Spatial distribution and feeding habits of Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus) larvae in Mutsu Bay, Japan

The spatial distributions and feeding habits of Pacific cod ( Gadus macrocephalus ) larvae, and the spatial distributions of copepod nauplii and copepodites, their main prey, were examined in Mutsu Bay from February to March during 1989–92. Yolk-sac larvae were caught at 30–45 m depth at the bay mouth. Larvae without yolk were collected at 8–45 m depth at the bay mouth and the inner part of the bay, and large larvae were chiefly found in the bay. This geographical pattern in larval size may have been because of transport to the inner part of Mutsu Bay by the Tsugaru Warm Current. The dominant taxa of copepod nauplii and copepodites in the diet and the environment changed each year. Larvae fed mainly on abundant taxa in the environment, suggesting that larvae are opportunistic feeders. Nauplii and copepodites were abundant in the bay, especially in 1992. Copepodites were slightly more abundant in the diet of cod larvae in 1992 than in 1991, but this difference was smaller than in the environment. In addition, larvae with empty digestive tracts were scarce in 1991 and 1992. Prey concentrations in the bay in 1991 and 1992 seem to have been high enough to sustain most Pacific cod larvae.     

Assessment of paddy fields’ damage caused by Cyclone Nargis using MODIS time-series images (2004–2013)

Paddy and Water Environment - The Ayeyarwady Delta in the Bay of Bengal, the rice bowl of Myanmar, depends on natural conditions, especially rainfall. During the dry season, the delta’s...     

Comparison of the effects explained by variations in the bovine PLAG1 and NCAPG genes on daily body weight gain,linear skeletal measurements and carcass traits in Japanese Black steers from a progeny testing program

The c.1326T>G single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the NCAPG gene, which leads to an amino acid change of Ile442 to Met442, was previously identified as a candidate causative variation for a bovine carcass weight quantitative trait loci (QTL) on chromosome 6, which was associated with linear skeletal measurement gains and daily body weight gain at puberty. Recently, we identified the stature quantitative trait nucleotides (QTNs) in the PLAG1‐CHCHD7 intergenic region as the causative variations for another carcass weight QTL on chromosome 14. This study aimed to compare the effects of the two QTL on growth and carcass traits using 768 Japanese Black steers from a progeny testing program and to determine whether a genetic interaction was present between them. The FJX_250879 SNP representing the stature QTL was associated with linear skeletal measurements and average daily body weight gain at early and late periods during adolescence. A genetic interaction between FJX_250879 and NCAPG c.1326T>G was detected only for body and rump lengths. Both were associated with increased carcass weight and Longissimus muscle area, and NCAPG c.1326T>G was also associated with reduced subcutaneous fat thickness and increased carcass yield estimate. These results will provide useful information to improve carcass weight in Japanese Black cattle.     

A Low-molecular-weight Fraction of Bovine Colostrum and Milk Enhances the Oxidative Burst Activity of Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes

Bovine colostrum and milk contain many immunomodulatory components. The low-molecular-weight fraction (<10 kDa) was separated from colostrum and milk by gel filtration chromatography, and its effect on the oxidative burst of bovine polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) was investigated in vitro. The oxidative burst activity induced by Staphylococcus aureus was considerably enhanced when PMNLs were incubated with this low-molecular-weight fraction. However, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate did not trigger a burst after priming with this fraction. The oxidative burst activity enhanced by this fraction was reduced after heating. These results confirmed that a low-molecular-weight substance(s) of less than 10 kDa, present in bovine milk and colostrum, enhances the oxidative burst activity of PMNL.     

Molecular cloning of equine muscle-type phosphofructokinase cDNA

The complete coding region sequence of equine muscle-type phosphofructokinase (ePFKM) was obtained from skeletal muscle of a thoroughbred horse. The deduced amino acid sequence of ePFKM showed 97%, 96%, 96%, 96% and 95% identity to canine, human, mouse, rabbit and rat PFKM, respectively. The amino and carboxyl terminal halves of ePFKM presented a structure of tandem repeat, as other mammalian PFKMs. As the amino acid residues constituting various ligand-binding sites were also conserved, it is thought that ePFKM has enzymatic activity similar to PFKM in other mammals.     

Molecular cloning and expression of bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) interleukin-8

The bottlenose dolphin interleukin (IL)-8 cDNA was molecularly cloned. The dolphin IL-8 has an open reading frame of 303-bp encoding 101 amino acids. The homology of the amino acid sequence with that of other species was: sheep, 89.1%; cattle, 88.1%; pig, 85.1%; dog, 85.1%; horse, 79.2%; human, 74.5%; and macaque, 72.3%. The amino acid sequence suggested that dolphin IL-8 was a CXC chemokine. The recombinant dolphin IL-8 protein was recognized with anti-ovine IL-8 monoclonal antibody.     

Infection frequency of mature apple fruit with Erwinia amylovora deposited on pedicels and its survival in the fruit stored at low temperature

The infection frequency of mature apple fruit by Erwinia amylovora and the survival of E. amylovora in the fruit stored at low temperature were investigated. The fruit stems (pedicels) of 460 mature apple fruit were inoculated with 10⁵ or 10⁴ cfu of bioluminescent E. amylovora, tagged with lux genes. Nine days after inoculation, 43% and 27% of the fruit inoculated with 10⁵ and 10⁴ cfu, respectively, were infected. All infected fruit looked healthy. After 6 months of storage at 5°C, almost all of the 142 infected fruit had viable E. amylovora. Of the fruit containing E. amylovora internally, 19.5% had latent infections and the rest had blight symptoms. E. amylovora was not uniformly distributed in the fruit flesh, and internal brown lesions were observed where E. amylovora was densely distributed. These findings showed that mature apple fruit may be infected with E. amylovora, especially as latent infections, and act as a source for long-range dissemination.     

Cushing's disease complicated with thrombosis in a dog

Thrombosis is a potential complication of hyperadrenocorticism (HAC) in dogs. An 8-year-old male Beagle diagnosed with pituitary-dependent HAC had complicated with thrombosis in the caudal vena cava and abdominal aorta, which was treated by hypophysectomy and antithrombotic therapy. After hypophysectomy, hypercortisolemia disappeared and the general condition was also significantly improved. Ultrasonography after hypophysectomy revealed that the thrombus remained in the abdominal aorta, but the thrombus in the caudal vena cava had disappeared. However 692 days after the hypophysectomy, the dog had an acute onset of dyspnea and died. Postmortem examination revealed the presence of thrombi in the abdominal aorta and the pulmonary artery. Observations from this case show that HAC dogs must be attention to thrombosis.     

Immunohistochemical features of proliferative marker and basement membrane components of two feline inductive odontogenic tumours

Feline inductive odontogenic tumour (FIOT) is a rare and interesting odontogenic neoplasm in which the odontogenic epithelium has inductive potential to form aggregated foci of dental pulp-like mesenchymal cells. Two male cats aged 11 and 10 months presented with nasal swelling and a left maxillary mass. Histopathologically, the masses consisted of non-encapsulated invasive neoplasms exhibiting proliferation of epithelial and mesenchymal components with local infiltration into the maxillary bone in both cases. The epithelial component formed islands, anastomosing strands, and solid sheets of polygonal epithelial cells. Occasionally, these cells formed circular aggregates, resembling the cap stage of odontogenesis. Type IV collagen and laminin were constantly positive around the foci of epithelial cells, and Ki-67 positive indices were extremely low; therefore, these findings consistent with the benign clinical presentation of FIOT.