Remote sensing observation of annual dust cycles and possible causality of Kawasaki disease outbreaks in Japan

Abstract

Kawasaki disease (KD) is a rare vascular disease that, if left untreated, can result in irreparable cardiac damage in children. While the symptoms of KD are well-known, as are best practices for treatment, the etiology of the disease and the factors contributing to KD outbreaks remain puzzling to both medical practitioners and scientists alike. Recently, a fungus known as Candida, originating in the farmlands of China, has been blamed for outbreaks in China and Japan, with the hypothesis that it can be transported over long ranges via different wind mechanisms. This paper provides evidence to understand the transport mechanisms of dust at different geographic locations and the cause of the annual spike of KD in Japan.Candida is carried along with many other dusts, particles or aerosols, of various sizes in major seasonal wind currents. The evidence is based upon particle categorization using the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD), Fine Mode Fraction (FMF) and Ångström Exponent (AE), the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) attenuated backscatter and aerosol subtype, and the Aerosol Robotic Network’s (AERONET) derived volume concentration.We found that seasonality associated with aerosol size distribution at different geographic locations plays a role in identifying dominant abundance at each location. Knowing the typical size of the Candida fungus, and analyzing aerosol characteristics using AERONET data reveals possible particle transport association with KD events at different locations. Thus, understanding transport mechanisms and accurate identification of aerosol sources is important in order to understand possible triggers to outbreaks of KD. This work provides future opportunities to leverage machine learning, including state-of-the-art deep architectures, to build predictive models of KD outbreaks, with the ultimate goal of early forecasting and intervention within a nascent global health early-warning system.

Kawasaki disease in siblings in close temporal proximity to each other—what are the implications?

“…Epidemiological studies on KD have also revealed a striking association with the pattern of tropospheric winds, which have been hypothesized to transport Candida spp. and trigger KD through mechanisms that are not clearly understood [ 31 – 33 ]. In fact, Candida albicans water-soluble fraction has been shown to result in a KD-like illness in murine models [ 34 ].…”

Dectin-2–induced CCL2 production in tissue-resident macrophages ignites cardiac arteritis

“…Over the last few decades, several murine models of KD have been developed that share pathological features with the human disease, including the Candida albicans water-soluble extract-induced (CAWS-induced) vasculitis model (11,12), the Lactobacillus casei cell wall extract-induced (LCWEinduced) vasculitis model (13), and the NOD1 ligand-induced vasculitis model (14). Although animal models are not identical to human disease and it is not established that Candida causes KD, previous studies have suggested that exposure to wind-borne Candida species might be one trigger for KD (15)(16)(17). In addition, it has been reported that anti-Candida cell wall β-glucan serum antibody titers are higher in KD patients compared with normal controls (18).…”

Anemochory of diapausing stages of microinvertebrates in North American drylands

“…In monogonont rotifers, the nature of the resting egg structure provides some protection from exposure to UVR and harsh chemicals (Radzikowski, ), and the dark colour of rotifer diapausing stages can further facilitate their resistance to the harmful effects of solar radiation to which they would be exposed during anemochory. In addition, thick concentrations of dust particles provide shielding from and scattering of UVR during long‐distance transport, increasing survivability of biota transported within desert dust clouds (El‐Askary, LaHaye, Linstead, Sprigg, & Yacoub, ; Prospero, Blades, Mathison, & Naidu, ). However, airborne clouds of dust and sand, especially when they originate from contaminated soils or pass through urban or industrial areas, will also contain gaseous and particulate pollutants that are known to be toxic to adult rotifers (Verma et al., ).…”