Comparison of the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism pattern of the fiber gene and pathogenicity of serotype-1 fowl adenovirus isolates from gizzard erosions and from feces of clinically healthy chickens in Japan.

The fiber gene sequence and pathogenicity of the serotype-1 fowl adenovirus (FAdV-1) isolated from gizzard erosions and from clinically normal chickens were compared among isolates. The FAdV-99ZH strain, which induced gizzard erosions, had a nucleotide sequence of the long fiber gene that was different from that of the Ote strain, which did not induce gizzard erosions. The differences could be distinguished by use of polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis. The long fiber gene of 16 FAdV-1 isolates from gizzard erosions and 10 FAdV-1 isolates from the feces of clinically normal chickens was examined by use of PCR-RFLP analysis. All 16 FAdV-1 isolates from gizzard erosions had the same restriction patterns as those of strain 99ZH; however, 10 FAdV-1 isolates from normal chickens were classified into 3 groups. Specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chickens were inoculated orally with 2 FAdV-1 isolates from gizzard erosions or 3 FAdV-1 isolates from clinically normal chickens to determine the pathogenicity of each strain. Two of 2 FAdV-1 isolates from gizzard erosions induced gizzard erosions. Two of 3 FAdV-1 isolates from normal chickens had the same PCR-RFLP patterns as those of the Ote strain, but did not induce any gizzard erosions. However, 1 FAdV-1 isolate from clinically normal chickens had the same PCR-RFLP pattern as that of strain 99ZH and induced gizzard erosions. These results indicate that there are FAdV-1 strains that have different pathogenicity; one strain induces gizzard erosions, and the other does not. Use of PCR-RFLP analysis of long fiber genes may be able to distinguish between these two strains.     

Influence of calving difficulty on dry matter intake immediately after calving of dairy cows

We investigated the influence of calving difficulty on dry matter intake (DMI) in Holstein cows immediately after calving using 15 pregnant heifers and 15 multiparous cows. DMI was measured for 6 days after calving. Calving difficulty was evaluated with a calving score, and urinary cortisol was measured. The calving score was higher in the first lactation heifers than in the multiparous cows. The average DMI 6 days after calving was lower in the first lactation heifers than in the multiparous cows. The urinary cortisol concentration at 4 days after calving was higher in the first lactation heifers than in the multiparous cows and was positively associated with the calving score. The DMI was negatively associated with the calving score and the urinary cortisol concentration at 4 days after calving and was positively associated with the average milk yield 6 days after calving and the serum calcium concentration at 3 days after calving. We conclude that DMI immediately after calving is influenced not only by nutrient requirements of cows but also stress derived from calving, and the low DMI in the first lactation heifers is due to the lower energy requirement and high susceptibility to the stress compared with multiparous cows.     

Effects of correcting missing daily feed intake values on the genetic parameters and estimated breeding values for feeding traits in pigs

Daily feed intake (DFI) is an important consideration for improving feed efficiency, but measurements using electronic feeder systems contain many missing and incorrect values. Therefore, we evaluated three methods for correcting missing DFI data (quadratic, orthogonal polynomial, and locally weighted (Loess) regression equations) and assessed the effects of these missing values on the genetic parameters and the estimated breeding values (EBV) for feeding traits. DFI records were obtained from 1622 Duroc pigs, comprising 902 individuals without missing DFI and 720 individuals with missing DFI. The Loess equation was the most suitable method for correcting the missing DFI values in 5–50% randomly deleted datasets among the three equations. Both variance components and heritability for the average DFI (ADFI) did not change because of the missing DFI proportion and Loess correction. In terms of rank correlation and information criteria, Loess correction improved the accuracy of EBV for ADFI compared to randomly deleted cases. These findings indicate that the Loess equation is useful for correcting missing DFI values for individual pigs and that the correction of missing DFI values could be effective for the estimation of breeding values and genetic improvement using EBV for feeding traits.     

Immunohistochemical distribution of viral antigens in pigs naturally infected with porcine teschovirus

A distribution of porcine teschovirus (PTV) antigens in pigs naturally infected with PTV is presented using the method of immunohistochemical examination. In the nervous system, PTV antigens were found in the cytoplasm of neuronal cells and glial cells distributed in the spinal ventral horn and brain stem, and also in the cytoplasm of ganglion cells in the spinal ganglion. No antigens were seen in the cerebral hemisphere. In the nervous system, the distribution of PTV antigens was consistent with lesions characteristic of nonsuppurative encephalomyelitis. In the other examined organ, PTV antigens were observed in bronchiolar epithelial cells in the lung, hepatocytes in the liver, epithelial cells in the tonsils and the myenteric nerve plexus in the small and large intestine.     

