Influence of orally administered bovine lactoferrin on lipid metabolism in lipopolysaccharide-injected preruminant calves

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of oral lactoferrin (LF) administration on lipid metabolism changes in calves given lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Twenty-one 4-day-old Holstein calves were divided into three groups, with each group receiving one of three oral doses of LF (0, 1, 3 g/day) for 10 consecutive days (day −10 to day −1). All calves were intravenously injected with LPS (50 ng/kg BW) on day 0, the day after LF treatment ended. Plasma triglyceride concentrations were lower ( P  < 0.05) in the LF-treated calves than in the control calves given 0 g/day of LF at 12 and 24 h after LPS injection. Plasma NEFA concentrations were elevated between 6 and 24 h after LPS treatment. At 12 h, the concentration of plasma NEFA was lower ( P  < 0.05) in the calves given LF 3 g/day than in the control calves. On day 0, plasma total cholesterol and phospholipid concentrations tended to be lower in the LF groups administered 1 and 3 g of LF/day than in the control group, but did not differ significantly among the groups. The plasma very-low-density and low-density lipoprotein concentrations were lower ( P  < 0.05) at 12, 24, and 72 h in the LF groups than in the control calves. The concentrations of plasma high-density lipoprotein tended to be lower in the LF groups than in the control group between day 0 and 96 h, though there were no significant group differences. The concentration of plasma interleukin-1β was lower ( P  < 0.05) in the calves fed LF 3 g/day than in the control calves at 2 and 12–48 h after LPS injection. These data suggest that LF inhibits LPS-induced alterations in lipid metabolism in preruminant calves.     

Temporal synchrony of Thaumetopoea processionea egg hatch and Quercus robur budburst

Field observations on egg hatch of Thaumetopoea processionea suggest that temporal asynchrony with Quercus robur budburst leads to starvation, retarded neonate development and mortality. However, T. processionea neonates are generally well adapted to variable between-tree and within-tree budburst phenology reflecting the species’ close bond to its host. They are able to withstand starvation periods of up to 3 weeks while searching extensively for suitable buds to feed on. Feeding and movements of young larvae frequently occur during daytime presumably taking advantage of higher day temperatures when night temperatures are below the species’ thermal threshold. Due to the specific adaptations, we assume precise temporal synchrony to play a minor role regarding its influences on T. processionea population dynamics. However, if hatching precedes budburst for more than 2–3 weeks, temporal asynchrony may become a significant mortality factor for the neonates particularly when other adverse events (e.g. unfavourable weather conditions) during that period are involved. Therefore, future studies should try to reveal further details of this interaction and focus on the impact of global warming on T. processionea—oak budburst synchronisation.     

Spontaneous Extraskeletal Osteosarcoma in a Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus): Histopathological and Immunohistochemical Findings

A spontaneously occurring subcutaneous mass in the left forelimb of a nine-year-old rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) was examined histopathologically and immunohistochemically. Clinically, edema and hemorrhage were seen around the mass. No connection of the tumor mass to the appendicular skeleton was found. The tumor was arranged in a solid growth pattern and irregular bundles, and neoplastic cells were polygonal to spindle-shape. Osteoid (positive for osteocalcin) and multinucleated giant cells were diffusely or focally seen. Neoplastic cells were positive for vimentin, osterix and Ki-67, indicating the nature of osteoblasts with proliferating activity, but negative for α-smooth muscle actin, desmin or CD204. Based on these findings, a diagnosis of extraskeletal osteosarcoma was made, a very rare tumor both in laboratory and pet rabbits.     

