An etiological investigation of domestic cats with conjunctivitis and upper respiratory tract disease in Japan

Chlamydophila felis (C. felis), feline herpesvirus-1 (FHV-1) and feline calicivirus (FCV) were detected in 39 (59.1%), 11 (16.7%) and 14 (21.2%) cats respectively, from 66 domestic cats presented with conjunctivitis and upper respiratory tract disease (URTD) in 9 prefectures of Japan. Dual and multiple infections were found in 7 (10.6%) cats with both C. felis and FHV-1, 10 (15.2%) cats with both C. felis and FCV, and 1 (1.5%) cat with all three agents. C. felis was isolated from 11 (28.2%) of 39 PCR positive cats. Antigenic difference was found in a 96 kDa protein of our isolates and Fe/145 strain isolated in USA. In conclusion, C. felis is the most common agent of feline conjunctivitis and URTD, and the coinfection with C. felis, FHV-1 and FCV are also common in cats in Japan.     

Effect of suckling on the reproductive performance and metabolic status of obese Japanese black cattle during the early postpartum period

The aim of our study was to investigate the effects of suckling on reproductive performance and metabolic status of obese (mean body condition score of more than 4.0 on a scale of 1-5) maternal Japanese Black cows during early postpartum period. We used 7 postpartum Japanese Black cattle. Four cows were suckled ad libitum (suckled) until completion of their first artificial insemination (AI), while 3 cows were not suckled at all because they were separated from their calves immediately after parturition (non-suckled). Body weight and plasma concentrations of metabolites and hormones were measured from wk 1 to 9 postpartum. Ovarian activity was detected using plasma progesterone concentration, and all cows received their first AI after application of the Ovsynch protocol at approximately 4 months postpartum. Although body weights of non-suckled cows increased during experimental period (P<0.05), those of suckled cows remained unchanged. Plasma concentrations of glucose of non-suckled cows were higher at wk 2 postpartum (P<0.05) and their levels of non-esterified fatty acid tended to be lower at wk 1 and 2 postpartum compared with suckled cows (P<0.1); however, these differences between groups were not observed with progression of postpartum period. In addition, plasma insulin concentrations of non-suckled cows were higher than those of suckled cows during experimental period (P<0.05). During sampling period (wk 0 to 9 postpartum), onset of normal ovarian cycle was observed in all non-suckled and 2 of 4 suckled cows, and it was delayed in other 2 suckled cows compared with non-suckled cows; however, 3 suckled cows conceived at the first AI after application of the Ovsynch protocol; none of non-suckled cows conceived at this time. Overall, we suggest that suckling seems to reduce increase of body weight after parturition, although it does not improve obesity, and influences conception despite delay in resumption of normal ovarian cyclicity in obese Japanese Black cows.     

The metabolic profile test: its practicability in assessing feeding management and periparturient diseases in high yielding commercial dairy herds

The aim of this study was to evaluate the practicability of using the metabolic profile test (MPT) as a preventive tool for periparturient disease of dairy cows. The MPT was assessed in 79 dairy herds with high incidence of periparturient disease and 76 healthy herds of cows producing more than 8,500 kg 305-day milk yield. The changes in metabolic profiles were also assessed in 17 dairy herds at two times, the first at high incidence of periparturient disease and the second after reduced incidence and improved feeding management. In the herds with high incidence of periparturient disease, low blood values of hematocrit, albumin, glucose, cholesterol, calcium and magnesium were observed in the dry period. These values correctly diagnosed malnutrition as the cause of periparturient diseases. Following feeding management changes, there was a low incidence of periparturient disease and the metabolic profiles were normal showing that feeding management had improved. We concluded that the MPT is a useful tool for assessing feeding management and periparturient diseases of dairy cows.     

The effect of temperature on survival of pathogenic bacteria in biogas plants

The paper deals with the hygienic advantages of sanitation to treat dairy manure in full‐scale biogas plants. The slurry samples were collected from two thermophilic biogas plants (55°C) and two mesophilic biogas plants (38°C) in Hokkaido Japan. A detectable number of Coli‐aerogenes group and Enterococcus in the slurries after anaerobic digestion (AD) could not be found in either thermophilic biogas plants. However, in both mesophilic biogas plants the viable numbers of Coli‐aerogenes group and Enterococcus were detected in the slurries even after anaerobic digestion. The mean decimation reduction time (T₉₀) values of the Coli‐aerogenes group and Enterococcus in the slurries during mesophilic digestion were 13.3 days and 16.7 days, respectively.     

