Minimally invasive proximal interphalangeal joint arthrodesis using a locking compression plate and tissue engineering in horses: A pilot study

This pilot study assessed the efficacy of 2 minimally invasive techniques for proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint arthrodesis in horses. The PIP joints of both forelimbs (n = 6) were stabilized with locking compression plates (LCP) using a minimally invasive technique (LCP technique). Subsequently, for 1 randomly selected PIP joint of each horse, surgical drilling (SurD) was performed and tissue engineering (TE) was applied (LCP/SurD/TE technique). Minimally invasive PIP joint arthrodesis with LCP demonstrated low postoperative infection rates. Gross and histological evaluations revealed considerable destruction of the articular cartilage in the LCP/SurD/TE-treated joints. In contrast, almost no destruction of the cartilage was observed in the LCP-treated joints. Our results suggest that the LCP technique alone is not sufficient for PIP joint arthrodesis and that the LCP/SurD/TE technique may be useful for PIP joint arthrodesis in horses.     

Effects of fallen snow on the voluntary intake and grazing behavior of Hokkaido native horses in winter woodland with underlying Sasa senanensis

The intake, digestibility, and grazing behavior of Hokkaido native horses were investigated in winter woodland with underlying Sasa senanensis. Twenty Hokkaido native horses were grazed in a woodland (8.52 ha) for 14 days in December (snowy; 20 cm of snow fall) and in November (non‐snowy) of the next year. Three mares (360 kg of average bodyweight) were used in each experiment. The fecal collection, used to investigate the intake and digestibility by the double‐indicator method, and behavioral observations were carried out for 24 h on the 6th day in each experiment. During the snowy and non‐snowy periods, the dry matter intakes of sasa foliage were 7.3 and 9.6 kg/d, respectively, which is 2.1 and 2.7% when expressed as a percentage of bodyweight. The apparent digestibility of nutrients and energy released during the snowy and non‐snowy periods were similar. The proportions of digestible energy intakes to maintenance requirement in the mares were 119 and 164% during the snowy and non‐snowy periods, respectively. Their bodyweight remained constant during the non‐snowy period; however, a slight loss in their bodyweight was observed during the snowy period. The duration of grazing on sasa foliage was 416 and 544 min/d during the snowy and non‐snowy periods, respectively, the daily grazing area of the mares during these periods was 2.0 and 5.1 ha, respectively. In other words, the area during the snowy period was smaller than that during the non‐snowy period (P < 0.05). Fallen snow, even with a depth of approximately 20 cm, inhibited the grazing behavior and intake of sasa foliage by Hokkaido native horses grazing in winter woodland pasture.     

in vitro metabolism of azinphosmethyl in susceptible and resistant houseflies

The in vitro metabolism of [¹⁴C-methoxy] or [³²P]azinphosmethyl by subcellular fractions of abdomens from a resistant and a susceptible strain of houseflies was studied. The degradative activity in both strains was associated with the microsomal and soluble fractions and required NADPH and glutathione, respectively. The resistant strain possessed higher activity for both the mixed-function oxidases and the glutathione transferase than the susceptible strain, and both systems appear to be important in the resistance mechanism. The mixed-function oxidases were involved in the oxidative desulfuration as well as the dearylation of azinphosmethyl. A glutathione transferase located in the soluble fraction catalyzed the formation of desmethyl azinphosmethyl and methyl glutathione. This enzyme also demethylated azinphosmethyl oxygen analog. Although the soluble fraction exhibited both glutathione S-alkyltransferase and S-aryltransferase activity against noninsecticidal substrates, no evidence of the transfer of the benzazimide moiety from azinphosmethyl to glutathione was obtained. Sephadex G-100 chromatography of the soluble enzymes revealed a common eluting fraction responsible for both types of transferase activity.     

Effects of selenium supplementation on plasma progesterone concentrations in pregnant heifers

It is known that selenium (Se) has various functions in animals. Many investigations on the biochemical and physiological effects of Se have been previously reported; however, the detailed function of Se in reproduction is not yet clear. We proposed the possibility that Se plays a notable role in progesterone production. The aim of this study was to clarify the effects of Se supplementation on progesterone levels of pregnant Holstein heifers. Eight Holstein heifers (?Se) were fed basal diet (containing 0.022 ppm of Se) throughout the experiment. While a 0.3 ppm diet of Se (sodium selenite) was fed to another seven animals (+Se) with basal diet. Blood sampling was carried out every week. Plasma Se concentrations were higher in Se‐supplemented cows compared with controls (?Se) (P < 0.01) throughout the experiment. Se supplementation increased plasma progesterone in the 29–39 weeks of pregnancy from 4.98 ± 0.64 to 6.86 ± 0.49 ng/mL on average (P < 0.05). The present findings suggest that Se contributes to maintaining the function of the corpus luteum and/or placenta in the latter period of pregnancy.     

Hot water treatment of Japanese pear trees is effective against white root rot caused by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rosellinia necatrix</Emphasis> Prillieux

Hot water was dripped into the rhizosphere of Japanese pear trees (Pyrus serotina Rehd. grafted on P. betulifolia Bunge.) infested with the white root rot fungus Rosellinia necatrix Prillieux, to destroy the fungus. Isolates of R. necatrix from diseased roots of Japanese pear were vulnerable to water at temperatures above 35°C, and the fungus was eradicated from the colonized substrate when water at 35°C was provided for 3 days. The time required to eradicate R. necatrix decreased exponentially with increasing temperature. Japanese pear trees tolerated a temperature of 45°C without reduction in vigor. Field experiments demonstrated the practical use of hot water drip irrigation (HWD). HWD at 50°C completely destroyed white root rot mycelia on diseased roots, and many rootlets grew after the treatment. HWD at this temperature caused no injury to the trees. HWD of diseased orchard trees was assessed in Takamori and Iida in southern Nagano, Japan. The fungus recurred in two of four trees 28 months after treatment in Takamori and in two of ten trees 16 months after treatment in Iida. The new mycelia emerged on thick roots deep within the soil. Although there is a possibility of recurrence, HWD treatment is a practical control measure for white root rot.     