Transmission of extended-spectrum cephalosporin-resistant Salmonella harboring a blaCMY-2-carrying IncA/C2 plasmid chromosomally integrated by ISEcp1 or IS26 in layer breeding chains in Japan

Dissemination of extended-spectrum cephalosporin (ESC)-resistant Salmonella is a public health concern in the egg production industry. ESC-resistant Salmonella often acquires the bla gene via insertion sequences (ISs). Therefore, this study aimed to assess antimicrobial resistance in Salmonella from Japanese layer breeding chains and egg processing chains, and determine the genetic profiles of IS-like elements in ESC-resistant Salmonella. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed on 224 isolates from 49 facilities involving layer breeder farms, hatcheries, pullet-rearing farms, and layer farms in breeding chains along with egg processing chains. ESC-resistant Salmonella strains were whole-genome sequenced. Among them, 40 (17.9%) were resistant to at least streptomycin, tetracycline, ampicillin, chloramphenicol, cefpodoxime, nalidixic acid, ciprofloxacin, and/or kanamycin despite lacking resistance to azithromycin and meropenem. Moreover, 15 were ESC-resistant Salmonella harboring bla_CMY-2 (Salmonella enterica serovar Ohio, n=12; S. Braenderup, n=1; untypeable with O7:b:-, n=1) and bla_CTX-M-14 (S. Cerro, n=1). IncA/C₂ plasmids containing ISEcp1, IS26, and multiple antimicrobial resistance genes (including bla_CMY-2) were identified in S. Ohio isolates from pullet-rearing and layer farms belonging to the same company. Chromosomal integration of partial or whole IncA/C₂ plasmids was seen with two S. Ohio isolates via ISEcp1 or IS26, respectively. Antimicrobial resistance genes such as bla_CMY-2 might be transmitted among the upper and the lower levels of layer breeding chains via the replicon type IncA/C₂ plasmids containing ISEcp1 and IS26.     

Isolation and characterization of Campylobacter,Helicobacter, and Anaerobiospirillum strains from a puppy with bloody diarrhea

We carried out a microscopic examination of stools from a 2-month-old female puppy with bloody diarrhea, and this revealed large numbers of different spiral-shaped bacteria. To isolate these organisms, a rectal swab specimen was inoculated onto plates of Skirrow's agar and incubated at 37 degrees C for 6 days in a microaerobic atmosphere. Finally, a total of six different spiral-shaped bacteria (strains G1104, 94105, FR106, B0101, 3J102, and J2103) were isolated. Based on their morphology, biochemical traits, whole-cell protein profiles, and analysis of their 16S rDNA sequences, they were identified as Campylobacter upsaliensis, Helicobacter cinaedi, 'Flexispira rappini', two Anaerobiospirillum spp. with different morphologies, and Helicobacter sp., respectively. Analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequence data for strains 94150 (H. cinaedi) and FR106 (F. rappini) revealed that this approach has limitations when identifying isolates to the species level because of a high degree of sequence homology between these species (>99%) and considerable sequence variation among different isolates within these species. The dog was treated orally with amoxicillin for 3 days, which resolved the diarrhea. However, 1 day after the last dose the bloody diarrhea recurred but regarded to six more days amoxicillin treatment. This suggests a bacterial cause for the diarrhea. The approach to identification to microaerobic spiral-shaped bacteria in diarrheic dogs can be applied further to characterize their role in diarrhea illness.     

Intraspecific Evolution of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhizoctonia solani</Emphasis> AG-1 IA Associated with Soybean and Rice in Brazil based on Polymorphisms at the ITS-5.8S rDNA Operon

Rhizoctonia solani AG-1 IA causes leaf blight on soybean and rice. Despite the fact that R. solani AG-1 IA is a major pathogen affecting soybean and rice in Brazil and elsewhere in the world, little information is available on its genetic diversity and evolution. This study was an attempt to reveal the origin, and the patterns of movement and amplification of epidemiologically significant genotypes of R. solani AG-1 IA from soybean and rice in Brazil. For inferring intraspecific evolution of R. solani AG-1 IA sampled from soybean and rice, networks of ITS-5.8S rDNA sequencing haplotypes were built using the statistical parsimony algorithm from Clement et al. (2000) Molecular Ecology 9: 1657–1660. Higher haplotype diversity (Nei M 1987, Molecular Evolutionary Genetics Columbia University Press, New york: 512p.) was observed for the Brazilian soybean sample of R. solani AG-1 IA (0.827) in comparison with the rest of the world sample (0.431). Within the south-central American clade (3-2), four haplotypes of R. solani AG-1 IA from Mato Grosso, one from Tocantins, one from Maranhão, and one from Cuba occupied the tips of the network, indicating recent origin. The putative ancestral haplotypes had probably originated either from Mato Grosso or Maranhão States. While 16 distinct haplotypes were found in a sample of 32 soybean isolates of the pathogen, the entire rice sample (n=20) was represented by a single haplotype (haplotype 5), with a worldwide distribution. The results from nested-cladistic analysis indicated restricted gene flow with isolation by distance (or restricted dispersal by distance in nonsexual species) for the south-central American clade (3-2), mainly composed by soybean haplotypes.     

