Neospora caninum infected the alimentary tract of nude mice and was transmitted to other mice by intraperitoneal inoculation with the intestinal contents

Neospora caninum (BT-2 strain) that originated from the brain of a Holstein calf was serially passaged through 10 generations of BALB/c nude mice by intraperitoneal inoculation. Histological examination of the mice revealed that numerous clusters of tachyzoites appeared in the pancreas, stomach and small intestine as well as in the central nervous system (CNS) and skeletal muscles. Intestinal contents of the infected mice were inoculated intraperitoneally into uninfected nude mice and 3 of the 17 inoculated mice showed clinical signs at post inoculation days 3 to 10. The present experiments demonstrated a proliferation of N. caninum tachyzoites in the mucosa of the alimentary tract and pancreas of the nude mice and the intestinal contents of the mice were infective to other nude mice.     

Analysis of glycosuria in okapi (Okapia johnstoni): Examination of urinary N‐acetyl‐β‐D‐glucosaminidase

We analyzed the urinary excretion of glucose and N‐acetyl‐β‐D‐glucosaminidase (NAG) in six okapis (Okapia johnstoni) in captivity to investigate the cause of their urinary sugar excretion. The urinary glucose‐positive okapi had significantly higher urinary NAG indices than the urinary glucose‐negative okapi. There was also a positive correlation between urinary glucose levels and urinary NAG indices. These results suggest that the proximal tubular function of the glycosuric okapi may have been obstructed, which impaired glucose reabsorption.     

Mechanism of self-sterility in a hermaphroditic chordate

Hermaphroditic organisms avoid inbreeding by a system of self-incompatibility (SI). A primitive chordate (ascidian) Ciona intestinalis is an example of such an organism, but the molecular mechanism underlying its SI system is not known. Here, we show that the SI system is governed by two gene loci that act cooperatively. Each locus contains a tightly linked pair of polycystin 1-related receptor (s-Themis) and fibrinogen-like ligand (v-Themis) genes, the latter of which is located in the first intron of s-Themis but transcribed in the opposite direction. These genes may encode male- and female-side self-recognition molecules. The SI system of C. intestinalis has a similar framework to that of flowering plants but utilizing different molecules.     

Antioxidative effects of lactic acid bacteria on the colonic mucosa of iron-overloaded mice

The antioxidative effects of lactic acid bacteria on lipid peroxidation in the colonic mucosa were investigated. Among 49 strains of lactic acid bacteria, Streptococcus thermophilus YIT 2001 showed the highest inhibitory activity against lipid peroxidation in liposomes induced by ferrous iron. Feeding a diet containing 0.4% St. thermophilus YIT 2001 (2 x 10(8) colony-forming units per mouse per day) for 2 weeks caused a significant decrease of lipid peroxide (thiobarbituric acid reactive substance) in the colonic mucosa of iron-overloaded mice (0.07% Fe in the diet). The mucosal lipid peroxide level did not correlate with the soluble iron concentration of the cecal contents. Therefore, it is suggested that the antioxidative effect of St. thermophilus YIT 2001 in the colonic mucosa was not due to the removal of ferrous iron from the reaction system of lipid peroxidation.     

Vertebral deformities in cultured red sea bream, Pagrus major, Temminck and Schlegel

Vertebral deformities were investigated in cultured red sea bream, Pagrus major. In the field, deformities in seedlings were categorized and their incidence was calculated. In the laboratory, the symptoms of major vertebral deformities were examined morphologically using radiographs and by making transparent skeletal specimens. The internal structure of deformed vertebrae was examined histologically. The shortened body condition had the highest incidence (0.9–8.3%) of all deformities in the seedlings. In individuals with the shortened body condition, the ratio of trunk and caudal part length to body height was smaller. These fish had skeletal anomalies in the vertebrae, mainly centrum defects (64.3%) or undersized centrums (25.2%). The specimens with centrum defects had a characteristic anomaly in the vertebrae, with plural pairs of neural and haemal spines on a single centrum. This anomaly was frequently observed in the posterior abdominal vertebrae. The internal skeletal structure of such abnormal centrums was basically the same as that of normal centrums. In all the specimens with undersized centrums, both the centrum length and diameter were shorter than normal except for the first and second centrum, and urostyle.     

Cross protection of mice and swine given live-organism vaccine against challenge exposure with strains of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae representing ten serovars

Mice and swine vaccinated (subcutaneous inoculation) with live acriflavine-fast attenuated Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, strain Koganei 65-0.15 (serovar 2), were challenge exposed with 10 strains of E rhusiopathiae pathogenic for swine; the latter strains comprised serovars 9 and 10 and other previously undetermined. Vaccinated mice did not die after they were challenge exposed (subcutaneous inoculation) with serovars 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, or N, but vaccinated mice challenge exposed with strain 2553 (serovar 20) had 30% mortality. Nonvaccinated control mice died after they were challenge exposed with all serovars tested. One of 2 vaccinated swine challenge exposed (intradermal inoculation) with each of strains 911 (serovar 8), 2179 (serovar 10), or 2553 developed localized urticarial lesion at the site of intradermal inoculation. Vaccinated swine challenge exposed with serovars 4, 6, 7, 9, 15, 16, or N did not have clinical signs of acute swine erysipelas. Nonvaccinated control swine developed localized lesions at the site of intradermal challenge inoculation.     

Prevalence and characterization of Pasteurella multocida in rabbits and their environment in Japan

Prevalence and some properties of Pasteurella multocida in rabbits kept at laboratory animal facilities and commercial rabbitries, and in their environment were investigated. A total of 1,147 nasal swab samples from 1,147 rabbits and 126 samples from their environment were subjected to the isolation of P. multocida. The bacteria were isolated from 199 (29.8%) of 668 rabbits in laboratory animal facilities and from 1 (0.2%) of 479 rabbits in the rabbitries. Isolation rate of P. multocida was low (0.9%) or high (44.9%) in the facilities with or without the monitoring for the presence of the bacteria, respectively. The highest rate of the isolation from rabbits was recorded at 10 to 12 months of their housing time. Thirty-nine cultures (31.0%) of air and the surfaces of floors, tips of water bottles, and cages were positive for P. multocida and isolation rate of the bacteria was high (78.6%) in the air. Biological and biochemical properties of the isolates were identical except for indole production and raffinose fermentation. The isolates were susceptible to antibiotics tested except for clindamycin, serologically similar in the gel-diffusion precipitin test and weakly virulent for mice. The present results suggested that these P. multocida isolates were the causal agent of rabbits rhinitis (snuffles) in Japan.