Mammary lesions associated with bovine herpesvirus type 4 in a cow with clinical mastitis

Intranuclear eosinophilic inclusion bodies were seen in the lactiferous duct and sinus epithelium of mammary tissues collected from a cow with clinical mastitis. Transmission electron microscopy revealed herpesvirus particles in these cells. Immunolabeling against anti bovine herpesvirus type 4 (BHV-4) rabbit serum was detected in nuclei that had intranuclear inclusion bodies. In addition, BHV-4 was isolated from the mammary tissue. The viral DNA was detected by nested PCR from the same tissue. This is the first report to describe mammary lesions in association with BHV-4.     

Distinguishable staining with neutral red for GFP-marked and GFP-nonmarked <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium oxysporum</Emphasis> strains simultaneously colonizing root surfaces

 Green fluorescent protein (GFP)-marked Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis and nonmarked F. oxysporum f. sp. fragariae were stained with neutral red. The neutral red stained vacuoles of the fungi without disturbing GFP fluorescence in the cytoplasm. GFP-marked fungi showed fluorescent hyphae with dark-stained vacuoles, whereas nonmarked fungi were detected as nonfluorescent hyphae with dark-dotted vacuoles. Root colonization by these two fungi was monitored using this method. Microconidia attached similarly to the root surface and elongated vegetative hyphae. Only the pathogenic fungi invaded, causing necrosis at the inoculation site. Thus, the present method enabled us to track simultaneously the various formae speciales of F. oxysporum colonizing the root surface. Received: March 25, 2002 / Accepted: September 27, 2002     

Farm-scale variations in soil color as influenced by organic matter and iron oxides in Japanese paddy fields

To understand how soil color is influenced by soil components at the farm scale, we evaluated spatial variation in soil color and related soil properties in Japanese paddy fields. After harvest of rice, 246 surface soil samples were collected in 10-m grids from five contiguous irrigated paddy fields, each with an area of about 0.5 ha. The samples were analyzed to determine color parameters (L*, a*, and b*), and contents of total C, total N, Fe oxides, sand, and loss-on-ignition. The results obtained were modeled and mapped geostatistically. All color parameters indicated strong spatial dependence with long ranges (>85 m). In contrast, total C and N showed short ranges (about 40 m). The contents of Fe oxides, sand, and loss-on-ignition showed intermediate ranges (50–85 m). The ranges of these properties and their distribution patterns suggested that the contents of total C and N were influenced by long-term application of manure and that sand content was influenced by topography and past land consolidation. Further soil color analysis after removal of organic matter or silt plus clay particles revealed that soil organic matter, texture, and Fe oxides affected soil color parameters in a complex manner. Prediction of total C from soil darkness was hindered by the presence of silt plus clay particles containing Fe oxides. On the other hand, citrate-dithionite extractable Fe was estimated accurately from the b* value (yellowness), which can be useful for predicting the occurrence of akiochi (autumn decline) disease of rice at the farm scale.     

Retrospective study on the outcomes and risk factors of right paramedian abomasopexy for right abomasal disorders in 47 dairy cows

Very few epidemiologic studies have verified the utility of the right paramedian abomasopexy (RPA) technique in cows with right abomasal disorders. This study aimed to investigate the outcomes and risk factors for non-survival in the herd within 30 days of surgery in cows with right abomasal disorders who underwent the RPA technique. Forty-seven Holstein cows with right abomasal disorders (25 with right abomasal displacement [RDA] and 22 with right abomasal volvulus [RAV]) were included. Twenty-two cows with RDA (22/25, 88.0%) and 10 cows with RAV (10/22, 45.5%) survived at 30 days post-surgery. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that hyponatremia, hypokalemia, and the presence of abomasal volvulus were the major risk factors associated with non-survival.     

A mechanism of excessive accumulation of abomasal gas in vagotomized cattle determined using fluoroscopy

To better understand the mechanism of excessive gas accumulation in the abomasum in bovine abomasal displacement, we performed gastric fluoroscopy in vagotomized cattle. Fifteen 6-month-old Holstein steers were divided into three groups: a non-vagotomized control group (Group C; n=5), a ventral thoraco-vagotomized group (Group V; n=5), and a dorsal and ventral thoraco-vagotomized group (Group DV; n=5). These groups were examined by fluoroscopy before and during a 5-week observation period after surgery. In Group C, no change was observed throughout the observation period. In Group DV, immediately after surgery, reticuloruminal motility was completely absent and ruminal distention was seen. Two weeks after surgery, abnormal reticulum motility and increased gas accumulation in the abomasal body were noted. Abomasal dilatation was also observed. In Group V, 1 week after surgery, gas inflow into the abomasum and relatively normal reticulum motility were observed along with a rapid increase in abomasal gas. Abomasal dilatation was also observed. In addition, left-displaced abomasum occurred in one of the steers in this group. From these results, we concluded that one of the mechanisms of excessive gas accumulation in the abomasum is reticulum-mediated gas inflow from the rumen combined with vagotomy-induced hypomotility.