A case of pulmonary acariasis in lung of Japanese macaque

A 20-year-old female Japanese macaque, weighing 8.7 kg, developed severe pulmonary acariasis. Numerous whitish nodules, 2-4 mm, were scattered throughout the lungs. Histologically multifocal granulomatous lesions consisting of a large number of eosinophils, epithelioid cells, foreign body type giant cells, and collagen fibers were aggregated around the mait bodies. Numerous mast cells were also detected in the lesions by toluidine blue staining, and tested positive for tryptase by immunohistochemistry. This may be the first reported case of severe pulmonary acariasis in a Japanese macaque.     

Cold-induced ascites in broiler chickens and its improvement by temperature-controlled rearing

Pulmonary hypertension syndrome (PHS), also known as ascites, in broiler chickens prevailed in the local area of Ibaraki prefecture, Japan, and was investigated epidemiologically, serologically, and pathologically. PHS developed in chickens older than 35 days of age when rapid increase of body weight started. Approximately 90% of affected birds were males, in which weight increase was greater than in females. Serologic test revealed that PHS broilers had an increase of hematocrit value. Pathologic studies indicated that the heart of affected birds had an obese-induced pressure and cold exposure triggered congestion in the right ventricle/cava and an increase in peritoneal fluid. These changes were consistent with the previous reports of PHS, so we designed the experiment of effects on cold-induced PHS birds in a temperature-controlled house. After the 10 PHS birds at 55 days were reared for 14 days in a temperature-controlled house at 20 +/- 5 C, ascites disappeared in eight birds and hematocrit values decreased to normal range in nine birds. Our finding indicated that temperature-controlled environment may be one solution to reduce mortality in PHS birds.     

Improvement in the feeding activity, early growth and survival of Pacific bluefin tuna Thunnus orientalis larvae fed a casein peptide-based microdiet supplemented with inosine monophosphate

Two feeding experiments were conducted to determine the effect of a 5′-inosine monophosphate (IMP)-supplemented casein peptide-based microdiet (MD) on the feeding activity, growth and survival of Pacific bluefin tuna (PBT) larvae. PBT larvae [total length: 14.0 mm (Exp. 1) or 13.3 mm (Exp. 2)] were fed a casein peptide-based MD supplemented with or without 3% IMP for 12 days. As a negative control, a limited number of yolk-sac larvae of spangled emperor Lethrinus nebulosus were fed only for the first 7 days and starved for the next 5 days. A sufficient amount of yolk-sac larvae of spangled emperor was fed in the Exp. 2. All fish in the control group had died by 9 or 10 days after the experiment. Extensive mortality was observed in fish fed the MD. The MD was only found in the stomach contents of PBT fed the MD + IMP. Of the fish fed an IMP-supplemented diet, 50% survived for 12 days after the initiation of both feeding experiments. In addition, significantly higher growth than that observed during the first 7 days was seen in the PBT in the IMP treatment after 12 days of the feeding experiment. These results suggest that the supplementation of casein peptide-based MD with IMP could improve the feeding activity, survival and growth performance of PBT.     

Microarray-based gene expression analysis combined with laser capture microdissection is beneficial in investigating the modes of action of ocular toxicity

The retina consists of several layers, and drugs can affect the retina and choroid separately. Therefore, investigating the target layers of toxicity can provide useful information pertaining to its modes of action. Herein, we compared gene expression profiles obtained via microarray analyses using samples of target layers collected via laser capture microdissection and samples of the whole globe of the eye of rats treated with N-methyl-N-nitrosourea. Pathway analyses suggested changes in the different pathways between the laser capture microdissection samples and the whole globe samples. Consistent with the histological distribution of glial cells, upregulation of several inflammation-related pathways was noted only in the whole globe samples. Individual gene expression analyses revealed several gene expression changes in the laser capture microdissection samples, such as caspase- and glycolysis-related gene expression changes, which is similar to previous reports regarding N-methyl-N-nitrosourea-treated animals; however, caspase- and glycolysis-related gene expressions did not change or changed unexpectedly in the whole globe samples. Analyses of the laser capture microdissection samples revealed new potential candidate genes involved in the modes of action of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea-induced retinal toxicity. Collectively, our results suggest that specific retinal layers, which may be targeted by specific toxins, are beneficial in identifying genes responsible for drug-induced ocular toxicity.     

Permeation of carboxylates as ionic compounds into fish meats by soaking and its osmotic dehydrating effect

Permeability of Na-gluconate, Na-malate and Na-acetate into fish-meat strips by soaking, and their osmotic dehydrating effects were investigated in comparison with those of sodium chloride (NaCl) and sorbitol. Carboxylic acids, anion species of carboxylates, were less permeable into soaked meats than chlorine of NaCl, and their permeability was similar to that of sorbitol. However, the permeation of sodium, cation species of the carboxylates and NaCl, was promoted with the concentration of free sodium ion dissociated in soaking solutions. The ratio of sodium to the anion species in soaked meats was varied, depending on the numbers of the sodium atom in the molecules as well as the dissociation degree of the ionic compounds in the soaking solution. Furthermore, the osmotic dehydrating effects of Na-gluconate and Na-malate were analogous with that of sorbitol, and higher than those of NaCl and Na-acetate. These results indicated that the permeation characteristics and the osmotic dehydrating effects of the carboxylates were associated with their ionization in soaking solution as well as their molecular weights.     

