Leptospirosis in Squirrels Imported from United States to Japan

We diagnosed leptospirosis in 2 patients exposed to southern flying squirrels imported from the United States to Japan. Patients worked with exotic animals in their company. Leptospira isolates from 1 patient and 5 of 10 squirrels at the company were genetically and serologically identical and were identified as Leptospira kirschneri

A biologically inspired methodology for multi-disciplinary topology optimization

M.S. University of Hawaii at Manoa 2012.Includes bibliographical references.This thesis introduces a biologically inspired topology optimization method with the incorporation of fractones. The proposed method was adapted from a current optimization method which employs a cellular division model for the generation of topological maps. Once topologies are generated, they are evaluated for a set of performance functions and optimized through a genetic algorithm. The proposition of this thesis was that the incorporation of fractones into the existing mapping system may improve the overall efficiency and performance of the optimization algorithm. Fractones are small extracellular structures believed to regulate the cellular division process through the capture and transport of growth factors. In this model the distribution and diffusion of growth factors served as additional control parameters in the creation and optimization of topologies. Both the fractone modified and original methods of the mapping system were applied to an aeroelastic flapping membrane wing optimization problem in which the supporting lattice structures of the wings were optimized for power requirement, lift, and thrust performances. The performances of the original and fractone models were compared and analyses of the generated venation patters were made

Phylogenetic relationships between the <i>Ehrlichia</i> spp. genes based on sequence comparison of the <i>groEL</i> gene 319-bp fragment.

<p>The phylogenetic branches showed supported of >70% by bootstrap analysis. Identified sequences are in bold type. The bar indicates the percentage of sequence divergence.</p

Tick population, host species, and PCR detection rates of the rickettsial genes.

<p>*Number of animal in parenthesis, U: unknown.</p><p>**M: male, F: female, N: nymph, U: unknown.</p><p>Tick population, host species, and PCR detection rates of the rickettsial genes.</p

Primers used in PCR and sequencing.

<p>*: M = A,C; W = A,T; K = G,T; R = A,G; S = C,G; Y = C,T.</p><p>^a: 1st PCR.</p><p>^b: nested PCR.</p><p>Primers used in PCR and sequencing.</p

Detection of <i>Rickettsia</i> and <i>Ehrlichia</i> spp. in Ticks Associated with Exotic Reptiles and Amphibians Imported into Japan

<div><p>One of the major routes of transmission of rickettsial and ehrlichial diseases is via ticks that infest numerous host species, including humans. Besides mammals, reptiles and amphibians also carry ticks that may harbor <i>Rickettsia</i> and <i>Ehrlichia</i> strains that are pathogenic to humans. Furthermore, reptiles and amphibians are exempt from quarantine in Japan, thus facilitating the entry of parasites and pathogens to the country through import. Accordingly, in the current study, we examined the presence of <i>Rickettsia</i> and <i>Ehrlichia</i> spp. genes in ticks associated with reptiles and amphibians originating from outside Japan. Ninety-three ticks representing nine tick species (genera <i>Amblyomma</i> and <i>Hyalomma</i>) were isolated from at least 28 animals spanning 10 species and originating from 12 countries (Ghana, Jordan, Madagascar, Panama, Russia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Tanzania, Togo, Uzbekistan, and Zambia). None of the nine tick species are indigenous in Japan. The genes encoding the common rickettsial 17-kDa antigen, citrate synthase (<i>gltA</i>), and outer membrane protein A (<i>ompA</i>) were positively detected in 45.2% (42/93), 40.9% (38/93), and 23.7% (22/93) of the ticks, respectively, by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The genes encoding ehrlichial heat shock protein (<i>groEL</i>) and major outer membrane protein (<i>omp-1</i>) were PCR-positive in 7.5% (7/93) and 2.2% (2/93) of the ticks, respectively. The <i>p44</i> gene, which encodes the <i>Anaplasma</i> outer membrane protein, was not detected. Phylogenetic analysis showed that several of the rickettsial and ehrlichial sequences isolated in this study were highly similar to human pathogen genes, including agents not previously detected in Japan. These data demonstrate the global transportation of pathogenic <i>Rickettsia</i> and <i>Ehrlichia</i> through reptile- and amphibian-associated ticks. These imported animals have potential to transfer pathogens into human life. These results highlight the need to control the international transportation of known and potential pathogens carried by ticks in reptiles, amphibians, and other animals, in order to improve national and international public health.</p></div