian malaria in various regions and species of Japan are still unstudied. Avian malaria from wild birds has been studied in limited areas such as Hokkaido, Tsushima Island, Minami-Daito Island, Hyogo and some mountains for Japanese rock ptarmigan ( Lagopus mutus japonicus ) ( Murata, 2002 , Murata, 2007 , Nagata, 2006 , Sato et al., 2007 , Murata et al., 2007 , Murata et al., 2008a , Imura et al., 2012 , Tanigawa et al., 2012 , Yoshimura et al., 2014 ), but most areas of Japan are unstudied. In the Kanto region, including Tokyo and the surrounding areas, there are a few facilities that treat and care for injured wild birds.…”

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

“…Although infection of L. lovati in the host of Japanese rock ptarmigans had been confirmed (Hagihara et al 2004;Murata et al 2007), no evidence has been found for vectors. Black flies distributed (Saito and Kanayama 1988;Saito et al 1996;Saito and Kanayama 2001); however, no surveys have been found for isolation of any vector-borne pathogens from black flies.…”

“…One of the endangered bird species in Japan, Japanese rock ptarmigan (Lagopus mutus japonicus), has been found to be highly infected with Leucocytozoon lovati (Hagihara et al 2004;Murata et al 2007). Although the pathogenicity is still under investigation, molecular analysis of the protozoa detected from the host suggested that L. lovati could be unique to Japanese rock ptarmigans compared to other wild birds of Japan .…”