Fine mapping the number of corpora lutea quantitative trait loci on SSC3: Analysis of the porcine follicle‐stimulating hormone receptor gene

In females, follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH) targets a FSH receptor (FSHR) expressed only on granulose cells, inducing maturation of the ovarian follicles. We hypothesized that genetic variants in the FSHR gene influence litter size by affecting the number of corpora lutea. We fine‐mapped a region of Sus Scrofa chromosome 3 that contains quantitative trait loci for corpora lutea. Polymorphisms were detected in the exons and 5′ flanking region of the porcine FSHR gene, a positional candidate for the statistically most significant of the quantitative trait loci. Finally, 248 F₂ animals from a Duroc and Meishan cross were genotyped for three FSHR SNPs at positions 74, 532 and 1166, and these were correlated with the phenotypes of litter size and corpus luteum number. Three haplotypes were identified: M1 (G/G/C), M2 (C/A/T) and D (C/A/C). In the F₂ population, the M1 haplotype was associated with a greater number of corpora lutea (P < 0.01) and also seemed to be associated with increased litter size, although the association was not significant (P = 0.2571). Some polymorphisms resulting in amino acid substitutions in these genes were excluded from the polymorphisms possibly responsible for the number of corpora lutea.     

Approachability and contact behavior of commercial dairy calves to humans

Calves (n = 106) on four dairy farms were observed for their approachability to humans. All calves experienced similar rearing conditions: Beginning individual pen, after birth until weaning at about 2 months, where they were housed individually and fed milk and a milk replacement; Late individual pen, after weaning until grouping at about 3.5 months, where they were housed individually and fed hay, silage and concentrate feed; Beginning group pen, after grouping until 5 months, where they were housed in groups of 2–5 animals and fed hay, silage and concentrate feed; later group pen, from 5 to 7 months. The number of calves that contacted an experimenter who stood in front of their pens for 10 min was recorded on 6 separate days over 3 months. Latency to touch and time spent in activities during touching such as sucking, licking, biting and rubbing were also measured. There were no significant differences in the latency to touch and the ratio of touch to non‐touch calves between the rearing conditions and the farms. The time spent touching was significantly affected by the interaction between the rearing condition and the farm (P < 0.01). In detail, the time spent sucking (P < 0.001) and licking (P < 0.01) was different between the rearing condition × farm variables. The proportion of calves that approached and touched the experimenter tended to be higher in the farms in which a stockperson worked longer inside and outside their pens (both ρ = 0.95, P = 0.051). These results were interpreted according to the perspectives of early positive reinforcement with food and the habituation process to humans existing nearby.     

Isolation and characterization of the interspecific fusants from Streptomycetes obtained using a liquid regeneration method

ABSTRACT: Protoplast fusion between different species of Streptomyces was performed using a liquid regeneration method developed for a rapid and simple preparation of the fusants. Consequently, new clones, which could not be obtained using the conventional agar regeneration method, were obtained. In the crosses between S. griseus and S. durhamensis , and between S. californicus and S. catenulae , eight and two recombinants, respectively, were obtained using the liquid regeneration method. Conversely, in the case of crosses between S. ornatus and S. catenulae , and between S. ornatus and S. vendargensis , seven recombinants each were obtained using only the agar method. The physiological characteristics, such as the assimilation of carbohydrate and antibiotic resistance, of these fusants differed considerably from those of their parental strains. Using the proposed liquid regeneration method, a simpler and quicker procedure for protoplast fusion is described.     

Glomus tumor of the liver in a cow

An 11-year-old Holstein-Friesian cow exhibited anorexia and jaundice. A large mass was found in the liver during necropsy. Macroscopically, the mass was composed of dark red multilobular tissue and a centrally located abscess, which was connected to the hepatic duct. Histologically, the mass consisted of proliferation of small neoplastic cells and was demarcated from the hepatic parenchyma by a thick region of granulation tissue. The neoplastic cells were predominantly arranged in solid sheets, but they also formed blood-filled cancellous structures, and proliferating foci were seen around blood vessels. Periodic acid-Schiff reaction demonstrated that a fine basement membrane-like structure surrounded the neoplastic cells. Immunohistochemically, the neoplastic cells were positive for vimentin and alpha smooth muscle actin and negative for cytokeratin, factor VIII-related antigen, chromogranin and desmin. Based on its histopathological features, the hepatic neoplasm was diagnosed as a primary glomus tumor. This is the first report about a primary glomus tumor of the liver in a cow.     

Evaluation of S100B in cerebrospinal fluid as a potential biomarker for neurological diseases in calves

S100B in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF-S100B) was measured in calves with 20 neurologic and 21 non-neurologic diseases to clarify its utility as a biomarker for neurologic diseases. The median CSF-S100B value in the neurologic disease group (43.0 ng/ml) was significantly higher than that in the non-neurologic disease group (10.2 ng/ml). As CSF-S100B levels in calves with neurologic diseases widely differed, the utility of CSF-S100B as a diagnostic marker for neurologic diseases in cattle remains inconclusive.     

