Prevalence of serum antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii in free-ranging cats on Tokunoshima Island,Japan

The prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in free-ranging cats on Tokunoshima Island was assessed by testing 125 serum samples using anti-T. gondii IgG indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The overall seropositivity rate was 47.2% (59/125). Seropositivity rates in cats with body weight >2.0 kg (57.4%) were significantly higher than in those with body weight ≤2.0 kg (12.5%, P<0.01). Analysis of the number of seropositive cats by settlement revealed the presence of possibly-infected cats in 17 of 23 settlements, indicating the widespread prevalence of T. gondii on the island. This is the first study to show the seroprevalence of T. gondii in free-ranging cats on Tokunoshima Island. The information revealed in this paper will help to prevent the transmission of T. gondii among cats and also in both wild and domestic animals and humans on the island.     

Arterial blood gas anomaly in canine hepatobiliary disease

Arterial blood gas analysis is an important diagnostic and monitoring tool for respiratory abnormalities. In human medicine, lung complications often occur as a result of liver disease. Although pulmonary complications of liver disease have not been reported in dogs, we have frequently encountered hypoxemia in dogs with liver disorders, especially extrahepatic biliary obstruction. In addition, respiratory disorders account for 20% of perioperative fatalities in dogs. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated the respiratory status in dogs with hepatobiliary disease by arterial blood gas analysis. PaO₂ and PaCO₂ were measured. Alveolar-arterial oxygen difference (AaDO₂), the indicator of gas exchange efficiency, was calculated. Compared to healthy dogs (control group), hepatobiliary disease dogs had significantly lower PaO₂ and higher AaDO₂. Hypoxemia (PaO₂ of ≤80 mmHg) was observed in 28/71 dogs with hepatobiliary disease. AaDO₂ was higher (≥30 mmHg) than the control group range (11.6 to 26.4 mmHg) in 32/71 hepatobiliary disease dogs. By classifying type of hepatobiliary disease, dogs with extrahepatic biliary obstruction and chronic hepatitis showed significantly lower PaO₂ and higher AaDO₂ than in a control group. Dogs with chronic hepatitis also had significantly lower PaCO₂. The present study shows that dogs with hepatobiliary disease have respiratory abnormalities more than healthy dogs. Preanesthetic or routine arterial blood gas analysis is likely beneficial to detect the respiratory abnormalities in dogs with hepatobiliary disease, especially extrahepatic biliary obstruction and chronic hepatitis.     

胍盐聚合物添加量对抗菌食品包装膜抗菌性及物理性能的影响

为了开发出一种安全高效的抗菌食品包装材料,添加不同质量分数(0～7%)的聚六亚甲基双胍盐酸盐(polyhexamethylene biguanidine hydrochloride,PHMB)抗菌母粒到聚乙烯基材中,制成PHMB抗菌膜,比较PHMB母粒添加量对抗菌食品包装薄膜的抗菌性和性能的影响。结果表明,随着PHMB母粒添加量的增大,薄膜抗菌性增强。PHMB母粒添加量为4%时,薄膜对大肠杆菌、金黄色葡萄球菌和杂菌样品的抗菌率分别为99.1%、99.2%和83.4%,且存放6个月后薄膜仍保持较强的抗菌作用;添加PHMB母粒后,薄膜的透光率、水蒸气透过率影响较小;薄膜的力学性能在PHMB母粒添加量为4%时最优;PHMB(4%)抗菌膜对实际试样(鳕鱼干)表现出良好的微生物抑制作用。因此,确定抗菌薄膜中PHMB母粒最佳添加量为4%,薄膜具备强抗菌作用和良好的性能。该研究为抗菌材料的研制提供了参考。     

Identification of a novel variant lacking group A soyasaponin in a Chinese wild soybean (Glycine soja Sieb. & Zucc.): implications for breeding significance

