The current status of neglected tropical diseases in Japan: A scoping review

 Associate Professor YOSHIOKA Kota and his research group at the Nagasaki University School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health have published "The current status of neglected tropical diseases in Japan: A scoping review".

■Author Summary 
Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are an umbrella term for 20 diseases and disease groups recognized by the World Health Organization. Although NTDs are usually considered to be a public health problem in low- and middle-income countries, people living in high-income countries could also be affected. In this scoping review, we aimed to summarize the latest evidence and information to understand the epidemiology of and public health response to NTDs in Japan. Japan officially reported a yearly average of 340 NTD cases between 2014 and 2017; however, we found that it does not accurately reflect the current status of NTDs in the country. Our review suggests that 15 of 20 NTDs can be considered to be important public health concerns. While echinococcosis, chikungunya, dengue, and rabies are under control by law, many other NTDs are largely neglected by Japan’s health systems and solely addressed by a limited number of physicians and researchers. We recommend that the Government of Japan should assume responsibility for enhancing surveillance, expanding access to diagnostics and medicines, and ensuring affordability of unapproved NTD drugs.

■Abstract 
Little attention has been paid to neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in high-income countries and no literature provides an overview of NTDs in Japan. This scoping review aims to synthesize the latest evidence and information to understand epidemiology of and public health response to NTDs in Japan. Using three academic databases, we retrieved articles that mentioned NTDs in Japan, written in English or Japanese, and published between 2010 and 2020. Websites of key public health institutions and medical societies were also explored. From these sources of information, we extracted data that were relevant to answering our research questions. Our findings revealed the transmission of alveolar echinococcosis, Buruli ulcer, Chagas disease, dengue, foodborne trematodiases, mycetoma, scabies, and soil-transmitted helminthiasis as well as occurrence of snakebites within Japan.


■Journal Information  
Journal: PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
Title: The current status of neglected tropical diseases in Japan: A scoping review
Author information: HARADA Yuriko, IWASHITA Hanako, MORIYASU Taeko, NAGI Sachiyo, SAITO Nobuo, SUGAWARA-MIKAMI Mariko, YOSHIOKA Kota, YOTSU Rie, on behalf of Japan NTD Study Group
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0011854
Published: 2 January 2024

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