Retrospective Seroepidemiological Survey for Human Babesiosis in an Area in Japan Where a Tick-Borne Disease is Endemic.

Arai, Satoru; Tsuji, Masayoshi; Kaiho, Ikuo; Murayama, Haruka; Zamoto, Aya; Wang, Qiang; Okabe, Nobuhiko; Kamiyama, Tsuneo; Ishihara, Chiaki

doi:10.1292/jvms.65.335

Cited by 11 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…Previously, we speculated that the apparent absence of the U.S.-type B. microti in Japan might be relevant to the seemingly rare occurrence of symptomatic human babesiosis cases in the country [2,23], which is in contrast to the relatively frequent clinical case reports from areas of endemicity in the Unites States [11,20]. It was hypothesized for this speculation that the U.S.-type B. microti may be more pathogenic and virulent than the Hobetsu-type B. microtilike parasite, the major type widely distributing throughout Japan.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

U.S.-Type Babesia microti Isolated from Small Wild Mammals in Eastern Hokkaido, Japan

Zamoto

Tsuji

Kawabuchi

et al. 2004

The Journal of Veterinary Medical Science

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ABSTRACT. Our previous report demonstrated that small wild rodents in Japan harbored two types of novel Babesia microti-like parasites (Kobe and Hobetsu types), but not the type widely distributed throughout the temperate zones of North American and Eurasian Continents (U.S. type). In this study, we surveyed small wild mammals collected at various places in the northern part of Japan, seeking for U.S.-type B. microti. A total of 197 small mammals comprising 10 species, Apodemus speciosus, A. argenteus, Clethrionomys rufocanus, C. rutilus, Eothenomys andersoni, Microtus montebelli, Tamias sibiricus, Sorex unguiculatus, S. caecutiens, and Urotrichus talpoides, were examined. Babesia parasites were detected in A. speciosus, C. rufocanus, C. rutilus, M. montebelli, S. unguiculatus, and S. caecutiens by microscopy of blood smears and by PCR targeting babesial nuclear small-subunit rRNA (rDNA) and β-tubulin genes. Inoculation of their bloods into experimental animals gave rise to 23 parasite isolates, which included 16 from A. speciosus, 4 from C. rufocanus, and 1 each from C. rutilus, M. montebelli and S. unguiculatus. Sequencing analyses of their rDNA and β-tubulin genes revealed that, of the 23 isolates, 20 and 3 were of Hobetsu and U.S. types, respectively. The U.S.-type B. microti strains isolated in Japan, however, were distinguishable from the isolates in the United States when their β-tubulin gene sequences and antigen profiles in Western blots were compared. We conclude that U.S.-type B. microti exists in Japan although it has been genetically and antigenically diversified from that distributed in the United States. The results also suggest that not only rodents, but also some insectivo res may serve as reservoirs for the agent of human babesiosis.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

U.S.-Type Babesia microti Isolated from Small Wild Mammals in Eastern Hokkaido, Japan

Zamoto

Tsuji

Kawabuchi

et al. 2004

The Journal of Veterinary Medical Science

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“…Furthermore, despite reports of human babesiosis from countries such as China (71), Taiwan (177), Japan (8,168), Colombia (166), Mexico (71), Egypt (127), and South Africa (35), coinfection of Ixodes ticks with Babesia species and B. burgdorferi or A. phagocytophilum has not been reported outside sampled regions of LD endemicity in Europe and the United States.…”

