Molecular characterization of a novel bovine group A rotavirus

In this study, by partial sequence analysis of the genome segments encoding VP5* and VP7, we characterized a novel bovine group A rotavirus, namely, Tak2, that was detected from adult cattle diarrhea in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. The nucleotide (nt) and deduced amino acid (aa) sequences of the genome segments encoding VP5* and half of the amino terminal portion of VP7 of Tak2 revealed a low identity with those of group A rotaviruses carrying previously published P and G type specificities (VP5*: nt identity, 61.6%-67.6% and aa identity, 58.0%-71.4%; half of the amino terminal portion of VP7: nt identity, 57.8%-73.5% and aa identity, 61.2%-70.9%). Additionally, phylogenetic analysis of the nt sequences of the genome segments encoding VP5* and half of the amino terminal portion of VP7 revealed that Tak2 formed a branch separate from the established P and G types. These results suggested that Tak2 could possess novel P and G types yet not reported among group A rotaviruses.     

Screening of the enterocin genes and antimicrobial activity against pathogenic bacteria in Enterococcus strains obtained from different origins

Antimicrobial activities of 139 Enterococcus isolates (48 E. faecium and 91 E. faecalis) obtained from canine feces, boiler meat samples, swine feces, wild waterfowl feces, and human feces were examined against respective bacteria, including Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella Enteritidis, and Escherichia coli. Bacteriocin (BAC) production assay revealed that the antimicrobial activity against at least one of 6 indicator strains (BAC+ phenotype) was found in 51 (37%) isolates (29 E. faecium and 22 E. faecalis). Twenty-four of 46 isolates positive for at least one of the enterocin structural genes (entA, entB, entL50AB, and cylL) showed a BAC+ phenotype. The existence of other enterocins or nonenterocin factors was implied because the BAC+ phenotype was detected in a total of 27 Enterococcus isolates that had none of the enterocin genes tested. The antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative strains (Salmonella Enteritidis and E. coli) was detected in the 6 Enterococcus isolates that had either the entA, entB, entL50AB or cylL genes. Moreover, the proportion of the antimicrobial activity against L. monocytogenes among the cylL-positive E. faecalis isolates showing beta-hemolysis (10/16) was significantly (p<0.01) higher than among those lacking beta-hemolysis (2/15). The results suggested that certain characteristics are likely to be associated with the antimicrobial activity against specific organisms.     

Fishery characteristics of barfin flounder Verasper moseri in southern Tohoku,the major spawning ground,after the start of large-scale stock enhancement in Hokkaido,Japan

Commercial landings of a rare pleuronectid flatfish, barfin flounder Verasper moseri, recovered drastically after large-scale stock enhancement in Hokkaido conducted since 2006. This study investigated commercial landings, fishing grounds, size distributions, and sex and age compositions of barfin flounder during 2007–2011 in southern Tohoku, their major spawning ground, which is over 700 km south of Hokkaido. Landings, mostly comprising stocked fish, increased drastically in southern Tohoku: from 2.0 tons in 2007 to 20.8 tons in 2010. Over 98 % of them were landed during January–April, with the peak period during February–March. Fishing logbook data of offshore bottom-trawl vessels during 2007–2010 revealed the upper continental slope off southernmost Tohoku as the main fishing ground (35°40′–36°50′N, annual weighted mean depth 267–299 m). Two size modes in the landings consisted of males (ca. 40 cm) and females (ca. 60 cm). The main age at fishery recruitment in southern Tohoku was younger for males (age 2+) than for females (ages 3+ and 4+), the result of which was that the female percentage was lowest at 1.5 % in 2009 and highest at 7.9 % in 2011. Our results showed clearly how the effectiveness of large-scale stock enhancement in Hokkaido extended to southern Tohoku in association with spawning migration of stocked barfin flounder.     

Estimating water use of a black locust plantation by the thermal dissipation probe method in the semiarid region of Loess Plateau, China

Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) is a major reforestation species in the semiarid region in the Loess Plateau of China. There has been increasing concern about the sustainability of the plantations because of their possible high water-use. This study was, accordingly, undertaken to quantify the stand-scale water use of a middle-aged black locust plantation in the region. The thermal dissipation probe method was applied to 27 trees to measure sap flux densities in an experimental plot during the growing season of 2008. The monoculture stand has a basal area of 23.3 m² ha^?1 and a maximum plant area index (PAI) of 2.89. Sapwood areas were estimated by use of a regressive relationship with the diameter at breast height (DBH) for scaling up of stand transpiration. The results showed that DBH could be a good predictor of sapwood area of individual trees. The diurnal cycles of average sap flux densities differed among DBH classes. Daily transpiration can be predicted from mean daily daytime vapor pressure deficit (VPD_m) using a fitted exponential saturation model. Model variables were different among seasons, probably owing to different soil water conditions and leaf phenology. By using the derived model for each month, stand canopy transpiration over the growing season was estimated to be 73.8 mm, with an average daily value of 0.41 mm day^?1 and a maximum of 0.89 mm day^?1. The relatively small estimates of stand transpiration might be attributed to low PAI and sap wood area of the middle-aged stand.     

