Ecology and conservation of two endangered subspecies of the leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) on Japanese islands

The conservation of rare species on islands is a special challenge, especially when the islands are faced with increasing human impact. Two endangered wild felids in Japan provide a contrast that is useful for examining conservation strategies. The Iriomote cat (Prionailurus bengalensis iriomotensis) is endemic to Iriomotejima Island in Okinawa, and the Tsushima leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis euptilurus) occurs in the Tsushima islands in Japan, although a related subspecies found in the Korean Peninsula. Population size was approximately 100 individuals for each subspecies. While the population of Iriomote cat appears relatively stable, the population and abundance of the Tsushima leopard cat has decreased in recent decades. Because of their small population sizes and restricted habitats both are listed as endangered species/subspecies in Japan’s Red List, and the Iriomote cat is listed as an endangered subspecies in the IUCN Red List. Although both are similar-sized felids living on small islands, their ecological characteristics such as food habit, habitat selection, and density differ. These differences seem to be caused by the climate, the biological environment (the species composition of fauna in each island, and the presence of competitors), and the artificial background. The threats facing these two felids are also similar. Habitat destruction, traffic accidents, and negative influences by introduced species are the principal threats to be addressed for their conservation. At the same time, there are differences in the degree of impact by each threat, in each species’ conservation programs in practice, and in the stages of progress and operation of programs. These differences are partly because they have different ecological features and partly because the social background of each island, such as human population, main industry, and historical relationship between human and wildlife, are quite different. We will compare the ecology and state of these two wild felids and discuss the different conservational situations in relation to felid ecology and human society.     

Thymic granulomatous lesions in pigs

Rare cases of thymic granulomatous lesions were found in pigs. The lesions consisted of epithelioid cells, multinucleated giant cells, and lymphocytes. Such lesions also were observed in the mesenteric lymph nodes, spleen, kidney, and stomach. The cytoplasm of the majority of giant cells and some epithlioid cells was periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) positive. All cells were positive for vimentin, lysozyme, and desmin. Ultrastructurally, the giant cells were rich in organella and attached to adjacent epithelioid cells by membrane interdigitation. The cells included numerous coated vesicles and granules. No etiologic pathogen, including porcine circovirus type 2, was detected in the lesions. This is the rare case of idiopathic thymic granulomatous lesion in pigs.     

Molecular phylogenetic relationship of Tetraodon pufferfish based on mitochondrial DNA analysis

Pufferfishes belonging to the genus Tetraodon form one of the largest groups in the family Tetraodontidae. This group consists of more than 20 species distributed across freshwater, as well as brackish and coastal waters, of Africa and Southeast Asia. However, their phylogenetic and evolutionary relationships are still ambiguous. In the present study, mitochondrial genes encoding 16S rRNA and cytochrome b were sequenced for 17 Tetraodon species collected from various areas mentioned above. Supermatrix analysis based on the complete sequences of the two genes from Tetraodon species was performed using a tree with 50 tetraodontid species (including 7 Tetraodon species) as a backbone. The obtained phylogenetic tree classified Tetraodon species into three groups, correlating well with their habitats, such as Asian freshwater, Asian brackish water, and African freshwater. We also showed that salinity tolerance of Asian freshwater species T. cochinchinensis was apparently lower than that of Asian brackish water species T. nigroviridis, suggesting that the speciation of Tetraodon species in the Asian freshwater group was caused by the molecular evolution associated with osmotic regulation.     

Effects of concanamycins produced by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Streptomyces scabies</Emphasis> on lesion type of common scab of potato

Streptomyces scabies, causative agent of common scab of potato, produces the phytotoxins concanamycin and thaxtomin. In a potato tuber slice assay to study the contribution of concanamycins to lesion development, concanamycin A had weak necrosis-inducing activities; >10× the amount of thaxtomin A was needed to produce equivalent lesion severity. Concanamycins were detected in tubers inoculated with S. scabies, which caused deep-pitted lesions but not in those inoculated with Streptomyces acidiscabies, which caused corky, raised lesions. In field-grown, diseased potatoes, concanamycin content tended to be higher in tubers with deep-pitted lesions than in those with corky, raised lesions.     

Concordance between Results of Medium-term Liver Carcinogenesis Bioassays and Long-term Findings for Carcinogenic 2-Nitropropane and Non-carcinogenic1-Nitropropane in F344 Rats

This study was conducted to determine the concordance of results for a pair of structural isomers, 2-nitropropane (2-NP) and 1-nitropropane (1-NP), using the rat medium-term liver carcinogenesis bioassay (Ito test) and previously published long-term carcinogenicity tests. Male F344 rats were given a single intraperitoneal injection of DEN (200 mg/kg b.w.) to initiate hepatocarcinogenesis. After 2 weeks, they received per os 0, 0.8, 4 or 20 mg/kg/day of 2-NP or 1-NP six times a week and were subjected to two-thirds partial hepatectomy at week 3. Non-initiated groups receiving 0 or 20 mg/kg/day were also included. The animals were sacrificed for quantitative analysis of GST-P-positive foci at week 8. With the highest dose of 2-NP, significantly increased numbers and areas of GST-P-positive foci were demonstrated as compared with the respective control but were not noted with 1-NP. In the non-DEN-initiated groups, many small GST-P-positive foci of less than 0.2 mm in diameter were also induced in the rats treated with 2-NP at 20 mg/kg/day but were lacking with 1-NP. These results strongly support that 2-NP is a complete hepatocarcinogen with a potent initiation activity, whereas 1-NP is not.     

