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The Mitsui & Co. Environment Fund

Introduction to Grant Projects

Veterinary Medical Science, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University Professor Toshio Tsubota

Is there a causal relationship between biodiversity and transmission of infectious diseases?—modeling the transmission of hepatozoonosis and Lyme disease transmission among wild animals in Hokkaido

Research grant

Project Description

In this research, we seek to: determine what types of wild animals in Hokkaido are carriers of Lyme disease or hepatozoonosis; and, among the wild animals of Hokkaido, to reveal if there any differences (particularly with regards to the "dilution effect") in the manner of Lyme disease/hepatozoonosis transmission by differing degrees of biological diversity? By this, we become better able to assess the risk of Lyme disease and, especially, hepatozoonosis transmission due to diminished biological diversity. As the ultimate goal of this research, we show the importance of maintaining biological diversity from the aspect of infectious disease transmission.

Fields
Preservation of biodiversity and ecosystem
Grant year
FY2008 Research Grants
Grant term
2 years
April 2009 - March 2011
Grant amount
4,750,000 yen
Activity region
Hokkaido: Zambia (Africa)
Asiatic black bear anesthetized for the survey

Overview of the Organization

Professor Toshio TSUBOTA
Representative
Professor Toshio TSUBOTA
Profile
Specialist fields
Wildlife medicine; conservation medicine
Affiliated academic societies
The Japanese Society of Veterinary Science; Japanese Society of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine; the Mammal Society of Japan; the Society for Reproduction and Development; Society for the Study of Human Animal Relations; International Bear Association
Background
In March 1988 completed a doctoral program (veterinary medicine) at the Graduate School within the Division of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University. In April 1988 became an Assistant at the Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Animal Science, Department of Agricultural Science at Gifu University. In March 1990 was a recipient of the Shimamura Award from the Society for Reproduction and Development, and March 1995 became an assistant professor at the Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Animal Science, Department of Agricultural Science, Gifu University. In April 2001 Professor, at the same institution. In March 2003, was a recipient of an award from the Japanese Society of Veterinary Science. In April 2004 became a Professor at the Laboratory of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine, Applied Veterinary Medicine, Joint Department of Veterinary Medicine at Gifu University. In April 2007 was appointed Professor, at the Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University.
WEB site
http://www.vetmed.hokudai.ac.jp/wildlifeBiology01.html
Collaborating researchers
Michito SHIMOZURU, Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University; Tsutomu MANO, Chief scientist, Hokkaido Center of Environmental Sciences & Technology; Masami YAMANAKA, Secretary general, Shiretoko Nature Foundation
Research record
  • (1) Yanagawa, Y., Matsuura, Y., Suzuki, M., Katagiri, S. & Tsubota, T.: Immunohistochemical localization of the estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and progesterone receptor (PR) in the uterus of sika deer (Cervus nippon) during pregnancy. Jpn. J. Vet. Res. 56: 139-149, 2008.
  • (2) Yanagawa, Y., Matsuura, Y., Suzuki, M., Saga, S., Okuyama, H., Fukui, D., Bandou, G., Katagiri, S.,Takahashi, Y. & Tsubota, T.: Fetal age estimation of Hokkaido Sika deer (Cervus nippon yesoensis) using ultrasonography during early pregnancy. J. Reprod. Dev. 55: 143-148, 2009.
  • (3) Okano, T., Murase, T., Nakamaura, S., Komatsu, T., Tsubota, T., Asano, M. & Suzuki, M.: Normal sperm morphology and changes of semen characteristics and abnormal morphological spermatozoa among perimating seasons in captive Japanese black bears (Ursus thibetanus japonicus). J. Reprod. Dev. 55: 194-199, 2009.
  • (4) Iibuchi, R., Nakano, N., Nakamura, T., Urashima, T., Shimozuru, M., Murase, T. & Tsubota, T.: Change in body weight of mothers and neonates and in milk composition during denning period in captive Japanese black bears (Ursus thibetanus japonicus). Jpn. J. Vet. Res. 57: 13-22, 2009.