Relationship between annual rainfall and interception ratio for forests across Japan

Several previous studies in Japan have examined differences in rainfall interception amounts induced by differences in forest properties by comparing the annual rainfall interception ratios (annual rainfall interception divided by annual rainfall) from various sites without considering variations in meteorological conditions between sites. Rainfall interception actually depends on meteorological conditions as well as forest properties. This study examined variations in the annual interception ratio relating to the variation in annual rainfall, which would be the primary factor relating to the interception ratio, across Japan with the use of a rainfall interception model assuming the same forest properties (i.e., the canopy storage capacity, canopy closure, leaf area index (LAI), and the bulk coefficient for sensible heat transfer). The ratio ranged between 0.12 and 0.24 across Japan and was highly correlated to annual rainfall. This indicates that considering the variation in annual rainfall is critical for assessing the difference in rainfall interception amounts induced by forest properties. We reconsidered the results of previous studies in Japan that compared annual interception ratios between sites with different forest properties: (i) there is no clear difference in interception amounts between broadleaf and coniferous forests and (ii) there is a positive correlation in stem density and interception amounts for coniferous forests. These results still held when considering differences in annual rainfall between sites.     

Evaluation of leaf display of evergreen broadleaved tree species and deciduous tree species in warm temperate conifer plantations

We investigated the sapling leaf display in the shade among trees of various leaf lifespans co-occurring under the canopy of a warm-temperate conifer plantation. We measured leaf-area ratio (aLAR) and morphological traits of saplings of evergreen broadleaved tree species and a deciduous tree species. Although we found large interspecific and intraspecific differences in aLAR even among saplings of similar size in the homogeneous light environment, we did not find a consistent trend in aLAR with leaf lifespan among the species. While deciduous trees annually produced a large leaf area, some evergreen broadleaved trees retained their leaves across years and had aLAR values as high as those of deciduous trees. Among leaf-level, shoot-level, and individual-level morphological traits, aLAR was positively correlated with current-year shoots mass per aboveground biomass in deciduous trees, and with the area of old leaves per aboveground mass in evergreen broadleaved trees. Thus, tree-to-tree variation in the degrees of annual shoot production and the accumulation of old leaves were responsible for the interspecific and intraspecific variations in aLAR.     

Differences in receptor specificity between Newcastle disease viruses originating from chickens and waterfowl.

We compared the receptor specificity of Newcastle disease viruses from a variety of avian species, including chickens and wild waterfowl, using hemagglutination tests with erythrocytes from different animal species. All isolates from wild waterfowl agglutinated horse erythrocytes, while the chicken isolates did not. The results showed that the receptor specificity of Newcastle disease viruses is different, depending on the avian species from which the viruses are isolated.     

Receptor specificity of influenza A viruses from sea mammals correlates with lung sialyloligosaccharides in these animals.

The distribution of specific receptors on target organs is a major factor in the host range restriction of influenza A viruses. To assess the correlation between host receptors and the receptor specificity of influenza A viruses from sea mammals, we examined the receptors for influenza A virus in seal and whale lungs. A binding assay using two sialyloligosaccharide (SAalpha2,3Gal and SAalpha2,6Gal)-specific lectins showed that SAalpha2,3Gal, but not SAalpha2,6Gal, was found in both seal and whale lungs. Correspondingly, seal and whale influenza viruses preferentially recognized SAalpha2,3Gal, but not SAalpha2,6Gal. These results indicate that sialyloligosaccharides present at the replication site of influenza A viruses correlate with the receptor recognition of the viruses isolated from sea mammals.     

Comparison of epidural and systemic tramadol for analgesia following ovariohysterectomy

The objective of the study was to compare epidural and systemic tramadol for postoperative analgesia in bitches undergoing ovariohysterectomy. Twenty animals, randomly divided into two groups, received either epidural (EPI) or intramuscular (IM) tramadol (2 mg/kg) 30 min before anesthetic induction. Analgesia, sedation, cardiorespiratory parameters, end-tidal isoflurane, blood catecholamines and cortisol, and arterial blood gases were measured at different time points up to 24 hr after agent administration. There were no differences between the two groups regarding cardiorespiratory parameters, end-tidal isoflurane, and pain scores. Two dogs in the IM and one in the EPI group required supplemental analgesia. Cortisol was increased (P<0.05) at 120 min (3.59 μg/dL and 3.27μg/dL in the IM and EPI groups, respectively) and 240 min (2.45 μg/dL and 2.54μg/dL in the IM and EPI groups, respectively) compared to baseline. Norepinephrine was also increased (P<0.05) at 120 min in both groups compared to baseline values. Epinephrine values were higher (P<0.05) in the IM group compared with the EPI group at 50 min, 120 min, and 1,440 min after tramadol administration. Epidural tramadol is a safe analgesic, but does not appear to have improved analgesic effects compared with IM administration.     

Molecular epidemiology of avian influenza viruses circulating among healthy poultry flocks in farms in northern Vietnam

Repeated epizootics of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus subtype H5N1 were reported from 2003 to 2005 among poultry in Vietnam. More than 200 million birds were killed to control the spread of the disease. Human cases of H5N1 infection have been sporadically reported in an area where repeated H5N1 outbreaks among birds had occurred. Subtype H5N1 strains are established as endemic among poultry in Vietnam, however, insights into how avian influenza viruses including the H5N1 subtype are maintained in endemic areas is not clear. In order to determine the prevalence of different avian influenza viruses (AIVs), including H5N1 circulating among poultry in northern Vietnam, surveillance was conducted during the years 2006-2009. A subtype H5N1 strain was isolated from an apparently healthy duck reared on a farm in northern Vietnam in 2008 and was identified as an HPAI. Although only one H5N1 virus was isolated, it supports the view that healthy domestic ducks play a pivotal role in maintaining and transmitting H5N1 viruses which cause disease outbreaks in northern Vietnam. In addition, a total of 26 AIVs with low pathogenicity were isolated from poultry and phylogenetic analysis of all the eight gene segments revealed their diverse genetical backgrounds, implying that reassortments have occurred frequently among strains in northern Vietnam. It is, therefore, important to monitor the prevalence of influenza viruses among healthy poultry between epidemics in an area where AIVs are endemic.