Fecal progestagens to detect and monitor pregnancy in captive female cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus)

The purposes of the present study were to establish a noninvasive monitoring assay of fecal progestagen measurement to detect pregnancy and to identify the components of fecal progestagens in early, middle and late pregnancy in cheetahs. Feces were collected from 7 female cheetahs and analyzed from 30 days before the last copulation to parturition in 9 pregnancies. Blood was collected from one cheetah. Fecal progestagen and serum progesterone concentrations were determined by enzyme immunoassay (EIA). The profiles of the fecal progestagen concentrations were similar to the serum progesterone profile. Fecal progestagen and serum progesterone concentrations remained at the baseline until copulation. In the mean fecal progestagen profile during pregnancy (92.8 ± 0.4 days; from the last copulation to parturition), the concentrations increased 3-4 days after the last copulation and remained high until parturition. To investigate changes in the components of progestagen metabolites in the tripartite periods of gestation, fecal progestagens were analyzed by HPLC-EIA. Marked immunoreactive peaks consistent with 5α-pregnan-3α/β-ol-20-one and 5α-pregnan-3,20-dione and small peaks consistent with 5β-pregnan-3α/β-ol-20-one were detected. There were no distinct difference in the components of progestagens among the first, second and third trimesters of pregnancy. The hormone assay, as an indicator of fecal 5α-reduced pregnanes, is useful for detecting pregnancy and monitoring pregnant luteal activity in cheetahs.     

Sequence relationships of United States prototype and wild-type bluetongue virus RNA genomes investigated by northern blot hybridization analysis

The 10 double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) genome segments of various isolates of bluetongue virus (BTV) were separated on a polyacrylamide gel, denatured in NaOH, and blotted onto 2-aminophenylthioether paper. Blotted dsRNA segments were detected, using radioactive probes, a cloned copy of DNA 70% fragment of genome segment 7 of BTV-17, whole genome BTV-17 copy DNA, or whole genome BTV-17 dsRNA. These probes detected sequence diversities in different isolates of BTV and these diversities are discussed in relation to the serotype and the electrophoretic migration patterns of the isolates.     

Experimental encephalomyocarditis virus infection in Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus)

Two strains of Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus), Tumble Brook (TUM) and Japan Medical Science (JMS), were intraperitoneally inoculated with the D variant of encephalomyocarditis virus (EMC-D) and killed 3 days later. Mortality was significantly higher in females than in males. Evidence of viral replication was detected in the heart of both strains and in the pancreas of the TUM strain. Histopathological alterations were found in the heart and pancreas. Heart lesions involved foci of necrosis with inflammatory cell infiltration and calcification in both strains. Pancreatic lesions were restricted to the exocrine glands; islets of Langerhans were rarely and secondarily involved in the extensive destruction of exocrine glands. Severe acinar cell necrosis with marked inflammatory edema was conspicuous in TUM, whereas only slight acinar cell involvement was detected in JMS gerbils. Immunoperoxidase staining showed viral antigens in intracytoplasmic vacuoles in damaged acinar cells.     

Effects of direct exposure to cold weather under grazing in winter on the physiological,immunological, and behavioral conditions of Japanese Black beef cattle in central Japan

This study aimed to reveal the effects of direct exposure to cold weather under grazing in winter (GW) on the health of Japanese Black beef cattle, as assessed using physiological, immunological, and behavioral parameters. Ten Japanese Black beef cattle (328 ± 45 kg, 7.6 ± 3.4 years of age) were used in this experiment. In winter, five of the 10 cattle grazed for 2 months in a 1.8 ha pasture (GW), and the remaining cattle were fed under confined conditions with tethering (control [CT]). The two groups were fed similar feed during the experiment, except for the grazing forage. Blood samples were collected approximately every 2 weeks. The numbers of neutrophils and monocytes and antioxidant enzyme activity were higher in the GW group than in the CT group (p < 0.05). The proportions of CD4‐single‐positive cells were lower in GW cattle than in CT cattle (p = 0.06). This study showed that direct exposure of beef cattle to cold weather under GW enhanced the levels of circulating neutrophils and monocytes and contributed to the kinetic homeostasis of lymphocytes but also activated antioxidant enzymes due to an increase in oxidative stress.     

Detection of intra- and interspecific variation of the dry rot fungus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Serpula lacrymans</Emphasis> by PCR-RFLP and RAPD analysis

We investigated a genotype-based assay to discriminate the dry rot fungi Serpula lacrymans. DNAs were extracted from 74 isolates from the northern half of Japan, and internal transcribed spacers (ITS) were amplified by polymerase chain reaction. Genotypes of isolates were checked by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) using two enzymes, Taq I and Hha I. Among the 74 isolates identified as S. lacrymans in terms of morphologic features, 5 isolates were shown to have been misidentified. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis was conducted in order to detect the intraspecific diversity of S. lacrymans isolated in Japan. Because no relation between geographical origin and genetic distances was observed, the intraspecific diversity of S. lacrymans is suggested to be small.Part of this report was presented at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Gifu, April 2002