Relationship between diarrhea and peripheral leukocyte population in neonatal Japanese black calves

Neonatal Japanese Black (JB) calves show a high incidence of diarrhea. The objective of this study was to analyze the immune cell populations of neonatal JB calves in detail and examine its correlation with the incidence of diarrhea immediately after birth. Understanding the immune cell populations is helpful in clinics in order to determine the condition of the immune system for prevention of diseases. Blood samples were obtained from JB calves on the day of birth. The peripheral leukocyte populations were analyzed separately for calves that had diarrhea within 2 weeks after birth (diarrhea group; n = 26) and for calves without diarrhea (control group; n = 74). The numbers of the peripheral blood CD3(+)TcR1-N12(+) and CD8(+) T cells were significantly lower in the diarrhea group compared with the control group. These findings suggest that the congenital lower peripheral γδ and CD8(+) T cells results in a high risk of diarrhea in neonatal JB calves.     

Effect of cellooligosaccharide or synbiotic feeding on growth performance,fecal condition and hormone concentrations in Holstein calves

We investigated the effect of cellooligosaccharide (CE) or a combination of dextran and Lactobacillus casei ssp. casei strain JCM1134^T (synbiotic; SB) feeding on growth performance, fecal condition and hormone concentrations in Holstein calves. Fifty‐two female Holstein calves were randomly assigned to three treatment groups: CE feeding group (n = 16), SB feeding group (n = 18), and control group (n = 18). Body weight at 90 days of age, as well as daily body weight gain (DG) and feed efficiency after weaning to 90 days of age were greater (P < 0.05) in the CE feeding group than in the control group. The total fecal score tended to be lower (P < 0.1) in the SB feeding group than in the control group. Plasma insulin concentration was higher (P < 0.05) in the CE feeding group than in the control group at 90 days of age. Our results indicate that CE feeding improved DG and feed efficiency in calves. On the other hand, there was less effect on growth performance and fecal Escherichia coli counts in calves fed SB.     

Class II chitinase accumulated in the bark tissue involves with the cold hardiness of shoot stems in highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.)

To understand the development of cold hardiness in highbush blueberry plants (Vaccinium corymbosum L.), we investigated seasonal changes in the protein compositions of current-year and overwintered shoots. Electrophoresis using SDS-polyacrylamide gels indicated that the amounts of a few proteins increased in autumn, in association with an enhancement of cold hardiness. Of these proteins, 65- and 60-kDa proteins were confirmed to be dehydrins by western blotting. While the levels of most of the accumulated proteins decreased in April, a 27-kDa protein maintained its level in the overwintered stem during spring. The amino acid sequence deduced from a cDNA for this protein showed significant similarities with known chitinases. The stem segments from overwintered shoots sampled in July showed higher cold hardiness against sub-zero temperature than those from current-year shoots, and the bark tissue of overwintered shoots had higher cold resistance than that of current-year shoots. The 27-kDa protein (BC27) was mostly found in the bark tissue of stems. Appreciable accumulation of this protein in floral buds was not detected. The purified BC27 protein exerted a cryoprotective effect on protoplasts subjected to a freeze–thaw treatment. These results suggest that the stems of highbush blueberry develop a system of cold hardiness different from that of the buds and apices, and that the accumulation of chitinase is involved in tolerance to low temperature in winter or unseasonably low temperature in spring.     

Characterization of gelatinolytic enzymes in the skeletal muscle of red sea bream Pagrus major

Gelatinolytic enzymes were partially purified from the skeletal muscle of red sea bream Pagrus major and characterized to obtain information on post mortem tenderization of fish muscle. Four gelatinolytic activities, G1 (90 kDa), G2 (65 kDa), G3 (60 kDa), and G4 (100 kDa), were detected in the Q Sepharose column. G1, the major gelatinolytic enzyme, and G4 were identified as serine proteinases from results of inhibitor spectrum and substrate specificity. By contrast, G2 and G3 were found to be metalloproteinases since these were inhibited by ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid and o-phenanthroline, and activated by 4-aminophenylmercuric acetate. The optimum pH and temperature of these enzymes were in the ranges of 7–9 and 20–40°C, respectively.     

