Feeding ecology of dominant demersal fish species <Emphasis Type="Italic">Favonigobius gymnauchen,Repomucenus</Emphasis> spp. and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tarphops oligolepis</Emphasis> at a sandy beach where larval Japanese flounder settle in the Seto Inland Sea,Japan

ABSTRACT:   Feeding habits of Favonigobius gymnauchen , Repomucenus spp. and Tarphops oligolepis were examined during the period from May to August in 1999, 2000 and 2001 at a sandy beach in the central Seto Inland Sea, Japan. The three species of fish accounted for more than 60% of all fish collected in terms of number of individuals. All three species mainly consumed small crustaceans. However, the major prey of F .  gymnauchen and Repomucenus spp. differed from that of T .  oligolepis . F .  gymnauchen and Repomucenus spp. mainly consumed mysids and small crangonid shrimp (<12 mm in body length), which predominated in the study area. T .  oligolepis actively selected only epifaunal mysids Nipponomysis ornata and avoided crangonid shrimp and gammarids . The frequencies of occurrence of fish in the guts of the three dominant species were very low, and larval and juvenile Japanese flounder were not observed in any of the three fish species. The diet of juvenile Japanese flounder was similar to that of the three species. From these results, it appears that these three fish are competing species for the flounder.     

Effect of bovine lactoferrin on functions of activated feline peripheral blood mononuclear cells during chronic feline immunodeficiency virus infection

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infection is characterized by chronic overactivation of immune and inflammatory system, resulting in anergic state and dysfunction of immune cells. Lactoferrin (LF), a glycoprotein present in exocrine secretions and neutrophils, plays an important role in host defense system. Our previous study showed that oral administration of bovine LF (bLF) suppressed oral inflammation, improved the clinical symptoms and decreased serum gamma-globulin as a marker of inflammation in FIV-infected cats with intractable stomatitis. The anti-inflammatory effect was partly involved in regulation of neutrophil function by bLF. In this study, to clarify the relationship between anti-inflammatory effects of bLF and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), we examined the effect of bLF on proliferation, cell cycle progression and cytokine expression in mitogen-activated PBMC. MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)- 2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide] assay showed that bLF inhibited the concanavalin A (ConA)-induced cell proliferation in FIV-infected cats with the asymptomatic carrier and AIDS-related complex (ARC) phase. Bovine LF restored ConA-induced cell cycle progression and resulted in suppression of the induced apoptosis in feline PBMC. Real-time RT-PCR showed that bLF suppressed ConA-induced expression of interferon-gamma and interleukin-2 in cells of the ARC group regardless of the time of its addition to the medium. These results suggest the hypothesis that therapy with bLF may have the potential to improve and protect functions of overactivated lymphocytes by modulating the cell proliferation, cell cycle and cytokines expression in cats in terminal stage of FIV infection.     

Change in intrarenal Ghrelin expression in immune complex-mediated glomerular disease in dogs

Ghrelin is a peptide hormone that is mainly produced by the stomach. The kidney is a major source of local ghrelin, and maintaining body fluid balance is considered a critical role of renal ghrelin. However, there are no reports on renal ghrelin in small animal medicine. The present study investigated the intrarenal localization of and change in ghrelin expression in dogs with immune complex-mediated glomerulonephritis (ICGN). Ghrelin immunoreactivity (IR) was observed in the distal tubules of normal kidneys. Ghrelin IR was weak in ICGN kidneys, and the quantitative ghrelin IR score was significantly lower in ICGN kidneys than in normal kidneys. In cases of ICGN, plasma creatinine concentrations showed a positive correlation with the ghrelin IR score.     

