Ultralight vector dark matter search using data from the KAGRA O3GK run

Among the various candidates for dark matter (DM), ultralight vector DM can be probed by laser interferometric gravitational wave detectors through the measurement of oscillating length changes in the arm cavities. In this context, KAGRA has a unique feature due to differing compositions of its mirrors, enhancing the signal of vector DM in the length change in the auxiliary channels. Here we present the result of a search for U(1)B−L gauge boson DM using the KAGRA data from auxiliary length channels during the first joint observation run together with GEO600. By applying our search pipeline, which takes into account the stochastic nature of ultralight DM, upper bounds on the coupling strength between the U(1)B−L gauge boson and ordinary matter are obtained for a range of DM masses. While our constraints are less stringent than those derived from previous experiments, this study demonstrates the applicability of our method to the lower-mass vector DM search, which is made difficult in this measurement by the short observation time compared to the auto-correlation time scale of DM

Ehrlichiosis, babesiosis, anaplasmosis and hepatozoonosis in dogs from St. Kitts, West Indies.

BACKGROUND: Although tick-borne diseases are important causes of morbidity and mortality in dogs in tropical areas, there is little information on the agents causing these infections in the Caribbean. METHODOLOGY: We used PCRs to test blood from a cross-section of dogs on St Kitts for Ehrlichia (E.) canis, Babesia (B.) spp., Anaplasma (A.) spp. and Hepatozoon (H.) spp. Antibodies against E. canis and A. phagocytophilum/platys were detected using commercial immunochromatography tests. Records of the dogs were examined retrospectively to obtain clinical and laboratory data. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: There was serological and/or PCR evidence of infections of dogs with E. canis (27%; 46/170), Babesia spp. (24%; 90/372) including B. canis vogeli (12%; 43/372) and B. gibsoni (10%; 36/372), A. platys (11%; 17/157) and H. canis (6%; 15/266). We could not identify the Babesia sp. detected in nine dogs. There was evidence of multiple infections with dual infections with E. canis and B. canis vogeli (8%; 14/179) or B. gibsoni (7%; 11/170) being the most common. There was agreement between immunochromatography and PCR test results for E. canis for 87% of dogs. Only 13% of exposed dogs had signs of a tick-borne disease and 38% had laboratory abnormalities. All 10 dogs presenting for a recheck after treatment of E. canis with doxycycline were apparently healthy although all remained seropositive and six still had laboratory abnormalities despite an average of two treatments with the most recent being around 12 months previously. Infections with Babesia spp. were also mainly subclinical with only 6% (4/67) showing clinical signs and 13% (9/67) having laboratory abnormalities. Similarly, animals with evidence of infections with A. platys and H. canis were largely apparently healthy with only occasional laboratory abnormalities. CONCLUSIONS: Dogs are commonly infected with tick-borne pathogens in the Caribbean with most having no clinical signs or laboratory abnormalities

Sequencing results and melting curves of the <i>Babesia</i> spp.

<p>FRET-PCR. The upstream and downstream primers and the LCRed 640 probe of <i>Babesia</i> spp. FRET PCR are identical to the sequences of all <i>Babesia</i> spp. strains <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0053450#pone.0053450-Wang1" target="_blank">[15]</a>. The fluorescein probe (5′-GACCC AAAAT CTCAC CAGAG TAACA ATTGG-6-FAM-3′) has two nucleotide mismatches to <i>B. gibsoni</i> (A, C; only a portion of the sequencing results were shown here), and three mismatches to <i>B. canis canis</i> and <i>B. canis vogeli</i> (B, C). Melting curves show the distinct <i>T</i>_m differences between <i>B. gibsoni</i> (∼63.5°C; D), and <i>B. canis vogeli</i> (∼57.0°C; E) as well as dual peaks indicating co-infections of <i>B. gibsoni</i> and <i>B. canis vogeli</i> (F).</p

Prevalences of infections with tick-borne disease agents and numbers of dogs on which full data was available and their health status.

*<p>SNAP 3Dx® or SNAP 4 Dx®.</p>†<p>For dogs tested by both PCR and SNAP.</p><p>ND – not determined.</p