Antigenic differences between H5N1 human influenza viruses isolated in 1997 and 2003

To assess whether the antigenic properties of H5 hemagglutinin (HA) change over time due to antigenic drift, we produced a panel of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against the HA of the index H5N1 human influenza A virus, A/Hong Kong/156/97. By immunizing mice with a plasmid expressing this HA and boosting the initial immunization with cell lysates transfected with the plasmid, a total of six hybridomas producing HA-specific mAbs were established: four to the HA1 subunit with hemadsorption-inhibiting activity and two to the HA2 subunit. None of the mAbs to HA1 could bind to the HA of a recent human isolate, A/Hong Kong/213/2003, indicating that there are substantial antigenic differences between the H5N1 human influenza virus isolated in 1997 and that isolated in 2003.     

Prevalence of Salmonella spp. in pigs, chickens and ducks in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam

In order to determine the prevalence of Salmonella spp. in domestic animals in 6 provinces of the Mekong Delta, Vietnam, 1,098 fecal or intestinal content samples from pigs, chickens, and ducks were examined in the period from July to October, 2000. Salmonella spp. were isolated from 78 (7.1%) of the total samples, which included 23 (5.2%) of 439 pigs, 24 (7.9%) of 302 chickens, and 31 (8.7%) of 357 ducks. From those samples, 80 Salmonella strains were isolated and 25 serovars were identified. The predominant serovars were S. Javiana, S. Derby, and S. Weltevreden. S. Javiana and S. Weltevreden were detected together in pigs, chickens, and ducks. These results indicate that the serovars of Salmonella are widely distributed in domestic animals in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam.     

Protective effect of botulinum C/D mosaic toxoid against avian botulism

Avian botulism is a paralytic disease caused by a toxin produced by Clostridium botulinum type C. Since type C isolates from cases of avian botulism produced a neurotoxin consisting of a mosaic form of parts of type C and D neurotoxins, we examined the antitoxin titers in the convalescent sera of botulism-affected birds which belonged to family Anatidae. ELISA using the C/D mosaic neurotoxin as an antigen revealed that the antibody was detected in the sera at 2 weeks, but not at 5 weeks after the onset, suggesting that the antibody only appeared for a short period in the convalescent phase. However, we failed to detect the antibody titers with anti-chicken IgG instead of anti-duck IgG. We therefore examine the immunological properties of IgG among different families and species. The results revealed that different species of IgG in the same family exhibited strong cross-reactivity. Ducks immunized once with the toxoid together with a commercial oil-adjuvanted vaccine were found to develop sufficient antibody to protect against a challenge with a lethal toxin dose. The ELISA titers did not correspond to the neutralization titers in the sera of immunized ducks at the early stage during immunization. These findings suggest that the neutralizing titer was more useful than the ELISA titer for evaluating the protection against the toxin, but the ELISA technique may be applicable for detecting the occurrence of botulism.     

Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva-like condition in a cat

Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP)-like condition was diagnosed in a Japanese domestic cat with stiffness, marked atrophy of the muscles, and limited mobility of all joints in both the pelvic limbs. Etretinate, a retinoid, was used for medical management; however, no improvement in the clinical signs was observed. Inheritance of the disorder has not yet been demonstrated. Furthermore, the clinical signs and histopathological findings of feline FOP-like condition in the present case differed from those of the previously reported cases.     

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) activity in cultured canine bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs)

Autologous bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) infusion therapy improves the hepatic fibrosis. To investigate the mechanism of remission, we evaluated the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and -9 activity in canine BMSCs and the effect of pro-inflammatory cytokines on their expression. The activity and the gene expression of MMPs were analyzed by gelatin zymography and quantitative RT-PCR, respectively. The specific gelatinase bands were indicative effect of MMP-2 and -9 in canine BMSCs. MMP-2 expression seemed to be increased by TNF-α and IL-1β while MMP-9 was enhanced by TNF-α and IL-6. These results suggested that remissive effect on liver fibrosis might be partly attributable to the MMP-2 and -9 activity in BMSCs under the inflammatory condition.     

Vertical Transmission of Brucella abortus Causes Sterility in Pregnant Mice

The mechanisms of abortion and sterility induced by bacterial infection are largely unknown. In the present study, we found that Brucella abortus, a causative agent of brucellosis and facultative intracellular pathogen, caused sterility in pregnant mice. We have recently established a mouse model for abortion induced by B. abortus infection and high rates of abortion are observed for bacterial infection on day 4.5 of gestation, but not for other days. Infected newborn (first generation) mice showed poor growth compared with uninfected newborn mice and bacterial replication in the spleen of the former was observed over a long period. When infected first generation female mice were mated to infected first generation male mice, the number of fetuses was significantly less than that in uninfected first generation mice. These infected second generation mice also showed poor growth. These results suggest that vertical transmission of B. abostus causes sterility in pregnant mice and our mouse model would be useful for the investigating of brucellosis.     

