Insights on Infectious Diseases Testing and the One Health Approach
In an email to Professor Shigeru Yamada, Professor Kazuyuki Matsushita from Chiba University Hospital shared his insights from participating in the “One Health Biotyper Diagnostic Help” school. This event was part of the Italian Research Infrastructure ‘Pathogen Readiness Platform (PRP)’ and hosted by the University of Naples Federico II.
Professor Matsushita delivered lectures on infectious disease testing in Japan, highlighting mass spectrometry and nucleic acid testing, as well as Japan’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. European participants were particularly interested in the rapid identification of human infectious diseases by mass spectrometry, the complexities and pitfalls of nucleic acid testing, and the detection of pathogens in sewage.
He noted that in Europe, the concept of One Health for zoonotic diseases is widely recognized as a strategy for future pandemics. However, this approach has not gained much attention in Japan, despite being mentioned in the 120th anniversary commemorative magazine of the Japanese Medical Association. One Health involves various academic societies, each focusing on different aspects such as water (OneAquaHealth) and digital health (OneDigitalHealth). Key areas of importance in One Health include energy, food, and water, and collaboration between medical experts is considered crucial for future pandemic responses. During discussions on clinical testing, it was emphasized that diagnosing infectious diseases in humans requires greater attention to accuracy and pitfalls compared to animal testing.
The conference was attended by researchers from across Europe, including Portugal, Spain, and Belgium, who were highly enthusiastic about One Health. Professor Matsushita felt that Japan should also adopt the One Health approach to better prepare for future pandemics, particularly emphasizing the ongoing importance of energy, water, and food.
Author(s): Luigi Esposito, University of Naples Federico II