Research Center for Zoonosis Control Hokkaido University History of Research Center for Zoonosis Control 2014 ・Global Institution for Collaborative Research and Education (MEXT) 2012 • Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development (JICA/JST) 2011 • Collaborating Centre for Zoonoses Control (WHO) • Program for Leading Graduate Schools (JSPS) 2010 • Joint Usage / Research Center (MEXT) • Leading-edge Research Infrastructure Program (JSPS) • Japan Initiative for Global Research Network on Infectious Diseases (MEXT) 2009 • Strategic Basic Research Programs (JST) 2008 • Global COE program (JSPS) • Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development (JICA/JST) 2005 • Program of Founding Research Centers for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases (MEXT) • Research Network for the Control of Infectious Diseases (MEXT) • Establishment of “Research Center for Zoonosis Control” (MEXT) 2004 • World Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza (OIE) 2003 • The 21st Century COE program (JSPS) • Presentation at the council on “Prevention and Control of Zoonoses-proposal of a national project”, “Committee for Zoonosis” Council for Science and Technology Policy, (Cabinet Office) 1996 • Special Group Training Course in Diagnosis and Control of Rabies and Other Viral Zoonoses (JICA) -2000 WHO Collaborating Centre for Zoonoses Control, JPN-87 In 2010 Dec, Hiroshi Kida hosted the Regional Workshop on Collaboration between Human and Animal Health Sectors on Zoonoses Prevention and Control, in which the members from World Health Organization (WHO), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) got together for the first time in the world. In 2011 Nov, WHO designated the Hokkaido University Research Center for Zoonosis Control as the “WHO Collaborating Centre for Zoonoses Control”, and Professor Kida became Head of the Center. The inauguration ceremony and “the Regional Forum of Collaborating/ Reference Centres on Emerging Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses” was held in 2011 Dec. Key activities and achievements in Research Centre for Zoonosis Control from 2012 to 2014 Since 2005, the Research Center for Zoonosis Control had invited oversee researchers and risk managers, and organized several training courses; training courses of ecology, pathogenicity, and molecular biology of influenza virus, filovirus, and rabies viruses, training course for tuberculosis and influenza diagnosis responding to a request from WHO. General zoonosis and individual training courses with young researchers were supported by Japan International Cooperation Agency and other education funds. Adding to that, we organized training course of genetic diagnosis in leptospirosis in Philippines and of bioinformatics for studies on zoonoses in Thailand. The Research Center for Zoonosis Control has conducted the global surveillance of influenza and tuberculosis and released data through internet or scientific peer reviewed paper. Pathogenicity, antigenicity, genetic information, and yield in chicken embryo of influenza viruses have been analyzed, databased and opened for Web site. In 2010, isolation of H5N1 HPAI viruses through the surveillance contributed to preparedness for subsequent HPAI outbreaks in Japan. Clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex from humans, monkey, cattle, deer, lechwe and elephants from Zambia, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, the Philippines and Thailand were collected in collaboration with local researchers. These samples were analyzed genotype and drug resistance-associated genes of the strains. The Research Center for Zoonosis Control was registered into the WHO Global Outbreak Alert Network (GOARN) and continued capacity buildings to provide technical, material, and human resource to the outbreak area in responding to emergency request. Responding to urgent requests from Zambia Government upon the outbreak of Ebola virus infection in West Africa, 2014, we dispatched an expert of Ebola virus for capacity building for Ebola virus infection including establishment of emerging response guideline for suspected case in Points of Entry and provision of technical and material resources for diagnosis of Ebola virus to University of Zambia Responding to requests from Zambia Government upon the outbreak of human anthrax followed by massive deaths of wildlife along Zambezi Valley in 2012, we dispatched experts of bacteriology and molecular biology for follow-up studies to monitor environment (soil and water) of the past epidemic sites and advise the government on procedures of decontamination. Prof Kida was invited as the Temporary Advisor to Asia- Pacific Workshop on Multi-sectoral Collaboration for Zoonoses Prevention and Control, 27-29, Kathmandu Nepal. His expertise regarding control for emerging infectious disease in Asia Pacific Region and zoonotic influenza control was shared with a 120 participants from public and animal health officials in Asia Pacific Region. The Research Center for Zoonosis Control seconded one staff to ESR/DSE/WPRO to contribute to provide the technical expertise and facilitating the risk assessment for zoonotic events in the WPRO. Public Health Agency of Canada (WHO Collaborating Centre for Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases Detection, Diagnostics, Reference and Research, Winnipeg, Canada, CAN-22) on Ebola virus Nagasaki