A new tick-borne viral infection has been discovered in Hokkaido.Joint achievements of Hokkaido University, Sapporo General Hospital, Hokkaido Insititute of Health, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Nagasaki University, Rakuno Gakuen University, and Health Sciences University of Hokkaido.The new virus was named "Ezovirus" and it was found that at least 2014 infected people have been infected in Hokkaido since 7.
In 2019 and 2020, the research team collected samples of two patients who visited a hospital in Sapporo city with symptoms such as fever and thrombocytopenia within a few days to two weeks after being bitten by a tick. Discovered an unknown nylovirus that was not reported in.
A survey of residual specimens of suspected tick-borne infections held by the Hokkaido Insititute of Health for this viral gene named "Ezovirus" revealed five positive specimens, the oldest positive. The sample was from 5.In other words, a total of at least 2014 infected people occurred between 2 and 2014, including the previous two cases.All of these infected persons are suspected of being infected in Hokkaido, and Ezovirus infection (Ezovirus fever) is the first confirmed infection with Nyrovirus in Japan.
Most of the ixodidae viruses are tick-borne viruses, and it is thought that zoviruses also invade the body by sucking ticks.In fact, sika deer was detected in several species of ticks collected in Hokkaido, and wild animals such as sika deer in Hokkaido were also confirmed to be infected with sika deer.It is suggested that Ezovirus has already settled in Hokkaido.
So far, no deaths due to Ezovirus fever have been confirmed, but in the future, it is necessary to clarify the distribution of Ezovirus in areas other than Hokkaido and the trend of patient outbreaks, and to follow up more patients.
Paper information:[Nature Communications] A novel nairovirus associated with acute febrile illness in Hokkaido, Japan