Detection of the nonsense mutation of OPA3 gene in Holstein Friesian cattle with dilated cardiomyopathy in Japan

Bovine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder causing congestive heart failure and subsequent death. Recently, a nonsense mutation c.343C>T in the bovine optic atrophy 3 (OPA3) gene had been reported to cause the DCM in Holstein cattle in Switzerland. However, the mutation has not been confirmed in bovine DCM outside Switzerland. Nine Holstein Friesian cows that were macroscopically and histologically diagnosed with or suspected of DCM and 12 control cows kept in Japan were tested for the mutation. The mutation surrounding OPA3 DNA fragment was amplified by PCR and subjected to direct sequences. The homogeneous c.343C>T mutation was proved to occur in all the affected cows and not in the control cows. The present study is the first report of the mutation in the DCM affected cows outside Switzerland.     

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy coincided with the cardiac fibrosis in the inner muscle layer of the left ventricular wall in a boxer dog

A 7-year-old female boxer dog died suddenly without any clinical signs. It was suspected that the dog had arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) due to ventricular premature complexes and ventricular tachycardia at 3 years of age. The final diagnosis of ARVC was confirmed by histological characteristics, such as loss of cardiocytes and fibrofatty replacement, occurring in the right and left ventricular walls. In the cardiocytes, non-lipid vacuoles were observed. Cardiac fibrosis and intimal thickening of the small arteries occurred without fatty replacement in the inner muscle layer including the papillary muscles of the left ventricular wall. This paper describes the pathomorphological details of an ARVC case with coincidental cardiac fibrosis in the inner muscle layer of the left ventricular wall.     

Evaluation of the transmission risk of foot-and-mouth disease in Japan

The transmission risk of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in Japan was evaluated using a mathematical FMD transmission model. The distance-based transmission rate between farms, which was parameterized using the FMD epidemic data in 2010 in Japan, was used to calculate the local-level reproduction numbers—expected numbers of secondary infections caused by one infected farm—for all cattle and pig farms in the country, which were then visualized as a risk map. The risk map demonstrated the spatial heterogeneity of transmission risk in the country and identified risk areas with higher possibility of disease spread. This result suggests that, particularly in high-risk areas, it is important to prepare for the smooth and efficient implementation of control measures against FMD outbreaks.     

Optic pathway degeneration in Japanese black cattle

Degeneration of the optic pathway has been reported in various animal species including cattle. We experienced a case of bilateral optic tract degeneration characterized by severe gliosis in a Japanese black cattle without any obvious visual defects. To evaluate the significance, pathological nature and pathogenesis of the lesions, we examined the optic pathway in 60 cattle (41 Japanese black, 13 Holstein and 6 crossbreed) with or without ocular abnormalities. None of these animals had optic canal stenosis. Degenerative changes with severe gliosis in the optic pathway, which includes the optic nerve, optic chiasm and optic tract, were only observed in 8 Japanese black cattle with or without ocular abnormalities. Furthermore, strong immunoreactivity of glial fibrillary acidic protein was observed in the retinal stratum opticum and ganglion cell layer in all 5 cattle in which the optic pathway lesions could be examined. As etiological research, we also examined whether the concentrations of vitamin A and vitamin B12 or bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) infection was associated with optic pathway degeneration. However, our results suggested that the observed optic pathway degeneration was probably not caused by these factors. These facts indicate the presence of optic pathway degeneration characterized by severe gliosis that has never been reported in cattle without bilateral compressive lesions in the optic pathway or bilateral severe retinal atrophy.     

The g.841G>C SNP of FASN gene is associated with fatty acid composition in beef cattle

The objective of the current study is to evaluate the association between fatty acid composition and fatty acid synthase gene polymorphisms as responsible mutations. For this purpose, we selected seven previously reported single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in FASN gene, including one within promoter region (g.841G>C) and six non‐synonymous SNPs (g.8805C>T, g.13126C>T, g.15532A>C, g.16024A>G, g.16039C>T, g.17924A>G), and genotyped them in Japanese Black cattle. Genotyping results revealed that g.8805 C>T and g.17924 A>G were monomorphic loci. Genome‐wide association analysis including the other five SNPs revealed that only g.841G>C showed significant associations with the percentages of C14:0, C14:1, C16:1 and C18:1 at 5% genome‐wide significance level. In order to further evaluate the effect, we genotyped g.841G>C using additional three populations, including two Japanese Black populations and a Holstein cattle population. g.16024A>G was also genotyped and included in the analysis because it has been reported to be associated with fatty acid composition in Japanese Black cattle. In the result of analysis of variance, g.841G>C showed stronger effects on fatty acid percentage than those of g.16024A>G in all populations. These results suggested that g.841G>C would be a responsible mutation for fatty acid composition and contribute to production of high‐grade beef as a selection marker in beef cattle.