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2006 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

Study on Blood Parasite Infection in the Japanese Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus mutus japonicus) and Conservation Medicine for the Species

Research Project

Project/Area Number 16510179
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)

Allocation TypeSingle-year Grants
Section一般
Research Field Resource conservation science
Research InstitutionNihon University

Principal Investigator

MURATA Koichi  Nihon University, College of Bioresource Sciences, Professor, 生物資源科学部, 教授 (00339285)

Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) SATO Yukita  Nihon University, College of Bioresource Sciences, Lecturer, 生物資源科学部, 講師 (40271762)
NAKAMURA Masahiko  Joetsu University, Course of Science, Professor, 自然系理科生物, 教授 (90272880)
ASAKAWA Mitsuhiko  Rakuno Gakuen University, School of Veterinary Medicine, Associate Professor, 獣医学部, 助教授 (30184138)
Project Period (FY) 2004 – 2006
KeywordsConservation Medicine / Endangered Species / Global Warming / Haematozoa / Japanese Rock Ptarmigan / Leucocytozoon / Natural Monument / Vector
Research Abstract

We investigated Leucocytozoon 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. 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 Leucocytozoon was 78.1% in the 73 birds examined. This species was identified as L.lovati morphologically. 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 populati … More ons 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. Furthermore, we conducted the molecular biological study on L.lovati from the rock ptarmigan with the hematozoa from eight species of Japanese birds for comparison. We used PCR and sequence analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene (cyt b) to compare the genetic background among these detected protozoa species. In 20 individuals of 22 samples, a single amplified band was detected from 6 of 8 bird species; 9 Japanese rock ptarmigans, 4 large-billed crows (Corvus macrorhynchos), 2 carrion crows (C.corone), 2 scops owls (Otus scops), 1 Japanese grosbeak (Eophona personate), and 2 brown-eared bulbuls (Hypsipetes amaurotis), respectively. Phylogenetic analysis based on the partial cyt b sequences revealed that all Leucocytozoon isolates in Japan closely grouped with other Leucocytozoon species previously reported in the literature. Among the Japanese isolates, the phylogenetic tree suggested that L.lovati from the Japanese rock ptarmigan may be basal to the parasites found in other bird species. Our study is the first to identify the molecular relationships among Leucocytozoon parasites in the avifauna of Japan. The vector of L.lovzti was also examined. More than 6 species of black-fly (Simuliidae) were observed around the habitats of the ptarmigan. The partial cyt b gene of Leucocytozoon detected from 7 of 150 black-flies captured in the Japanese alpine zone was completely same with L.lovati from the ptarmigans. This suggests the black-fly is one of the vectors of L.loved in the Japanese rock ptarmigan. Less

  • Research Products

    (12 results)

All 2007 2006 2005 2004

All Journal Article (12 results)

  • [Journal Article] Phylogenetic comparison of Leucocytozoon spp. from wild birds of Japan2007

    • Author(s)
      Sato, Y., Hagihara, M., Yamaguchi, T., Yukawa, M., Murata, K.
    • Journal Title

      Journal of Veterinary Medical Science 69・1

      Pages: 55-59

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Journal Article] Geographical distribution and seasonality of the prevalence of Leucocytozoon lovati in Japanese rock ptarmigans (Lagopusmutus japonicus) found in the alpine regions of Japan2007

    • Author(s)
      Murata, K., Tamada, A., Ichikawa, Y., Hagihara, M., Sato, Y., Nakamura, H., Nakamura, M, Sakanakura, T., Asakawa, M.
    • Journal Title

      Journal of Veterinary Medical Science 69・2

      Pages: 171-176

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Journal Article] Phylogenetic comparison of Leucocytozoon spp. from wild birds of Japan.2007

    • Author(s)
      Sato, Y., Hagihara, M., Yamaguchi, T., Yukawa, M., Murata, K.
    • Journal Title

      Journal of Veterinary Medical Science 69(1)

      Pages: 55-59

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Journal Article] Geographical distribution and seasonality of the prevalence of Leucocytozoon lovati in Japanese rock ptarmigans (Lagopus mutus japonicus) found in the alpine regions of Japan2007

    • Author(s)
      Murata, K., Tamada, A., Ichikawa, Y., Hagihara, M., Sato, Y., Nakamura, H., Nakamura, M., Sakanakura, T., Asakawa, M.
    • Journal Title

      Journal of Veterinary Medical Science 69(2)

      Pages: 171-176

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Journal Article] Two Eimeria species isolated from wild Japanese rock ptarmigans (Lagopus mutus japonicus) in Japan2006

    • Author(s)
      Ishihara, S., Shiibashi, T., Sato, Y., Murata, K., Nogami, S.
    • Journal Title

      Journal of Veterinary Medical Science 68・9

      Pages: 991-993

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Journal Article] Two Eimeria species isolated from wild Japanese rock ptarmigans (Lagopus mutus japonicus) in Japan.2006

    • Author(s)
      Ishihara, S., Shiibashi, T., Sato, Y., Murata, K., Nogami, S.
    • Journal Title

      Journal of Veterinary Medical Science 68(9)

      Pages: 991-993

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Journal Article] ニホンライチョウにおけるLeucocytozoon感染の地域性および季節性2005

    • Author(s)
      村田浩一, 玉田明日美, 佐藤雪太, 中村雅彦, 中村浩志, 肴倉孝明, 山口剛士, 浅川満彦
    • Journal Title

      獣医寄生虫学会誌 4・2

      Pages: 43

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Journal Article] 日本アルプスに生息するライチョウ-極寒の環境に適応した氷河期の生き残り-2005

    • Author(s)
      佐藤雪太
    • Journal Title

      日本大学生物資源科学部資料館資料館報 14

      Pages: 45-56

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Journal Article] Locality and seasonality of Leucocytozoon infection in the Japanese rock ptarmigan2005

    • Author(s)
      Murata, K., Tamada, A., Sato, Y., Nakamura, M., Nakamura, H., Sakanakura, T., Yamaguchi, T., Asakawa, M.
    • Journal Title

      Japanese Journal of Veterinary Parasitology 4(2)

      Pages: 43

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Journal Article] Rock ptarmigan inhabit Japanese Alps-The relic of the Ice Age which has adapted to the extreme cold environment2005

    • Author(s)
      Sato, Y
    • Journal Title

      Shiryokampo 14

      Pages: 45-56

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Journal Article] Leucocytozoon infection in wild rock ptarmigans (Lagopusmutus) in Japan2004

    • Author(s)
      Hagihara, M., Yamaguchi, T., Kitahara, M., Hirai, K., Murata, K.
    • Journal Title

      Journal of Wildlife Diseases 40・4

      Pages: 804-807

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Journal Article] Leucocytozoon infection in wild rock ptarmigans (Lagopus mutus) in Japan2004

    • Author(s)
      Hagihara, M., Yamaguchi, T., Kitahara, M., Hirai, K., Murata, K.
    • Journal Title

      Journal of Wildlife Diseases 40(4)

      Pages: 804-807

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より

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Published: 2008-05-27  

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