Retrospective study of clinical complications occurring after arterial punctures in 111 dogs

The clinical complications occurring after 111 dogs had undergone arterial punctures were reviewed in relation to the dogs' breed, bodyweight, age, sex and underlying diseases. Seven of the dogs had moderate to extensive ecchymoses, which were significantly more common in dogs under 3.5 kg in bodyweight and in dogs with disorders of the cardiovascular system.     

The role of CD4(+) or CD8(+) T cells in the protective immune response of BALB/c mice to Neospora caninum infection

The role of CD4(+) or CD8(+) T cells in the immune response of BALB/c mice against Neospora caninum infection was examined by using anti-CD4 and/or anti-CD8 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Mice were intraperitoneally inoculated with anti-CD4 and/or anti-CD8 mAbs before and after infection with N. caninum and observed for 30 days after infection. Most of the anti-CD4 mAb-treated mice and all of the anti-CD4 and anti-CD8 mAbs-treated mice died within 30 days post-infection (p.i.). In contrast, 100% of PBS-treated mice and 70% of anti-CD8 mAb-treated mice survived more than 30 days. When compared with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS)-treated mice, the weight of mice treated with mAbs tended to decrease. From these results CD4(+) T cells, but not CD8(+) T cells, have an important role for protection of mice against N. caninum infection. Serum antibody levels to N. caninum in infected-mice treated with anti-CD4 mAb or a mixture of anti-CD4 and anti-CD8 mAbs were lower than those in the infected mice treated with anti-CD8 mAb or PBS. The mice treated with anti-interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) mAb produced high antibody levels to N. caninum, but all mice died within 18 days p.i. These results indicated that IFN-gamma is an important cytokine for protection against N. caninum infection at the early stage of infection. However, since CD4(+) T cells against N. caninum were essential to the production of specific antibody, these antibodies might have important roles in host protection at the later stage of infection.     

Prevalence of Bartonella henselae, Bartonella clarridgeiae and the 16S rRNA gene types of Bartonella henselae among pet cats in Japan

The authors investigated bacteriologically the prevalence of Bartonella infection among 690 pet cats derived from 10 private animal hospitals in six cities (Sapporo, Hokkaido Prefecture; Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture; Joetsu, Niigata Prefecture; Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecutre; Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture; Sanda, Hyogo Prefecutre) and 4 counties (Mishima, Osaka Prefecture; Hikawa, Shimane Prefecture; Aira, Kagoshima Prefecture; Shimajiri, Okinawa Prefecture) located from the north to the south of Japan. Bartonella species were isolated from 7.2% (50/690) of all the cats examined. No Bartonella species were isolated from the cats in Sapporo or Sendai. The isolation rate varied from 2% in Joetsu and Sanda to 20% in Shimajiri. Bartonella clarridgeiae was isolated from two of 50 cats in Kyoto, three of 50 in Mishima and one of 50 in Shimajiri, but not in cats from the other cities or counties. Though the cats of Joetsu, Fujisawa, Kyoto, Sanda, Aira and Shimajiri were infected with either B. henselae or B. clarridgeiae, one of eight infected cats in Mishima was harboring both Bartonella species. Type I of 16S rRNA gene was the predominant type among the isolates of B. henselae, but only one isolate derived from Shimajiri was found to be of type II. Prevalence of B. clarridgeiae and the 16S rRNA gene type of B. henselae among cats in Japan was demonstrated for the first time in this investigation.     

The quality and maturation of bitch oocytes recovered from ovaries by the slicing method

Oocytes were recovered from bitch ovaries at various stages of the estrous cycle by the slicing method. The proportion of Grade A oocytes (darkly pigmented and surrounded in part, or whole, by dense layers of cumulus cells) were counted. Only Grade A oocytes were cultured in TCM199 supplemented with 5% fetal calf serum for evaluation of meiotic competence. There were no significant differences in the total number of oocytes or the proportion of Grade A oocytes that were recovered from bitches at various stages of the estrous cycle. Only 11% of the oocytes reached metaphase II (MII) at 72 hr after initiation of maturation culture. However, the proportions of oocytes reaching MII did not increase with culturing for up to 120 hr.     