Analysis of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) in synovial fluid, serum and urine from 51 racehorses with carpal bone fracture

We investigated the relationship between cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) levels in synovial fluid (SF), serum and urine and the development of osteochondral damage and osteophyte (OP) formation following intraarticular fractures of the carpus in racehorses in order to assess the clinical usefulness of COMP as a diagnostic biomarker of developmental osteoarthritis (OA). Two monoclonal antibodies (mAb clones 2A11 and 3C8) raised against equine COMP were shown to be capable of detecting the molecule in serum and urine as well as SF. Fifty-one samples were obtained from 26 OP-positive (OP(+)) and 25 OP-negative (OP(-)) racehorses with carpal bone fracture, in whom OP was ascertained arthroscopically and radiographically. The COMP measurements obtained using the two mAbs were highly correlated with each other in SF, serum, or urine. Horses with OP(+) showed a significantly higher [urinary COMP (microg)]/[urinary creatinine (mg)] ratio (4.94 +/- 5.10 and 1.46 +/- 1.19, using mAbs 2A11 and 3C8, respectively) than OP(-) horses (2.80 +/- 1.72 and 0.93 +/- 0.49, respectively). The relationship between serum and urine COMP levels and the period from injury to surgery were extrapolated using a polynomial expression. Measurement of COMP, especially in urine, has potential as a predictive marker of advanced OA following carpal bone fractures in racehorses.     

Efficacy of vaccination with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus following challenges with field isolates in Japan

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influences of genetic and antigenic variations in field isolates of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) on vaccine efficacy. Four-week-old pigs were vaccinated with a commercial modified live virus vaccine. Four weeks after vaccination, pigs in both the vaccinated group and the non-vaccinated group were challenged intranasally with 10(7) TCID(50) of PRRSV wt-11 (Experiment 1) or PRRSV wt-7 (Experiment 2). Based on genome sequencing of ORF5 and cross neutralization test results, PRRSV wt-11 is similar to the vaccine strain, whereas wt-7 is distinct from the vaccine strain. In the vaccinated challenged groups, clinical signs were less severe, the mean rate of weight gain was greater, and gross lung lesions were less severe when compared with the non-vaccinated challenged groups in both experiments. In Experiment 1, the virus was isolated from serum at 3 days post-challenge, and the mean virus titers in broncho-alveolar lavage fluids (BALF) and tissues were lower in pigs in the vaccinated challenged groups compared with those in the non-vaccinated challenged group. In Experiment 2, virus isolation from serum, BALF and tissues showed no significant differences between the groups. These results suggest that commercial PRRSV vaccine could be effective in reducing clinical disease following a challenge with field isolates of PRRSV. However, with regards to virological protection, the efficacy of the vaccine may be affected by the nature of the PRRSV isolates.     

Differences in flowering phenology and seed production of four morning glory (Ipomoea) species in Japan

The spread of morning glory (Ipomoea spp.) in soybean fields in Japan has severely decreased soybean yield. Yet, current control measures do not control the proliferation of Ipomoea spp. As little is known about the flowering period and seed production among the different invading Ipomoea spp., it is challenging to create targeted control measures based on ecological characteristics. This study aimed to reveal the characteristics of the flowering phenology and seed production of four morning glory species, namely, Ipomoea coccinea L. (red morning glory), Ipomoea lacunosa L. (pitted morning glory), Ipomoea hederacea L. Jacq. var. integriuscula A. Gray (entireleaf morning glory), and Ipomoea triloba L. (three-lobe morning glory). Between 2017 and 2019, the four selected study species were grown under similar conditions of soil quality, irrigation, and environmental influences and their flowering phenology and seed data were recorded. The flowering period ranged from 36 to 40 days, and the initial flowering of I. triloba was approximately 2 weeks later than the others. I. coccinea had the highest flowering number and seed production, followed by I. lacunosa, I. triloba, and I. hederacea var. integriuscula. The fruit setting rate of I. triloba decreased later in the reproductive stage but tended to increase as the daily mean temperature increased on each flowering day. Thus, we report that the flowering phenology and seed production differed greatly among the Ipomoea spp. These findings can provide crucial insights into designing targeted species-specific control measures against the spread of Ipomoea spp. in Japan.     

Fluconazole decreases cyclosporine dosage in renal transplanted dogs

The effect of fluconazole (Fcz) on the cyclosporine (CsA) dosage was investigated in renal transplanted dogs receiving CsA-based immunosuppressive therapy. Initially, CsA was administered orally twice daily to raise the blood trough level between 400 and 600 ng/ml. After the addition of Fcz, the CsA dosage was adjusted to maintain its therapeutic blood concentration. Fcz significantly decreased CsA dosage in both normal and renal transplanted dogs, but a higher dosage of CsA was needed in renal transplanted dogs. In conclusion, Fcz decreases required CsA dosage and thereby reduces the cost of immunosuppressive therapy in canine renal transplantation.