Comparison of carcass and meat characteristics of Brahman grade cattle (Bos indicus) and crossbred water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) fed on high roughage diet

The objective of this study was to compare the carcass and meat quality in crossbred cattle and crossbred water buffalo at the same younger age and fed with high roughage in the Philippines. Ten crossbred cattle and 10 crossbred water buffalo, with an average age of 22 months (18–24 months) were used in this experiment. The animals were fed a similar diet, which consisted of 85% Napier or Para grass and 15% concentrate mixture on a dry matter basis, for 180 days before slaughter. Slaughter weight of the crossbred water buffalo was higher (P < 0.05) than that of the cattle, although the dressing percentage was significantly (P < 0.01) lower for the former than for the latter. The estimated lean yield was higher (P < 0.05) in crossbred cattle than crossbred water buffalo. The muscle fiber diameter of loin in buffalo meat was smaller (P < 0.05) than that in cattle. In regard to carcass and meat quality, the crossbred water buffalo was comparable or slightly superior to the crossbred cattle in tenderness, sensory score of color (P < 0.01) and flavor (P < 0.05). These results clearly indicate that at a younger age and even under high roughage‐based fattening rations, crossbred water buffalo are able to produce good quality meat, which will be by no means inferior to that of crossbred cattle in the Philippines.     

Effect of exposure to low salinity water on plasma ion regulation and survival rates in artificially wounded devil stinger <Emphasis Type="Italic">Inimicus japonicus</Emphasis>

We investigated the effect of exposure to low salinity water on plasma ion regulation and survival rates in artificially wounded devil stinger Inimicus japonicus. All fishes survived in 33% seawater (SW), while survival rate in 100% SW was 5.1% at 24 h. In 100% SW, plasma Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, and Ca²⁺ concentrations significantly increased to 238?±?49.9, 9.6?±?2.4, 15.1?±?3.5 and 5.0?±?0.7 mmol/l at 6 h, respectively; the gill Na⁺/K⁺–ATPase (NKA) activity was almost stable, although only one fish survived to 24 h. In 33% SW, plasma Na⁺ and K⁺ concentrations remained at the same level, and plasma Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺ concentrations gradually increased to 16.2?±?0.7 and 4.5?±?0.2 mmol/l until 24 h, respectively. The NKA activity significantly increased to 5.1?±?1.1 µmol ADP/mg protein per h at 6 h. A positive correlation was observed between the wound surface area against body weight and the plasma ion concentrations, although no difference was observed in the restoration rate of the wounded area between 100 and 33% SW. These results indicate that exposure of wounded fish to low salinity water improves survivability by favoring plasma ion regulation without influencing the restoration rate.     

Magnetic resonance imaging of neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis in a border collie

A castrated male border collie 23 months of age weighing 19.4 kg was referred to the Animal Medical Center of Nihon University with complaints of visual disturbance and behavioral abnormality, hyperacusis and morbid fear. The MRI examination revealed the slight dilated cerebral sulci and cerebellar fissures and left ventricular enlargement. This is the first report of MRI findings of canine neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis.     

Immunocytochemical evaluation of epithelial–mesenchymal transition in epithelial tumors of dogs and cats

Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a crucial role in metastasis of epithelial tumors; however, it is challenging to detect EMT by cytology. In the present study, EMT was visualized by fluorescence-immunocytochemistry (FICC). Air-dried smears from epithelial tumors of dogs (n=22) and cats (n=9) were stained using mouse monoclonal anti-E-cadherin and rabbit monoclonal anti‐vimentin antibodies. Enzymatic immunohistochemistry (IHC) revealed that 51.6% (8/22 in dogs, 8/9 in cats) of the cases showed EMT. In dogs, FICC could detect EMT in 62.5% (5/8) of those cases. In cats, FICC could detect EMT in 100% (8/8) of the cases. In conclusion, the present FICC method could successfully detect EMT using conventional air-dried cytology smear slides.     

MicroRNA expression profiling of cat and dog kidneys

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a role in the pathogenesis of certain diseases and may serve as biomarkers. Here, we present the first analysis of miRNA expression in the kidneys of healthy cats and dogs. Kidneys were divided into renal cortex (CO) and medulla (MD), and RNA sequence analysis was performed using the mouse genome as a reference. A total of 277, 276, 295, and 297 miRNAs were detected in cat CO, cat MD, dog CO, and dog MD, respectively. By comparing the expression ratio of CO to MD, we identified highly expressed miRNAs in each tissue as follows: 41 miRNAs including miR-192-5p in cat CO; 45 miRNAs including miR-323-3p in dog CO; 78 miRNAs including miR-20a-5p in cat MD; and 11 miRNAs including miR-132-5p in dog MD. Further, the target mRNAs of these miRNAs were identified. These data provide veterinary medicine critical information regarding renal miRNA expression.