Evaluation of feeding value of forage soybean silage as a substitute for wheat bran in sheep

Twelve sheep were used in a 3 × 3 Latin square design to evaluate the effect of substituting wheat bran with forage soybean silage in the diet on apparent digestibility and nitrogen balance. Forage soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) was cultivated in a no‐till, no‐herbicide cropping system with Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) as a living mulch. Forage soybean and Italian ryegrass were wilted and ensiled in round bales without additives, respectively. The experimental diets were based on corn silage supplemented with protein sources (tow silages or wheat bran). The crude protein and the acid detergent insoluble protein contents of forage soybean silage were the highest among the protein sources. The apparent digestibility of crude protein and the nitrogen balance did not significantly differ among the diets. In addition, the phytoestrogen content of forage soybean silage was below the level at which animal reproductive performance would be negatively affected. These results suggest that forage soybean silage has comparable feeding value to wheat bran, and can be given at an inclusion level of 17% (dry matter basis) as an alternative protein source to wheat bran without adverse effects on digestion or nitrogen balance in sheep fed a corn silage‐based diet.     

Intraerythrocytic schizogony of Theileria sergenti in cattle

The characteristics of developing intraerythrocytic stages of T. sergenti were studied by light and transmission electron microscopy. The parasites with many ribosomes, acristate mitochondria, cytostome, and food vacuoles were morphologically regarded as the trophozoite stage. Although this type of parasites was frequently detected, intraerythrocytic merozoite stage with electron dense cisternae, rhoptries and small electron dense bodies was rarely observed in high parasitaemia. The intraerythrocytic stages of T. sergenti were divided mainly into four daughters by schizogony, and alternatively into two by binary fission. The daughter parasites in each division had the same ultrastructural features as of merozoites. As a result, it was suggested that T. sergenti trophozoites multiplied by schizogony to four organisms or by binary fission in the peripheral erythrocyte, and differentiated to the merozoites which acquired penetrating ability into the erythrocytes.     

Capsule thickness and amounts of a 39 kDa capsular protein of avian Pasteurella multocida type A strains correlate with their pathogenicity for chickens

Capsule thickness of avian Pasteurella multocida type A strains was determined by transmission electron microscopy after labeling with polycationic ferritin and compared with their pathogenicity for chickens. The capsule thickness of P. multocida strains Pm-18 and X-73 was 81.4 and 50.1 nm on average, respectively. These strains were highly virulent for chicken, whereas the less virulent strains Pm-1 and Pm-3 had a thin and irregular capsule, 21.0 and 29.8 nm on average, respectively. However, the thickest capsule was observed in strain P-1059, 101.2 nm on average, and the strain revealed moderate virulence. The noncapsulated variant P-1059B, which was derived from strain P-1059, revealed low virulence. The six P. multocida strains were examined with regard to protein content on the capsule of organisms. Amounts of total proteins of crude capsular extract (CCE) from capsulated strains were approximately twice those of the noncapsulated strains. The amount of an antigenic 39 kDa protein in the CCE were found to correlate with the capsule thickness, since heavily capsulated strains exhibited the greatest amount, whereas noncapsulated strains including noncapsulated and low virulent variant P-1059B possessed little 39 kDa protein. The results demonstrated that the capsule thickness and the quantity of a 39 kDa capsular protein of avian P. multocida type A strains correlated with their pathogenicity for chickens.     

Bar-structure in bovine erythrocytes infected with Theileria sergenti

The purpose of this study is to elucidate some morphological characteristics of the bar-structure in bovine erythrocytes infected with Theileria sergenti. The bar-structure, the veil or the both were observed in infected erythrocytes. Infected bovine erythrocytes were classified into four types according to the included structures. Infected cells containing bar-structures increased with the progress of parasitemia. In Giemsa-stained blood preparations, bar-structures appeared purplish-red and measured a mean of 1.6 micron in length and up to 0.1 micron in width. Bar-structures were usually straight, sometimes S-shaped, and located in the periphery of infected erythrocytes. In the direct fluorescent antibody test with T. sergenti-positive bovine serum both piroplasms and bar-structures exhibited fluorescence. However, in the indirect fluorescent antibody test with monoclonal antibodies against piroplasms only piroplasms showed a highly specific fluorescence. Electron microscopy revealed that bar-structures were vesicular in structure, surrounded by a double membrane connected to the host cell membrane.     