Section: Prevalence Of Coinfecting Pathogens Among Ixodes Ticksmentioning

confidence: 99%

Coinfections Acquired from Ixodes Ticks

et al. 2006

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SUMMARY The pathogens that cause Lyme disease (LD), human anaplasmosis, and babesiosis can coexist in Ixodes ticks and cause human coinfections. Although the risk of human coinfection differs by geographic location, the true prevalence of coinfecting pathogens among Ixodes ticks remains largely unknown for the majority of geographic locations. The prevalence of dually infected Ixodes ticks appears highest among ticks from regions of North America and Europe where LD is endemic, with reported prevalences of ≤28%. In North America and Europe, the majority of tick-borne coinfections occur among humans with diagnosed LD. Humans coinfected with LD and babesiosis appear to have more intense, prolonged symptoms than those with LD alone. Coinfected persons can also manifest diverse, influenza-like symptoms, and abnormal laboratory test results are frequently observed. Coinfecting pathogens might alter the efficiency of transmission, cause cooperative or competitive pathogen interactions, and alter disease severity among hosts. No prospective studies to assess the immunologic effects of coinfection among humans have been conducted, but animal models demonstrate that certain coinfections can modulate the immune response. Clinicians should consider the likelihood of coinfection when pursuing laboratory testing or selecting therapy for patients with tick-borne illness.

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“…To date, parasites belonging to the U.S. lineage around the world and the Kobe lineage from Japan have been isolated from patients and are apparently pathogenic to humans (5,7,8). However, a patient(s) infected with another parasite, such as Hobetsu lineage (9), may emerge as a consequence of improved detection techniques and recent increased attention to emerging tick-borne diseases, such as severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), relapsing fever, anaplasmosis, and neoehrlichiosis (10)(11)(12)(13).…”

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Ixodes persulcatus Ticks as Vectors for the Babesia microti U.S. Lineage in Japan

Zamoto-Niikura

Morikawa

Hanaki

et al. 2016

Appl Environ Microbiol

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The U.S. lineage, one of the major clades in the Babesia microti group, is known as a causal agent of human babesiosis mostly in the northeastern and upper midwestern United States. This lineage, however, also is distributed throughout the temperate zone of Eurasia with several reported human cases, although convincing evidence of the identity of the specific vector(s) in this area is lacking. Here, the goal was to demonstrate the presence of infectious parasites directly in salivary glands of Ixodes persulcatus, from which U.S. lineage genetic sequences have been detected in Asia, and to molecularly characterize the isolates. Five PCRpositive specimens were individually inoculated into hamsters, resulting in infections in four; consequently, four strains were newly established. Molecular characterization, including 18S rRNA, ␤-tubulin, and CCT7 gene sequences, as well as Western blot analysis and indirect fluorescent antibody assay, revealed that all four strains were identical to each other and to the U.S. lineage strains isolated from rodents captured in Japan. The 18S rRNA gene sequence from the isolates was identical to those from I. persulcatus in Russia and China, but the genetic and antigenic profiles of the Japanese parasites differ from those in the United States and Europe. Together with previous epidemiological and transmission studies, we conclude that I. persulcatus is likely the principal vector for the B. microti U.S. lineage in Japan and presumably in northeastern Eurasia. IMPORTANCEThe major cause of human babesiosis, the tick-borne blood parasite Babesia microti, U.S. lineage, is widely distributed in the temperate Northern Hemisphere. However, the specific tick vector(s) remains unidentified in Eurasia, where there are people with antibodies to the B. microti U.S. lineage and cases of human babesiosis. In this study, the first isolation of B. microti U.S. lineage from Ixodes persulcatus ticks, a principal vector for many tick-borne diseases, is described in Japan. Limited antigenic cross-reaction was found between the Japan and United States isolates. Thus, current serological tests based on U.S. isolates may underestimate B. microti occurrence outside the United States. This study and previous studies indicate that I. persulcatus is part of the B. microti U.S. lineage life cycle in Japan and, presumably, northeastern Eurasia. This report will be important for public health, especially since infection may occur through transfusion, and also to researchers in the field of parasitology.

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Retrospective Seroepidemiological Survey for Human Babesiosis in an Area in Japan Where a Tick-Borne Disease is Endemic.

Cited by 11 publications

References 25 publications

U.S.-Type Babesia microti Isolated from Small Wild Mammals in Eastern Hokkaido, Japan

U.S.-Type Babesia microti Isolated from Small Wild Mammals in Eastern Hokkaido, Japan

Coinfections Acquired from Ixodes Ticks

Ixodes persulcatus Ticks as Vectors for the Babesia microti U.S. Lineage in Japan

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