Association between preoperative characteristics and risk of anaesthesia-related death in dogs in small-animal referral hospitals in Japan

Objective

To explore the major risk factors linking preoperative characteristics and anaesthesia-related death in dogs in referral hospitals in Japan.

Isolation of exfoliative toxin from Staphylococcus intermedius and its local toxicity in dogs

A rounding effect was demonstrated in cultured cells inoculated with the culture filtrates (CFs) of 60 strains of Staphylococcus intermedius derived from dogs affected with pyoderma. Exfoliative toxin (ET)-like toxin (ETLT) was isolated from the CF of S. intermedius strain D-52, which exhibited strong rounding activity and then was purified by gel filtration on a Sephadex G-75 column, and by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The ETLT caused exfoliation in 1-day-old chickens, suckling Syrian hamsters, and dogs, but not in suckling mice. The ETLT was serologically different from exfoliative toxin A (ETA), exfoliative toxin B (ETB), exfoliative toxin C (ETC), S. hyicus exfoliative toxin A (SHETA), and SHETB, as shown by Western blot analysis. The molecular weight of the ETLT was estimated at 30 kDa by SDS-PAGE. In the present study, we propose the ETLT was a novel type of ET, S. intermedius exfoliative toxin (SIET).     

Fenprostalene-induced abortion in bitches

A long-acting prostaglandin F(2alpha) analogue, fenprostalene, was subcutaneously administered singly at doses of 5, 10, 25, 50, 100 or 150 microg on day 25 after ovulation during pregnancy in bitches (n=4 for each dosage), and maintenance of pregnancy, changes in plasma progesterone concentration, interval between the treatment and subsequent estrus and conception rate at that estrus were studied. Abortion was associated with a decrease in the plasma progesterone concentration below about 2 ng/ml, and the abortifacient effect was dose-dependent. Administration of 50 microg or more of fenprostalene induced abortion in all dogs 3 to 13 days after the treatment. The interval between administration and subsequent estrus was markedly shorter in the aborted bitches than in the non-aborted ones (P<0.01). The conception rate at the estrus in the aborted dogs was 50%, whereas all of the bitches who had not aborted became pregnant. The results indicate that a single administration of fenprostalene could induce abortion during mid-pregnancy in bitches, and the subsequent estrus may come early with a low conception rate.     

Ethylene-enhanced chlorophyllase activity during degreening of Citrus unshiu Marc.

Ethylene induces the degreening of the peel of Citrus unshiu Marc. and simultaneously the increase of chlorophyllase activity, indicating that ethylene accelerates the chlorophyll destruction through the enhancement of chlorophyllase activity. Cycloheximide inhibited the ethylene-enhanced chlorophyll degradation and repressed the enhancement of the chlorophyllase activity, while chloramphenicol did not affect the chlorophyll degradation nor the chlorophyllase activity. Based on these results, the role of ethylene in the chlorophyllase activation and the chloroplast senescence is discussed.     

Ammonia-assimilating microbes in microbial community in a lagoon for wastewater from paddock of dairy cattle

In the present article the distribution and abundance of ammonia‐assimilating microbes among the natural habitants in a lagoon were investigated. In the medium containing lagoon‐extract, about 20% of total 82 isolates showed ammonia‐assimilating ability. By sequencing of 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA), the highest ammonia‐assimilating isolates at 10°C and 37°C were identified as Janthinobacterium lividum and Bacillus sp., respectively. The structure of the microbial community was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction‐denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR‐DGGE). Almost of the dominant species that were detected by PCR‐DGGE did not coincide with isolates, which showed the high ammonia‐assimilating ability, but one specie by PCR‐DGGE coincided with ammonia‐assimilating isolate. These results suggested that ammonia‐assimilating microbes existed as non‐dominant species in the microbial community in a lagoon.     

Estrous cycle based on blood progesterone profiles and changes in vulvar appearance of Malayan tapirs (Tapirus indicus)

The progesterone (P(4)) profiles and macroscopic vulvar changes of female Malayan tapirs were investigated in order to understand their fundamental reproductive physiology and to search for visual indicators of estrus. Blood was collected once or twice a week from seven female Malayan tapirs kept at four zoos. Serum or plasma P(4) concentrations were determined by radioimmunoassay. The P(4) concentrations changed cyclically throughout the years, and a total of 56 cycles was confirmed in the seven females. The length of the estrous cycle based on the P(4) profiles was 43.6+/-2.0 days; however, this mean includes great variation in length, from 21 to 84 days. Mucous discharge from the vulva and vulvar swelling were seen when the P(4) concentrations were low before the beginning of a rise in most cases. In conclusion, captive female Malayan tapirs have variations of approximately 1 to 3 months in estrous cycle length, and visual changes in the vulva are helpful in estimating estrus in female Malayan tapirs.     

Acquired Fanconi syndrome in a dog exposed to jerky treats in Japan

A 6-year-old spayed female Jack Russell Terrier presented with a 1-month history of lethargy, anorexia, vomiting and weight loss. The dog was fed beef and chicken jerky treats daily in addition to a commercial diet. Laboratory tests revealed azotemia, hypokalemia, hyperchloremia, metabolic acidosis and glucosuria with normoglycemia. Urine amino acid analysis showed significant amino acid loss into the urine. Thus, Fanconi syndrome was diagnosed, and based on the case history and extensive diagnostic testing, excessive consumption of jerky treats was strongly suspected as the cause. Glucosuria resolved 7 days after the withdrawal of jerky treats and fluid therapy. Aminoaciduria was substantially, but not completely, improved 3 months after diagnosis. Mild azotemia remained, suggesting chronic renal disease. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of Fanconi syndrome following the consumption of jerky treats in Japan.     

PCR-based suppression subtractive hybridization analyses of enantioselective gene expression in root tips of wheat treated with optically active urea compounds

The optically active urea compounds R- and S-1-α-methylbenzyl-3-p-tolylurea (R- and S-MBTU) have qualitatively different effects on plant physiology, especially in Gramineae plants. To elucidate the mechanisms by which S-MBTU inhibits root growth of wheat (Triticum aestivum L. var. Chinese Spring), we used PCR-based suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) and quantitative real-time RT-PCR (qPCR) analyses. Genes related to amino acid biosynthesis, cell cycle and skeleton, protein synthesis, cell wall biosynthesis, glycolysis, signaling, DNA modification, and detoxification were enantioselectively regulated. These expression profiles suggested that the putative mode of action of S-MBTU is disruption of primary amino acid biosynthesis, especially the glutamine synthetase (GS)- and acetohydroxyacid synthase (AHAS)-enzyme systems, and disruption of cell membrane skeleton homeostasis related to a putative α-tubulin 2 (α-TUB2), a putative β-actin (ACT) and β-tubulin 1 (β-TUB1). Other genes specifically affected by S-MBTU may result in disruption of metabolic processes, leading to inhibition of root growth.