Effects of different teat inserts on wound healing of experimentally incised streak canal in non-lactating cattle

The recurrence of reduced milk flow is a common sequela after placement of teat inserts in the streak canal as a treatment for teat injury. We evaluated the effects of three types of commercial teat inserts on wound healing. Thirty-two normal streak canals of eight cows were incised longitudinally using a teat knife. Then, a wax-bougie, silicone self-retaining cannula, and catgut teat dilator were placed in each cow for 7 days. No insert was placed on the remaining teat as a control. Histopathological examination revealed that granulation polyps with squamous metaplasia developed in the area around the rosette of Furstenberg in most teats in which silicone cannulas and catgut teat dilators were placed, whereas the controls and the teats with wax-bougies healed with less tissue reaction. This study suggests that the placement of irritating inserts, such as a silicone cannula and catgut teat dilator, interfere with wound healing.     

Distribution and abundance of two species of codlet (Teleostei, Bregmacerotidae) larvae from the south-eastern Brazilian Bight

Two species of codlet (Bregmacerotidae) larvae were collected during nine survey cruises conducted in the south-eastern Brazilian Bight between 23^oS and 30^oS in 1985-91. Of 4846 codlet larvae collected during nine cruises, 99.2% were identified as Bregmaceros canton and only 0.8% were B. athanticus. The two species were more abundant during winter in the neritic region (60–135 m depth). Vertical distribution of codlet larvae was studied using the BIOMOC net, and vertical profiles of temperature/salinity and chlorophyll a concentration were recorded by CTD and fluorescent sonde. Only 9.0% of larvae were collected in the upper 30 m and 91.0% were found deeper (> 40 m). The depths of highest density of larvae bore a close relationship to the subsurface chlorophyll maximum layer. Some B. canton larvae were found in the upper 30 m layer at night, but no larva was found during the day. Water temperatures where B. canton larvae occurred ranged from 16 to 23^oC, but most larvae were found at 18–20^oC and in salinities of 35.5–36.5 psu.     

Expression of pancreatic enzyme genes during the early larval stage of Japanese eel Anguilla japonica

ABSTRACT: To reveal the ontogeny of pancreatic exocrine function in the early larval stage of eel, cDNAs encoding major pancreatic enzymes, trypsinogen, amylase and lipase were identified from the Japanese eel Anguilla japonica and their expression pattern in larvae was analyzed. The cloned eel trypsinogen precursor consisted of 224 amino acids and showed 82.2% identity to trypsinogen-2 of winter flounder Pleuronectes americanus . The eel amylase precursor consisted of 512 amino acids and showed 77% identity to winter flounder amylase. Eel pancreatic lipase was composed of 470 amino acids and had 58.3% of identity to human pancreatic lipase. In the eel larvae, mRNA expression of trypsinogen and amylase was first detected at 6 days post-hatching (d.p.h.), and the expression level increased between 7 and 8 d.p.h. In contrast, mRNA expression of lipase was first detected at 8 d.p.h. Eel larvae start to feed actively at 8 d.p.h. Thus, it was indicated that eel pancreas starts to synthesize digestive enzymes at 6 d.p.h. and acquires full function by the onset of exogenous feeding at 8 d.p.h.     

Selecting the desirable method for predicting 305‐day lactation yields in Mongolia

In Mongolia, milk production must be improved both quantitatively and qualitatively, and we must find the most desirable method for predicting 305‐day milk yields for cows in Mongolia. Therefore, the predicted 305‐day milk yield from the test interval method (TIM), multiple‐trait prediction (MTP) and the random regression model (RRM) were compared. The daily milk production records during 305 days for cows calving from 1986 to 2007 from the National Livestock Breeding Center in Japan, and the test day records every month for cows calving from 1985 to 2005 from the Hokkaido Dairy Milk Recording and Testing Association were used. Wilmink's model for the average of lactation curve in MTP was adopted. A cubic Legendre polynomials and the parameters of Wilmink's function were used for RRM. The results suggested that RRM was the most desirable method for predicting 305‐day milk yields in Mongolia because estimates by RRM were the most accurate when using over four records. Further analyses will be required to examine the properties of RRM when predicting 305‐day milk yields using test day records in Mongolia.     

Characterization of ammonia-assimilating bacteria in a lagoon for wastewater from a paddock of dairy cattle

We investigated microorganisms that assimilated ammonia in lagoon treatment processes. Ammonia‐assimilating microorganisms were detected by nitrogen‐limited medium that contained ammonia as the sole nitrogen source. Numbers of ammonia‐assimilating aerobes (log CFU/g) were 3.4, 4.8, 5.0, 4.8 and 5.0 (log CFU/mL) on the culture plate incubated at 4°C, 10°C, 15°C, 20°C and 25°C, respectively. Many isolates used ammonia in high rates when they were purely cultivated in nitrogen‐limited medium added to sterilized lagoon extract. Many of them used ammonia even when they were cultivated in media containing viable microbial flora of the lagoon. Among them, enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas sp. were identified by analysis of 16S ribosomal DNA.     

Seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in seals around Hokkaido, Japan

Serological analysis was performed to detect Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum infection in seals in Hokkaido. Serum samples were collected from 322 Kuril harbor seals (Phoca vitulina stejnegeri) at Nosappu, Akkeshi and Erimo, from 46 spotted seals (P. largha) at Nosappu, Erimo, Yagishiri Island, Hamamasu and Syakotan, and from 4 ribbon seals (P. fasciata) and a bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus) at Nosappu between 1998 and 2006. Recombinant surface antigen of T. gondii (SAG2t) and N. caninum (NcSAG1t) were used as antigens for ELISA to detect antibodies. Antibodies against SAG2t were detected from 4% of 77 Kuril harbor seals at Nosappu in 2005. Antibodies against NcSAG1t were detected from 2% (1/66) in 2003, 5% (4/79) in 2004 and 10% (8/77) in 2005 of Kuril harbor seals and 11% of 9 spotted seals in 2004 sampled at Nosappu. Eight percent of 12 Kuril harbor seals from Akkeshi and 25% of 4 spotted seals from Erimo in 2005 also contained antibodies against NcSAG1t. These suggest sporadic infection of T. gondii and N. caninum in Kuril harbor seals and spotted seals in Hokkaido. Of the ELISA-positive seals, 2 seals having anti-SAG2t antibodies and 3 seals having anti-NcSAG1t antibodies in 2005 were judged to be juveniles that have no maternal antibodies. These suggest that the protozoan infections have occurred in recent years. Infection of terrestrial protozoa such as T. gondii and N. caninum in seals indicates that the sea environment has been contaminated with protozoa.     

Isolation of a Megatrypanum trypanosome from sika deer (Cervus nippon yesoensis) in Japan

A trypanosome was isolated from a sika deer (Cervus nippon yesoensis) in Hokkaido, Japan, during the primary culture of sika deer renal cells. This is the first report of isolation of a Megatrypanum trypanosome from Japanese Cervidae. The trypanosome, designated TSD1, was propagated and maintained in Eagle's modified essential medium containing 20% fetal bovine serum with sika deer renal cells as feeder. The TSD1 trypanosome was morphometrically similar to Trypanosoma cervi, which is commonly isolated from American and European deer. PCR analysis with primers for 18S ribosomal DNA and nucleotide sequencing showed that TSD1 is a member of genus Trypanosoma, subgenus Megatrypanum. Phylogenetically TSD1 is closely related to T. theileri, a common trypanosome of cattle, but is distinguishable from T. theileri by some morphometrical and biological features.     

Canine distemper virus infection among wildlife before and after the epidemic

In 2007–2008, a canine distemper virus (CDV) epidemic occurred among wild animals in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan, and many mammals, including the wild boar and deer, were infected. In this study, CDV prevalence among wild animals was surveyed before and after the epidemic. At first, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with horseradish peroxidase-conjugated protein A/G was established to detect CDV antibodies in many mammalian species. This established ELISA was available for testing dogs, raccoons and raccoon dogs as well as virus-neutralization test. Next, a serological survey of wild mammalians was conducted, and it was indicated that many wild mammalians, particularly raccoons, were infected with CDV during the epidemic, but few were infected before and after the epidemic. On the other hand, many raccoon dogs died during the epidemic, but CDV remained prevalent in the remaining population, and a small epidemic occurred in raccoon dogs in 2012–2013. These results indicated that the epidemic of 2007–2008 may have been intensified by transmission to raccoons.     

4-Nitro-3-phenylphenol has both androgenic and anti-androgenic-like effects in rats

To investigate the effect of endocrine disruption of 4-nitro-3-phenylphenol (PNMPP) on immature male Wistar-Imamichi rats, the rat pituitary was exposed to PNMPP (10^–5–10^–9 M) for 24 h with or without gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) in experiment I. In addition, the Leydig cells (10^–5–10^–9 M) were exposed to PNMPP for 24 h with or without human chronic gonadotropin (hCG) in experiment II. Our results showed that the PNMPP at 10^–5–10^–7 M suppressed follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) productions from GnRH-stimulated pituitary cells. At the same time, PNMPP 10^–5–10^–7 M induced an increase in testosterone production from the Leydig cells treated with or without hCG. Based on our results, it can be concluded that that PNMPP might have both androgen agonist action by decreasing FSH and LH production in the pituitary and anti-androgenic action by increasing testosterone production in the Leydig cell.