A new case of zoonotic onchocercosis in northern Kyushu, Japan

• Published in: Parasitology international Vol. 64; no. 6; pp. 519 - 521
• Main Authors: Fukuda, Masako, Uni, Shigehiko, Otsuka, Yasushi, Eshita, Yuki, Nakatani, Jun, Ihara, Kazuhiko, Yoshikawa, Yasuji, Goto, Mizuki, Fujiwara, Sakuhei, Ramli, Rosli, Azirun, Mohd Sofian, Takaoka, Hiroyuki
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.12.2015
• Subjects: Adult; Animals; Base Sequence; Blackfly; DNA, Helminth - genetics; Electron Transport Complex IV - genetics; Filarioid; Fingers - parasitology; Gastroenterology and Hepatology; Humans; Infectious Disease; Japan; Male; Onchocerca; Onchocerca - isolation & purification; Onchocerciasis - diagnosis; Onchocerciasis - parasitology; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Sus scrofa - parasitology; Swine; Swine Diseases - parasitology; Wild boar; Young Adult; Zoonoses - parasitology; Zoonosis; Japan; Onchocerca; Filarioid; Zoonosis; Blackfly; Wild boar
• ISSN: 1383-5769; 1873-0329
• DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2015.07.006

Abstract A case of zoonotic onchocercosis has been found in a resident who lived in Iizuka City, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan for some time. A 24-year-old male developed a painful nodule on the middle finger of his right hand. The nodule was surgically removed from the vagina fibrosa tendinis of the finger at Beppu Medical Center, Beppu City, Oita Prefecture in 2012. The causative agent was identified as a female Onchocerca dewittei japonica based on its histopathological characteristics. The identity of the filarioid has been confirmed by sequencing the cox 1 gene. The present study indicates that the zoonotic onchocercosis caused by O. dewittei japonica has been concentrated in northeast Kyushu.