Biological activities of tethered equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) and its deglycosylated mutants

Equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG), which consists of highly glycosylated alpha- and beta-subunits, is a unique member of the gonadotropin family because it elicits response characteristics of both follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) in species other than the horse. In this study, recombinant tethered-eCG as well as its deglycosylated mutants were produced to determine if alpha- and beta- subunits can be synthesized as a single polypeptide chain (tethered-eCG) and display biological activity. We found that tethered-eCG (T- betaalpha) had both LH- and FSH-like activities comparable to dimeric eCG. Luteinizing hormone-like activity of tethered-eCGs deglycosylated at Asn(56) (T-betaalpha56) was decreased. In contrast, LH-like activity of eCG without O-glycosylated carboxyl-terminal peptide (CTP) (T-betacalpha) was slightly decreased but still similar to T-betaalpha. Double mutation at Asn(56) and CTP (T-betacalpha56) caused marked decrease in the activity, indicating that both glycosylations at Asn(56) and CTP are involved in LH-like activity in the tethered form. Interestingly, FSH-like activity remained in all deglycosylated eCG mutants (T-betaalpha56, T-betacalpha and T-betacalpha56) as well as T-betaalpha. The biological roles of oligosaccharides at Asn(56) of eCG alpha-subunit and O-linked peptide of beta-subunit appear to be different in LH- and FSH-like activities in tethered-eCG.     

Osteometrical skull character in the four species of tree shrew

The skull size and shape were osteometrically examined in the four species of the tree shrews (Tupaia tana, T. javanica, T. minor and T. dorsalis). We suggest that the skull characters were affected by the species specific behavior and terrestrial, arbo-terrestrial and arboreal life, among the genus Tupaia. The neurocranium was laterally narrower in the braincase area, and the splanchnocranium was longer only on dorsal side in T. tana, and these characters were opposite to T. minor. The principal component analysis confirmed the obviously separated clusters among T. tana, T. javanica and T. minor, affected by the adaptation for each behavior. T. dorsalis was considered as terrestrial species from the results of proportion analysis and the principal component analysis.     

Cerebellar myxoid type meningioma in a Shih Tzu dog

A 6-year and 9 month-old, male, Shih Tzu dog showed ataxia and trembling. By MRI examination, a mass (1 cm) was found in the right cerebellum. As the dog did not respond to radiation therapy, and showed a rise of intracranial pressure, he was euthanized. The cerebellar mass was soft and hemorrhagic. Histologically, the mass contained vimentin-positive spindle- or polyhedral-shaped cells arranged in a cord-like pattern. Mucinous materials were observed in the intercellular spaces. Ultrastructural examination revealed cell processes, microtubule-like structures and desmosomes. The case was diagnosed as myxoid type meningioma.     

Detection of porcine circovirus 2 (PCV-2) DNA by nested PCR from formalin-fixed tissues of post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) pigs in Thailand

A retrospective study for the detection of porcine circovirus 2 (PCV-2) DNA was conducted by nested PCR method in 16 cases of swine post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) in Thailand. Histopathology showed characteristic lesions of PMWS and intracytoplasmic viral inclusion bodies in macrophages infiltrating in lymphoid tissues. PCV-2 DNA was detected from formalin-fixed and/or formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues from all pigs with PMWS. The amplified products were digested with Hae III.     

Psittacine beak and feather disease in three captive sulphur-crested cockatoos (Cacatua galerita) in Thailand

Three sulphur-crested cockatoos (Cacatua galerita) were diagnosed as psittacine beak and feather disease (PBFD). Histopathology of the feather pulp and follicles showed intracytoplasmic botryoid clusters or granular inclusion bodies in epithelial cells and macrophages. Electron microscopy revealed multiple cytoplasmic clusters of electron dense viral particles corresponding to the inclusions. PBFD virus (circovirus) DNA-specific product was detected from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded feathers by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method.