Japanese Scientists Discover New Disease Carried by Ticks

By Robert Preidt
HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, Oct. 7, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Scientists in Japan have found one more tick-borne virus that may make folks sick.

The Yezo virus is transmitted by tick bites, and triggers fever and a discount in blood platelets and white blood cells.

“At least seven folks have been contaminated with this new virus in Japan since 2014, however, to date, no deaths have been confirmed,” stated Keita Matsuno, a virologist at Hokkaido University International Institute for Zoonosis Control.

“It’s very probably that the illness is discovered past Hokkaido, so we have to urgently examine its unfold,” Matsuno stated in a college information launch.

In 2019, a 41-year-old man was hospitalized with fever and leg ache after presumably being bitten by a tick whereas strolling in an area forest in Hokkaido. He was handled and discharged from the hospital after two weeks, however checks confirmed he had not been contaminated with any recognized viruses carried by ticks within the area.

The following yr, one other affected person was handled for related signs following a tick chunk.

Genetic analyses of viruses in blood samples from the 2 sufferers recognized the Yezo virus. Yezo is a historic Japanese title for Hokkaido, a big island within the north of Japan.

Tests of blood samples from different hospital sufferers who had related signs after tick bites since 2014 revealed 5 extra sufferers with the Yezo virus.

The researchers then switched to discovering the supply of the virus and located antibodies for the virus in Hokkaido sika deer and raccoons, and Yezo RNA in three main tick species in Hokkaido, in line with the examine. It was printed on-line not too long ago within the journal Nature Communications.

“The Yezo virus appears to have established its distribution in Hokkaido, and it’s extremely probably that the virus causes the sickness when it’s transmitted to people from animals through ticks,” Matsuno stated.

The researchers stated extra hospitals ought to check for the virus in sufferers who’ve signs that counsel Yezo an infection.

The Yezo virus is most intently associated to the Sulina virus and Tamdy virus, which have been detected in Romania and Uzbekistan, respectively. There are stories that the Tamdy virus has brought about acute fever in folks in China.

Tick-borne ailments are a worldwide menace. In the United States, Lyme illness, babesiosis and Rocky Mountain noticed fever are among the ones to be careful for.

More info

The U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has extra on tick – borne ailments.

SOURCE: Hokkaido University, information launch, Oct. 3, 2021