Epizootiological study of tick-borne encephalitis virus infection in Japan.
Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is a zoonotic agent causing severe encephalitis in humans. Rodent species that are potential hosts for TBEV are widely distributed in various regions in Japan. In this study, we carried out large-scale epizootiological surveys in rodents from various areas of Japan. A total of 931 rodent and insectivore sera were collected from field surveys. Rodents seropositive for TBEV were found in Shimane Prefecture in Honshu and in several areas of Hokkaido Prefecture. These results emphasize the need for further epizootiological and epidemiological research of TBEV and preventive measures for emerging tick-borne encephalitis in Japan.
Laboratory of Public Health, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido. kyoshii@vetmed.hokudai.ac.jp
Kentaro
K
Yoshii
Keita
K
Mottate
Yuki
Y
Omori-Urabe
Yumiko
Y
Chiba
Takahiro
T
Seto
Takahiro
T
Sanada
Junko
J
Maeda
Mayumi
M
Obara
Shuji
S
Ando
Naoto
N
Ito
Makoto
M
Sugiyama
Hiroshi
H
Sato
Hiroshi
H
Fukushima
Hiroaki
H
Kariwa
Ikuo
I
Takashima
D000818:Animals; D004669:Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne; D004675:Encephalitis, Tick-Borne / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D007312:Eulipotyphla / Q000097:blood* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D012377:Rodentia / Q000097:blood* / Q000821:virology; D015047:Zoonoses