Both stem and crown mass affect tree resistance to uprooting

To examine the hypothesis that both stem and crown mass affect the resistance of a tree to uprooting and that tree resistance increases with increasing crown mass, we conducted tree-pulling experiments on three Picea glehnii plantations (stands A, B, and C: 27–32 years old) that differed in tree density and slenderness ratio. Allometries between crown and stem masses and between the critical uprooting moment and stem mass differed significantly among the three stands, with the crown mass and critical moment significantly larger in stand C than in stands A or B, despite the same stem mass. These results quantitatively verified our hypothesis. Allometries between crown and stem masses and between critical uprooting moment and stem mass were highly significant in each stand but were stand specific. Therefore, these allometries can be used to estimate tree resistance to uprooting in a given stand but not for data compiled from stands of various conditions and tree shapes. The allometry between critical moment and aboveground mass did not differ among the three Picea stands; thus, it is not stand specific and is generally appropriate to use for estimating tree resistance. To increase tree resistance to uprooting, we recommend light management for Picea glehnii plantations and probably other coniferous plantations as well.     

Environmental controls on photosynthetic production and ecosystem respiration in semi-arid grasslands of Mongolia

The Mongolian steppe zone comprises a major part of East Asian grasslands. The objective of this study was to separately evaluate the quantitative dependencies of gross primary production (GPP) and ecosystem respiration (R_eco) on the environmental variables of temperature, moisture, radiation, and plant biomass in a semi-arid grassland ecosystem. We determined GPP and R_eco using transparent and opaque closed chambers in a grassland dominated by Poaceae species in central Mongolia during five periods: July 2004, May 2005, July 2005, September 2005, and June 2006. Values of GPP were linearly related to live aboveground biomass (AGB) enclosed by the chamber. The amount of GPP per unit ground area differed among the study periods, whereas GPP normalized by the amount of AGB did not differ significantly among the periods, suggesting that plant production per unit green biomass did not depend on the phenological stage. GPP/AGB fit well a rectangular hyperbolic light–response curve for all the study periods. When the air and soil were dry, considerable reduction in GPP was observed. The GPP/AGB ratio was also expressed as individual functions of air temperature, vapor pressure deficit, and volumetric soil water content. R_eco was exponentially related to the soil temperature and the relationship was modified by soil moisture. The amount of R_eco and its temperature sensitivity (Q₁₀) declined with decreasing soil moisture. Sharp increases of R_eco after rainfall events were observed. The values of R_eco, even including the rain-induced pulses, were expressed well as a bivariate function of soil temperature and soil moisture near the soil surface.     

Effects of Bedding Material on the Lying Behavior in Stabled Horses

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of straw, sawdust, coconut husk (husk), and coconut fiber (fiber) on the welfare of stable horses by observing their resting behavior. Twenty horses with ages ranging from 3 to 21 years were used at the Equine Research Institute of the Japan Racing Association, Utsunomiya, Japan. Five horses were allocated to each bedding condition. The behavior of each horse was recorded by video camera for 3 days and was continuously sampled from 17:00 to 05:00. The total duration, the number of bouts, and the mean and the maximum duration of bouts in standing rest, sternal lying, and lateral lying were calculated and analysed by the Kruskal-Wallis test and post hoc Steel-Dwass test. There was no difference in the standing rest and the sternal lying among beddings. Significant differences were observed in these values in the lateral lying among the different beddings (P<0.05). The values of the means of the total duration, the number of bouts, and the mean and the maximum duration of bout in the lateral lying were greater when husk was used as the bedding material than when sawdust were used (P<0.05). The results of the observations show that the new bedding materials would be as usable as straw. However, lateral lying was observed less frequently when sawdust were used as bedding; this indicates that use of sawdust as bedding material will decrease the welfare of stabled horses.     

Short-term transportation in a small vehicle affects the physiological state and subsequent water consumption in goats

We investigated the physiological effects on goats of transportation for one hour in a small truck. We also investigated food and water consumption after transportation. Eight adult goats (four castrated males and four ovariectomized females) were used. Plasma levels of cortisol, glucose and free fatty acids increased significantly within 15 min of the start of transportation, and these higher levels were maintained throughout transportation. These results indicate that transportation in a small truck activates the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the sympathetic nervous system in goats. Despite activation of the sympathetic nervous system, heart rate (HR) in subjected animals during transportation did not differ from during the control animals, which were housed in their usual pen. However, after the transportation had ended and the goats started to eat fodder, HR increased significantly. There was no difference in the amount of food consumption between the control and transported goats. Water consumption in the first three hours after transportation was significantly lower in the transported goats than in the controls for the equivalent period. In the subsequent three hours, however, the transported goats consumed more water than the controls. Consequently, the total water consumption of the transported goats did not differ from that of the controls during the six hours after transportation. In conclusion, short-term transportation with a small vehicle activated the HPA axis and the sympathetic nervous system in goats. HR was not increased during transportation, but after the transportation had ended HR in transported goats was higher than that in control goats. After transportation, goats had consumed the same amount of food as control goats, but water consumption during three hours after the transportation was lower than that of control goats.