Diversity of fimbrillin among Porphyromonas gulae clinical isolates from Japanese dogs

Porphyromonas gulae, a gram-negative black-pigmented anaerobe, is a pathogen for periodontitis in dogs. An approximately 41-kDa fimbrial subunit protein (FimA) encoded by fimA is regarded as associated with periodontitis. In the present study, the fimA genes of 17 P. gulae strains were sequenced, and classified into two major types. The generation of phylogenetic trees based on the deduced amino acid sequence of FimA of P. gulae strains along with sequences from several strains of Porphyromonas gingivalis, a major cause of human periodontitis, revealed that the two types of FimA (types A and B) of P. gulae were similar to type I FimA and types II and III FimA of P. gingivalis, respectively. A PCR system for classification was established based on differences in the nucleotide sequences of the fimA genes. Analysis of 115 P. gulae-positive oral swab specimens from dogs revealed that 42.6%, 22.6%, and 26.1% of them contained type A, type B, and both type A and B fimA genes, respectively. Experiments with a mouse abscess model demonstrated that the strains with type B fimA caused significantly greater systemic inflammation than those with type A. These results suggest that the FimA proteins of P. gulae are diverse with two major types and that strains with type B fimA could be more virulent.     

Transcriptional profiling of inflammatory cytokine genes in African buffaloes (Syncerus caffer) infected with Theileria parva

Theileria parva (T. parva) causes East Coast fever (ECF), which is of huge economic importance to Eastern and Southern African countries. In a previous bovine model, inflammatory cytokines were closely associated with disease progression in animals experimentally infected with T. parva. The African Cape buffalo (Syncerus caffer), the natural reservoir for T. parva, is completely resistant to ECF despite a persistently high parasitaemia following infection with T. parva. Characterizing basic immunological interactions in the host is critical to understanding the mechanism underlying disease resistance in the African Cape buffalo. In this study, the expression level of several cytokines was analyzed in T. parva-infected buffaloes. There were no significant differences in the expression profiles of inflammatory cytokines between the infected and uninfected animals despite a remarkably high parasitaemia in the former. However, the expression level of IL-10 was significantly upregulated in the infected animals. These results indicate a correlation between diminished inflammatory cytokines response and disease resistance in the buffalo.     

Establishment of a syngeneic orthotopic model of prostate cancer in immunocompetent rats

We previously established 3 cell lines (PLS10, PLS20 and PLS30) from a chemically-induced prostate carcinoma in F344 rats, and demonstrated high potential for metastasis in nude mice. In the present study, we investigated the feasibility of establishing an orthotopic model using the 3 rat prostate cancer cell lines in immunocompetent rats with the aim of resolving species-mismatch problems and defects of immune systems. The PLS10, PLS20 and PLS30 cell lines were injected into the ventral prostates of 6-week-old rats, which were then sacrificed at experimental weeks 4 and 8. Tumor mass formation was found in rats with PLS10, but not in those with PLS20 or PLS30. Additionally, metastatic carcinomas could be detected in lymph nodes and lungs of PLS10-inoculated rats. Genetic analysis demonstrated K-ras gene mutations in PLS10 and PLS20, but not in PLS30 cells. There were no mutations in p53 and KLF6. In conclusion, we established a syngeneic orthotopic model for prostate cancer in immunocompetent rats simulating human castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), which should prove useful for development and validation of therapeutic agents, especially with immunotherapy.     

Physical properties of shark gelatin compared with pig gelatin

Physical properties of shark gelatin were examined during gel formation and postgelation in comparison with pig gelatin. Samples with various concentrations and pH values were evaluated by breaking strength, dynamic viscoelasticity, and dynamic light scattering. Sol-gel and gel-sol transition temperatures for shark gelatin were remarkably lower than those for pig gelatin. Shark gelatin gel shows a narrower pH range to form a stable gel compared with pig gelatin. Melting enthalpy of shark gelatin gel was greater than that of pig gelatin gel, and G' of shark gelatin gel changed more extensively with rising temperature in comparison with pig gelatin gel. It is concluded that shark gelatin has different characteristics from pig gelatin not only for gel characteristics but also for the solution property.     

Effect of pH Adjustment on Preservation of Kitchen Waste Used for Producing Lactic Acid

Interest in the production of lactic acid (LA) is increasing inrelation to its applications in the synthesis of biodegradablepolymer materials. Before kitchen waste is used as substrates inLA fermentation, it must be stored for some days in the wastecollection system. This study examined the effects of pHadjustment including initial pH before the storage in terms of thekind and the amount of added acid on preservation of the waste. The optical purity of LA generated during the storage was alsoanalyzed. It was found that antibacterial activity andsuppression ability to D-lactic acid (D-LA) were stronger in theorder: acetic acid > L-lactic acid (L-LA) > hydrochloric acid ≈ nitric acid. The optimum condition of waste storage was found to be adjusting initial pH to 3.4 by adding acetic acid. It can be expected that preservation of kitchen waste can be realized by inhibiting the growth of putrefactive bacteria, and higher optical purity of L-LA was obtained by adding weak acid to the waste.