University (WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Tropical and Emerging Virus Diseases, Nagasaki, Japan, JPN-67) on Ebola virus National Institute of Infectious Diseases (WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza, Tokyo, Japan, JPN-64) on influenza. The University of Melbourne, Department of Microbiology and Immunology ( WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza) on influenza Research Institute of Tuberculosis (RIT) (WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference, Research and Training on Tuberculosis) on tuberculosis. Training on zoonoses and capacity building for Member States Data collection and dissemination of information related to zoonoses Collaboration or interaction with other WHO CC in the context of the ongoing activities to zoonoses control Isolates from water birds (69 combinations) Reassortants generated in the lab (75 combinations) Activities for establishment/improvement/maintenance of Biobank of influenza virus strains have been continued and their genetic information that will be used as references for the diagnosis, surveillance, and vaccine preparation. Influenza virus isolates of 75 combinations of the HA and NA subtypes have been isolated from fecal samples of ducks in surveillance studies. So far, 69 other combinations have been generated by the genetic reassortment procedure in chicken embryos. Thus, 2,000 non-pathogenic avian influenza viruses of all 144 combinations of the HA and NA subtypes have been stocked. The database is open for sharing the genetic information and biological materials for research and development of vaccines and diagnostic use for the control of animal and human influenza. (http://virusdb.czc.hokudai.ac.jp/index.html) Enhancement of surveillance and laboratory diagnosis for priority zoonoses and application for disease control Support Member States in developing and implementing zoonoses control in line with APSED Support WHO in Member States in outbreak investigation on potential zoonoses Advanced and Comprehensive Studies on Zoonosis Control Advanced lecture on One Health with invited speakers from US CDC and FAO. In 2012, Core Curriculum for Zoonosis Control were held with collaborations of JICA. A total of 26 trainees from 20 countries joined the curriculum and not only Japanese researchers but also WHO and OIE were invited as trainers. To facilitate the rapid diagnosis at the outbreak point in the field, antigen detection diagnosis kits based on Loop- Medicated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) methods were developed to diagnose avian influenza virus infection with subtype H5 and H7N9, tuberculosis, leptospirosis, and African trypanosomiasis and introduced into the field in endemic areas. The PCR methods for diagnosis of anthrax and rabies were developed, and introduced into Zambia and Zimbabwe. Ebola virus antigen detection assay using monoclonal antibodies to the Ebola virus and ELISA system to detect anti-filovirus antibodies were developed to diagnose the filovirus infection. Development and application of diagnostic tools for Member States Developed method Marburgvirus Ebolavirus existing method Improvement of filovirus detection The diagnosis method to detect the RNA of Ebolavirus and Marburgvirus was developed. It was revealed that this method is available for diagnosis using blood serum samples. Comparison of nested PCR and RT- LAMP for rabies virus detection The LAMP kit for tuberculosis was developed and were introduced into Zambia Contribution of Hokkaido University Research Center for Zoonosis Control in control of zoonoses Anti-microbial resistant tuberculosis (China) Avian influenza (Mongolia) Rabies, Tuberculosis (Sri Lanka) Tuberculosis (Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar) Surveillance and Research collaboration for hemorrhagic fever, tuberculosis, AMR, and capacity building for leptospirosis (Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia) Global surveillance for emerging diseases in Hokudai Center for Zoonosis Control in Zambia (Zambia) WHO Western Pacific Regional Office (Philippines) OIE-FAO OIE-FAO Reference Laboratories for Avian Influenza (designated in Jun., 2004) WHO Collaborating Centre for Zoonoses Control (designated in Nov., 2011) WHO Avian influenza (Russia) Protozoan diseases (Ghana, Sudan) Collaboration with Southern African Centre for Infectious Disease (SACIDS:five countries) Leprosy (Mexico) Research and Education Laboratory Invitation of Leading Researchers Unit Research collaboration for tick-borne infectious diseases (UK, Netherland Belgium) Genome analysis of protozoa (Malaysia) Research collaboration for Filo virus infections (Canada) Research collaboration for tuberculosis and filo virus infections (South Africa) Tuberculosis (Egypt) Rabies, Anthrax (Zimbabwe) Research collaboration for influenza, filo, and Phlebo viruses (USA) The Research Center for Zoonosis Control has established the global network for research collaboration, capacity development, and education support. We established the Hokudai Center for Zoonosis Control in Zambia as a research base contributing to clarify the ecology of zoonoses by intensive surveillance in animal populations, and technical and educational inputs for zoonoses control not only in Zambia but also in African countries. Our contribution is not limited into the Asian countries but also worldwide, including African countries.