Aerial Spraying of Neemazal®-T/S Against the Forest Cockchafer (Melolontha hippocastani,Col.: Scarabaeidae) in South-West Germany: The Effects of Two Field Trials Performed in 2007 and 2008 on Local Populations

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - The forest cockchafer Melolontha hippocastani is a serious forest pest whose infestation levels have been increasing in South-West Germany since the...     

Growth characteristics,phytate contents,and coagulation properties of soymilk from a low-phytate Japanese soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) line

The phytic acid (myo-inositol hexakisphosphate or InsP₆) content of seed crops is important to their nutritional quality. Since it represents 75?±?10% of the total seed phosphorus (P), phytic acid is also important regarding the management of P in agricultural production. A low-phytate F5 line, No. T-2-250-4-20, was selected from the progeny of a cross between the low-phytate soybean line CX1834 and the Japanese commercial cultivar Tanbakuro. This line and its parents were grown in a field nursery, and the growth characteristics, phytate accumulation, and processing suitability for tofu were evaluated. At full maturity, the weight of seeds per plant of line T-2-250-4-20 was 5.2- and 1.3-fold higher than that of CX1834 and Tanbakuro, respectively. The amount of phytate-phosphorus as a percentage of the total P content in seeds was 23% in line T-2-250-4-20-34, 30% in CX1834, and 69% in Tanbakuro. No significant difference was observed among the three cultivars/lines in their seed magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), crude protein, and sugar. However, the calcium (Ca), crude fat and ash contents in seeds of line T-2-250-4-20-34 and Tanbakuro was lowered compared to that of CX1834. The breaking stress of tofu was estimated employing a rheometer with a decreasing concentration of the coagulant magnesium chloride (MgCl₂), starting at 15.7?mmol?L^?1. In tofu made from Tanbakuro, the concentration of MgCl₂ required to achieve the maximum breaking stress was 12.6?mmol?L^?1; however, it was 9.5?mmol?L^?1 for tofu made from T-2-250-4-20-34 and CX1834. The tofu made from Tanbakuro was soft and broke at 6.3?mmol?L^?1 MgCl₂, but, in line T-2-250-4-20-34, harder tofu was made with lower MgCl₂ concentrations. No difference was observed among the cultivars/lines in the SDS-PAGE patterns of protein in soymilk. These results indicate that we have developed a low-phytate soybean with adequate productivity, and confirmed that tofu made from the low-phytate T-2-250-4-20-34 soybean becomes coagulated and harder at a lower MgCl₂ concentration than that from high-phytate soybean cultivars.     

Effects of moisture in wood materials on the SNR of GPS signals

This study was performed to investigate the factors responsible for the reduction in the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of a global positioning system (GPS) when used in a forest. We investigated the relationship between the SNR values of GPS signals and the moisture in wood materials and clarified this relationship through experimentation and simulation. Although the wood material itself had a minimal effect on SNR reduction, moisture in the wood had an obvious effect. It is noteworthy that wood material with a moisture resistance quantity (Mw) of 2 g/cm² caused a reduction of more than ~10 dB in the SNR. This Mw value corresponds to Japanese cedar with a green stem thickness of ~7 cm. Under unobstructed sky conditions, SNR is less than ~20 dB, so a reduction of 10 dB has a marked effect on GPS reception. The reduced SNR under canopies resulted from moisture in stems and the canopy. Furthermore, a simulation performed in a Japanese cedar forest revealed that 77.8% of the SNR reduction was caused by stems, 8.1% by branches, and 14.1% by needles.     

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.