Molecular Epidemiological Surveillance of Equine Babesiosis in Japan

(1)建立了重组蛋白(EMA-1和GST-BC48)的酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)、胶乳凝集试验和Western印迹检测抗体的方法，并用巴西马的血清进行了抗体检测。(2)对日本1971-1973年采集的2,019份马巴贝斯虫进行了血清学调查。这些结果表明，通过检测马巴贝斯虫和马巴贝斯虫的抗体，日本存在马巴贝斯虫病。(3)利用从蒙古牧场采集的粉虱建立了从媒介硬蜱中扩增马巴贝斯虫寄生虫基因片段的PCR方法。(4)利用上述PCR技术，研究了日本最流行的长角血蜱及其卵在传播马巴贝斯虫寄生虫中的可能作用。(5)为了开发新型传播阻断疫苗，研究了硬蜱对马巴贝斯虫寄生虫的内部防御机制，如血细胞吞噬功能和生物活性分子。

(1) Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), latex agglutination tests, and Western blot using recombinant proteins (EMA-1 and GST-BC48) have been established and their high sensitivity and specificity for antibody detection have been demonstrated using sera collected from horses of Brazil.(2) A serological survey of equine babesios in Japan was carried out on 2,019 sera collected during 1971-1973 by the above-mentioned ELISA and Western blot. These results suggested that the existence of equine babesiosis in Japan by the detection of antibodies against Babesia caballi and B. equi.(3) The PCR for amplification of specific-equine Babesia parasite gene fragments from vector ticks was established using Dermacentor ticks collected from the pasture of Mongolia.(4) The possible role of Haemaphysalis longicornis, the most prevalent tick in Japan, and its eggs in the transmission of Babesia caballi parasites was documented using the above-mentioned PCR.(5) The internal defense mechanisms of ticks against equine Babesia parasites, such as the hemocyte phagocytosis and bioactive molecules, were investigated in order to develop the novel transmission-blocking vaccines.