Geographical variation of mandible size and shape in the Japanese wild pig (Sus scrofa leucomystax)

The mandibles of the Japanese wild pigs (Sus scrofa leucomystax) from various geographical locations, which have been stored in the University of Tokyo and National Science Museum, Tokyo were examined. The mandibles from northern localities were larger in size than those from southern localities. The Oita population was significantly smaller than the Honshu populations. The Mie population was smaller than the Hyogo population in length from the angle of the mandible. In the multivariate analysis, the Kyushu populations could be obviously distinguished from the Honshu populations in the principal component charts. However, each Honshu population did not show the locality-specific distribution of the principal component plots.     

Cycas necrotic stunt virus isolated from gladiolus plants in Japan

An undescribed spherical virus ca. 30 nm in diameter was isolated from gladiolus (Gladiolus spp.) plants in Japan. The virus had a moderate host range within eight families. Purified virus preparations contained two large RNA components and one coat protein with mobility similar to Cycas necrotic stunt virus (CNSV) from cycas (Cycas revolute). The virus was serologically closely related to CNSV. Its nucleotide sequence of the coat protein gene had 89% common identity with that of CNSV. These results indicated that the virus isolated from gladiolus is a new strain of CNSV. The nucleotide sequence data reported are available in the DDBJ/EMBL/Gen Bank databases under the accession number AB237656.     

In vitro but not in planta encapsidation of Rice gall dwarf virus core particles by the outer capsid P8 protein of Rice dwarf virus expressed in transgenic rice plants

Transencapsidation of the Rice gall dwarf virus (RGDV) inner core by the Rice dwarf virus (RDV) outer capsid P8 protein was examined in vitro and in planta. When RGDV core particles were incubated with an extract from RDV P8-transgenic rice leaf tissue, RDV P8 encapsidated the RGDV core particles to form double-shelled virus-like particles in vitro. In contrast, when RDV P8-transgenic rice plants were inoculated with RGDV, progeny RGDV particles contained RGDV P8 but RDV P8 was not detectable in the virions. No significant differences were found in acquisition by the vector insects and subsequent transmission rates between RGDV infecting nontransgenic rice plants and those infecting RDV P8-transgenic rice plants. These results indicate that mechanisms of and/or requirements for interactions between P8 and the inner core particles of phytoreoviruses differ between in vitro and in planta.     

Guided bone regeneration with beta-tricalcium phosphate and poly L-lactide-co-glycolide-co-epsilon-caprolactone membrane in partial defects of canine humerus

This study was performed to evaluate the effect of beta-tricalcium phosphate and poly L-lactide-co-glycolide-co-epsilon-caprolactone (TCP/PLGC) membrane in the repair of partial bone defects in canine proximal humerus. Three adult mixed-breed dogs were used during the experimental period. The length of the defect was quarter of the full length of humerus, and width of the defect was quarter of middle diameter of the lateral aspect of humerus. The humeri of each dog were divided into treatment (TCP/PLGC) and control groups. The defect was covered with TCP/PLGC membrane in treatment group. To evaluate regeneration of the bone, computerized tomography (CT) and histopathologic examination were performed. The radiopaque lines were appeared at the original defect sites in TCP/PLGC group but below the original site in control at 4th week. Radiopacity and thickness of the defect sites, and radiopaque lines were more increased at 8th week than those of 4th week. Histopathologic findings revealed fibrous connective tissue migration into the defect and the migration inhibited the structure of new cortex to be placed in the original level in control whereas new cortex growth was found in the level of original line in TCP/PLGC group. However, the new cortical bone in the TCP/PLGC group was thinner and less organized than the adjacent intact cortex, and the amount of new cancellous bones were also scanty. The result suggested that TCP/PLGC membrane is a good guided bone regeneration material to restore the original morphology of humerus in partial defect.     

Occurrence of chrysanthemum virescence caused by “<Emphasis Type="Italic">Candidatus</Emphasis> Phytoplasma aurantifolia” in Okinawa

In 1999, a disease of chrysanthemum [Dendranthema grandiflorum (Ramat.) Kitamura], characterized by virescence of flowers, occurred in Okinawa Prefecture. The causal agent was identified as “Candidatus Phytoplasma aurantifolia” based on 16S rDNA sequencing. The nucleotide sequence data reported are available in the DDBJ/EMBL/GenBank databases under accession number AB247462.