Anatomical characterization of decayed wood in standing light red meranti and identification of the fungi isolated from the decayed area

To further our understanding of wood decay in living light red meranti (Shorea smithiana) trees, microscopic characteristics of the cell and cell wall degradations of S. smithiana wood in the presence of the decay fungi, the identity of the causal fungi, and the decay potential and pattern by an isolated fungus were investigated. Cell wall degradations, including cell wall thinning, bore holes formation, rounded pit erosion, and eroded channel opening were clearly observed under light and scanning electron microscopy. In transverse view, many large voids resulting from a coalition of degraded wood tissue appeared in the decayed canker zone. All these observations suggest the well-known simultaneous decay pattern caused by white-rot fungi. By phylogenetic analysis based on the sequences of internal transcribed spacer region of ribosomal DNA, a basidiomycete fungus isolated from the decayed wood was identified as Schizophyllum commune. The degradation caused by this fungus on sound S. smithiana wood in an in situ laboratory decay test was classified as the early stage of simultaneous decay, and showed a similar pattern to that observed in the wood samples naturally decayed.     

Two forms of cytochrome P450 cDNA from 3-methylcholanthrene-treated European eel Anguilla anguilla

ABSTRACT:     The cytochrome P450 (CYP) represents a large group of microsomal monooxygenases that catalyze drugs as well as a host of lethal environmental contaminants such as dioxins, leading to either detoxification and excretion from the animal or generation of carcinogenic intermediates. In the present study two forms of cDNA were cloned (Eu MC1 and Eu MC2) for European eel CYP1A genes by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques. The cDNA of Eu MC1 was 3368 bp long coding 521 amino acid residues, and that of Eu MC2 was 2464 bp long coding 517 amino acid residues. Identities of deduced amino acid sequences between Eu MC1 and Japanese eel CYP1A1 and that between Eu MC2 and the second form of Japanese eel CYP1A were 98% and 97%, respectively, showing decisively that Eu MC1 and Eu MC2 are orthologous to Japanese eel CYP1A1 and the second form of CYP1A, respectively. A striking difference between the two eel species was that the Eu MC1 peptide was two amino acid residues longer than that of the Japanese eel CYP1A1. Existence of two loci of CYP1A in Japanese and European eels may suggest that the two forms of CYP1A exist widely among the eel species, because the divergence between the two eel species has been shown to be close to the basal divergence among eels. The identities in CYP1A may help to estimate genetic distance between European and Japanese eels.     

Prevalence of canine coronavirus (CCoV) in dog in Japan: detection of CCoV RNA and retrospective serological analysis

We collected rectal swabs from dogs in Japan during 2011 to 2014, and canine coronavirus (CCoV) nucleocapsid gene was detected by RT-PCR. The relationship between CCoV infection and the manifestation of diarrhea symptoms was investigated, and a correlation was noted (df=1, χ²=8.90, P<0.005). The types of CCoV detected in samples from CCoV-infected dogs were CCoV-I in 88.9% and CCoV-II in 7.4%, respectively. We retrospectively investigated the seroprevalence of CCoV-I in dogs in Japan during 1998 to 2006. The sera were tested with a neutralizing antibody test. In the absence of CCoV-I laboratory strain, we used feline coronavirus (FCoV)-I that shares high sequence homology in the S protein with CCoV-I. 77.7% of the sera were positive for neutralizing anti-FCoV-I antibodies.     

日本湖泊地区水质保护对策与成效

日本自60年代后期,随着工农业发展和人口增加,在水资源丰富的湖泊周边地区由于污染物的过量排放导致湖泊水体污染。日本环境省为了保护湖泊水质,制定了“湖泊水质保护特别措施法”。同时,农林水产省在湖泊地区相继制定了“农业环境规范”、“可持续农业生产方式”、“农田、水体、环保对策”等一系列环境友好型农业综合生产技术措施,促进湖泊地区水质保护和该地区农业可持续发展。围绕日本两大代表性湖泊琵琶湖和霞浦湖,介绍了日本湖泊地区水质保护综合对策的形成、成效及其发展,以及在此基础上环保型农业政策体系的提出、发展和实施效果,以及环保型农业政策指导下的湖泊保护对策及目标等;并指出了日本环保型农业存在的问题,以期为我国探索农业可持续发展之路提供更多的启示。     

Critical Revision on the GeneraRhizosphaera Mangin et Hariot andRhizophoma Petrak et Sydow, a little-known Fungus Group Associated with Needle Disease of Conifers. Kritische Revision der GattungenRhizosphaera Mangin et Hariot undRhizophoma Petrak et Sydow, wenig bekannte Erreger einer Pilzkrankheit and Koniferen-Nadeln

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Effect of supplementation with the reduced form of coenzyme Q10 on semen quality and antioxidant status in dogs with poor semen quality: Three case studies

Oxidative stress owing to an imbalance between reactive oxygen species and antioxidants, such as coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), is a major contributor to male infertility. We investigated the effects of the reduced form of CoQ10 (ubiquinol) supplementation on semen quality in dogs with poor semen quality. Three dogs received 100 mg of ubiquinol orally once daily for 12 weeks. Semen quality, serum testosterone, and seminal plasma superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were examined at 2-week intervals from 2 weeks before ubiquinol supplementation to 4 weeks after the treatment. Ubiquinol improved sperm motility, reduced morphologically abnormal sperm, and increased seminal plasma SOD activity; however, it had no effect on testosterone level, semen volume, and sperm number. Ubiquinol supplementation could be used as a non-endocrine therapy for infertile dogs.     

Systemic candidiasis in a dog, developing spondylitis

A 4-year-old male Shiba dog initially presented with pain of an undetermined origin and hypersensitivity to touch. Seven days later, the dog developed ataxia, hind-leg weakness and knuckling. The dog died on 20 days after presentation. Postmortem examination revealed a mass in the body of thoracic vertebra. Histopathologically, the mass consisted of granulomatous inflammation, including fungal organisms that were immunohistochemically positive for Candida albicans. Similar granulomatous lesions were observed in the systemic lymph nodes, kidneys, pancreas, spleen, prostate gland, thyroid glands and heart. This case was diagnosed as systemic candidiasis with spondylitis.     

Inhibitory influence of inorganic salts on banana postharvest pathogens and preliminary application to control crown rot

Lasiodiplodia theobromae, Thielaviopsis paradoxa, Colletotrichum musae, C. gloeosporioides, Fusarium verticillioides, and F. oxysporum were screened in vitro for sensitivity to Na₂CO₃, NaHCO₃, CaCl₂, NaCl, and NaClO. The spore germination of all pathogens was completely inhibited by Na₂CO₃ 4g/l, NaClO 5g/l, and NaHCO₃, CaCl₂, and NaCl 6g/l each. Dipping the bananas for 10–15min in these concentrations reduced the incidence of crown rot (compared with the untreated fruits) 17 days after harvest in fruits treated with NaClO by 67%, with NaHCO₃ by 62%, with NaCl by 38%, and with CaCl₂ by 33%. Na₂CO₃-treated fruits had the same incidence of crown rot as untreated fruits.