Vector incrimination of avian malaria and risk assessmant of introduction of alien lineages in Japan

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K18780
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Veterinary medical science
• Research Institution: Tottori University
• Principal Investigator: KIM Kyeongsoon 鳥取大学, 農学部, 准教授 (20646012)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: トリマラリア原虫 / 媒介蚊

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study is to identify avian malaria parasites that are transmitted in Japan. Avian malaria is a mosquito-borne disease of birds caused by Plasmodium spp. Although more than 50 genetic lineages have been reported from birds including resident and migratory birds in Japan, of which lineages are native or exotic are unknown.
Out of 11 Plasmodium lineages that have been detected from mosquitoes and birds in this study, three lineages were confirmed as native by a combination of dissection and PCR methods. Four lineages have been exclusively detected from migratory birds, suggesting temporal introduction of exotic lineages via infected migratory birds.

Free Research Field

獣医寄生虫病学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

外来性のトリマラリア原虫が国内で流行するかどうかは、蚊がベクターとして機能するか否かに大きく左右される。したがって、日本産蚊がベクターとなり、国内で伝播されている原虫系統を特定した本研究成果は、在来系統と外来系統を見分ける基礎的データを提供する。これによって、国内で鳥類の大量死などの異常が発生した場合、原因となった病原体が在来の系統であるか、外来の系統であるの判断が可能となり、媒介蚊の生息状況を考慮した流行推移の予測、および流行の拡大防止に役立てることができる。