Japanese black cattle with ateliosis showed lower insulin responses during glucose tolerance test

In order to determine insulin secretability and glucose utilization, a glucose tolerance test was performed in ateliotic cattle of 2 paternal strains; MHO and HSK cattle. MHO and HSK cattle showed different endocrine patterns in our previous study. Area under the insulin concentration curves (insulin-AUC) in the ateliotic cattle were significantly lower (122.3 +/- 59.4 ng.min/ml and 99.2 +/- 24.8 ng.min/ml for MHO and HSK cattle, respectively) than the control cattle (420.2 +/- 175.2 ng.min/ml). These low insulin responses to GTT may have an influence on growth retardation in MHO and HSK cattle.     

DNA polymorphism in the chicken growth hormone gene: Association with egg production

Restriction fragment length polymorphic markers in the chicken growth hormone (GH) gene were tested for their association with egg production traits. Alleles of GH were determined in 3 non‐inbred strains from different genetic bases. The frequency of PS1 (+) allele in the three strains was very low in contrast to the layer strain previously reported. Results of the present study indicate that the frequency of PS (+) is related to egg production and that the PS1 (+) allele may be used as a genetic marker for selection in egg production.     

Molecular typing of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis isolates from food-producing animals in Japan by multilocus variable-number tandem repeat analysis: evidence of clonal dissemination and replacement

Background

Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis is a zoonotic pathogen. Human infections are associated with contaminated eggs and egg products. In Japan, since 1989, the incidence of food-borne disease caused by S. Enteritidis has increased and a pandemic has occurred; however, little is known about changes that occurred before and after this pandemic event in the dominant lineage of isolates from food-producing animals. This study aimed to determine the S. Enteritidis lineages in Japan over the last few decades by using multilocus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA).

Findings

MLVA was used to analyse 79 S. Enteritidis isolates collected from chickens (n = 63), cattle (n = 12), pigs (n = 2), and goats (n = 2) during 1975–2009. The S. Enteritidis isolates showed 14 different MLVA allele combinations, which were classified into two major clusters (A and C) and a minor cluster (B). All the 62 isolates in cluster A were isolated after 1988, whereas 13 of the 17 isolates belonging to cluster B and C were isolated before 1989.

Conclusions

The MLVA results showed that cluster C was predominant before 1989, and isolates in cluster A disseminated since 1989 and replaced the previous dominant clone, suggesting that isolates of cluster A originated from imported S. Enteritidis infection.     

6种石斑鱼成鱼的性腺发育、脑垂体结构以及垂体中FSHβ和LHβ细胞的免疫识别

以日本海域捕获的宝石石斑鱼(Epinephelus areolatus)、黑边石斑鱼(E.fasciatus)、赤点石斑鱼(E.akaara)、尾纹九棘鲈(Cephalopholis urodeta)、蜂巢石斑鱼(E.merra)和纹波石斑鱼(E.ongus)成鱼为对象,比较其性腺发育和脑垂体结构以及垂体中FSHβ和LHβ免疫信号的分布。结果表明:宝石石斑鱼、黑边石斑鱼、赤点石斑鱼和尾纹九棘鲈性腺发育为未成熟阶段,蜂巢石斑鱼和纹波石斑鱼性腺发育为成熟阶段。6种石斑鱼的脑垂体位于间脑腹面,由神经垂体(NH)和腺垂体(AH)组成。腺垂体从左至右进一步细分为前外侧部(RPD)、中外侧部(PPD)和中间部(PI)。在宝石石斑鱼、赤点石斑鱼和纹波石斑鱼中NH结构被PPD隔开分为上下两部分,而在黑边石斑鱼、尾纹九棘鲈和蜂巢石斑鱼中NH为一个整体。6种石斑鱼脑垂体中FSHβ和LHβ细胞的免疫信号主要分布在PPD和PI区域,且FSHβ信号强度均较LHβ强,推断在石斑鱼性腺发育成熟前后,FSHβ较LHβ重要。为石斑鱼的资源保护及人工繁殖方面提供基础生物学资料和理论依据。