Pancreatic metaplasia in the gastro-achlorhydria in WTC-dfk rat, a potassium channel Kcnq1 mutant

The WTC-deafness Kyoto (dfk) rat is a new mutant characterized by deafness and abnormal, imbalanced behavior. WTC-dfk rats carry an intragenic deletion at the Kcnq1 gene; KCNQ1 plays an important role in K(+) homeostasis, and the mutation of Kcnq1 causes a cardiac long QT syndrome in humans. Here, we studied stomach lesions in these WTC-dfk rats. The most characteristic pathologic feature in the stomach was the appearance of hypertrophic gastric glands in the stomach body. The hypertrophic cells had many eosinophilic granules in their cytoplasm, and these granules were stained red with Azan stain; stained positively for trypsinogen, amylase, and chymotrypsin; and did not stain positively for pepsinogen when using immunohistochemical analysis. These staining results suggested a metaplasia toward a pancreatic acinar cells. Extensive fibrosis was found in the bottom part of the mucosa of 34-week-old WTC-dfk rats, suggesting a progression of stomach lesions with aging. Although cells that were positive for proliferating cell nuclear antigen were restricted in the area of the glandular neck in WTC control rats, positive cells in WTC-dfk rats were scattered throughout the mucosa. The parietal cells in WTC-dfk rats were negative for KCNQ1 immunohistochemical analysis. These findings indicate that a deficiency in rat Kcnq1 provokes an abnormal proliferation and differentiation of gastric glandular cells.     

Quantitative structure-activity studies of substituted benzyl chrysanthemates: 4. Physicochemical properties and the rate of progress of the knockdown symptom induced in house flies

A procedure to evaluate the knockdown activity of pyrethroids against house flies in which metabolic factors could be eliminated as far as possible was established. With piperonyl butoxide and NIA 16388 as the inhibitors of oxidative and hydrolytic metabolism, respectively, the “intrinsic” knockdown potencies of 22 substituted benzyl (1R)-trans-chrysanthemates and related compounds were determined 2.5–3 hr after topical application to house flies. From the intrinsic knockdown potency and the rate of progress of the knockdown symptom from the earliest stage of intoxication, a “penetration” rate constant was estimated by first-order kinetics using a two-compartment model. The rate constant was correlated quantitatively with the hydrophobic parameter of the molecule. The lower the hydrophobicity, the higher the rate constant within the range of compounds used in this study.     

Plasticization of cellulose derivatives by reactive plasticizers II: characterization of plasticized cellulose acetates and their biodegradability

A plasticization method for cellulose acetates (CAs) has been developed that is based on the reaction with dibasic acid anhydrides and monoepoxides during the melting processing. As a continuation of the discussion in the previous report, additional evidence is presented for the role of grafting oligoesters onto cellulose acetates to prevent the bleeding of homo-oligoesters from the inside of molded articles to their surface. Based on these results, a method for enhancing the amount of grafting has been pursued by varying the combination of dibasic acid anhydrides and monoepoxides. The resulting reactive meltprocessing method allows preparation of biodegradable cellulosic plastics using practical process conditions. Higher biodegradability has been found for the oligoester-grafted CAs than for the unmodified parent CAs.     

The tendency of damage of stone walls in terrace fields in the northwestern Kumamoto City by the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake and heavy rain in 2016 and 2006

Paddy and Water Environment - The topographical features of farmland stone walls that were damaged by two heavy rains and the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake were studied. Topographical analyses were...     

Characterization and distribution of Staphylococcus sp. implicated for improvement of fish sauce odor

ABSTRACT:   The two Staphylococcus strains that had been isolated from fish sauce mush (moromi) made from frigate mackerel in Japan and proved to improve fish sauce odor, were examined for their taxonomic positions. The sequence analysis based on 16S rRNA and rpoB showed that the two strains, R4Nu and R5G, had an identical sequence with sequence identities of 99.5% and 99.0% to the above two genes from the closest species of S. nepalensis , respectively. A DNA hybridization test of the two strains showed more than 80% DNA similarity with S. nepalensis , thus confirming the above-mentioned species identification. Polymerase chain reaction primers specific to the strain isolated from fish sauce mush were designed from rpoB and examined for the distribution of this species to various fish sauces made in Asian countries as well as to fish sauce starter (malt) made from soy beans and barley in Toyama Prefecture, Japan. The amplified DNA fragment bearing the S. nepalensis gene was detected in the enriched culture of the malt, although no positive reaction was shown with fish sauce samples. These results suggest that S. nepalensis indebted to improve fish sauce odor was originated from the fish sauce starter malt.