Group A saponins are the principal factors underlying the undesirable bitter and astringent tastes in soybean food products. Therefore, the genetic reduction or elimination of the undesirable tastes is of great significance in soybean taste breeding. Using thin‐layer chromatography and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry, we identified a novel mutant lacking group A saponins in a wild soybean (Glycine soja Sieb. & Zucc.), reflecting the failed arabinose binding of arabinosyltransferase to the C‐22 hydroxyl group, consequently leading to a lack of group A saponins and the concomitance expression of two new components A‐αg and KA‐αg in seeds. The C‐3 glycosylated soyasapogenol A (SS‐A), A‐αg, is a steady precursor compound in biosynthesis of Aa and Ab types in the seeds of soybean plants and exhibits stable inheritance. In this study, we observed a critical step necessary for arabinose binding to the C‐22 hydroxyl group in the biosynthetic pathway of group A saponins and identified an important germplasm accession for the genetic improvement in the tastes of soybean milk and processed soybean foods.     

Preparation of β-1,3-glucanase from scallop mid-gut gland drips and its use for production of novel heterooligosaccharides

The mid-gut gland of scallop Patinopecten yessoensis has been discarded in scallop processing factories as a fishery waste and various attempts have been made to turn the waste into valuable resources. In the present study, we tried to use mid-gut gland drips from scallop as a source of β-1,3-glucanase. The mid-gut gland drips were collected in a local fishery factory in Yubetsu-cho, Hokkaido Prefecture. β-1,3-Glucanase was purified from the mid-gut gland drips by ammonium sulfate fractionation followed by successive chromatography on Toyopearl Phenyl-650M and Toyopearl DEAE-650M. The scallop β-1,3-glucanase, named PyLam38 in the present study, showed a molecular mass of approximately 38 kDa by sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and hydrolyzed laminarin, a β-1,3-glucan from Laminaria sp., producing laminaribiose and glucose with an optimal pH and temperature of 6.0 and 45°C, respectively. PyLam38 exhibited high transglycosylation activity toward various accepter substrates such as monosaccharides, alcohols and xylooligosaccharides. Thus, PyLam38 was found to be useful for the production of various novel heterooligosaccharides consisting of laminarioligosaccharides and various accepters.     

Silkworm recombinant bovine zona pellucida protein 4 (bZP4) as a potential female immunocontraceptive antigen; impaired sperm-oocyte interaction and ovarian dysfunction

Porcine zona pellucida proteins (ZPs) have been utilized as female immunocontraceptive antigens. The purpose of this study was to explore the potential use of silkworm recombinant bovine ZP4 as an alternative. When the protein was injected with monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL) – an immuno-stimulative agent – into two female goats, marked elevation of the anti-ZP4 titer was detected. Application of the purified specific IgG to a porcine in vitro fertilization system reduced the sperm penetration rate. In one goat, the cyclic profile of serum progesterone disappeared as the anti-ZP4 titer increased. Histological examination of the ovaries revealed degeneration of antral follicles with sparse infiltration of inflammatory cells in the theca, indicating that autoimmune oophoritis had been induced. Together, the present results suggest that recombinant ZP4 disturbs fertilization and exerts a pathogenic effect on follicle development in goats, thus indicating its potential as a female immunocontraceptive antigen.     

Comparative digestion of cell wall components of alfalfa hay cubes between Sika deer (Cervus nippon) and cattle

Four female Sika deer (mean bodyweight, 48 kg) and three male Holstein cattle (mean bodyweight, 209 kg) were offered alfalfa hay cubes at 2% (deer) and 2.5% (cattle) of bodyweight, respectively. The digestibility of the cell walls and cell wall components (rhamnose, arabinose, xylose, mannose, galactose and glucose) in alfalfa and its retention time of the alfalfa in the digestive tract and rumen parameters were determined. Cell walls and xylose were less digestible in the deer than in the cattle (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively). The digestibility of galactose in the deer was as high as that in the cattle. The digestibility of the other sugars and total neutral sugars was numerically lower in the deer, but the differences were not significant. In the deer, mannose was most digestible, followed in order by galactose, arabinose, glucose, rhamnose and xylose; whereas, in the cattle, mannose was most digestible, followed in order by arabinose, glucose, galactose, rhamnose and xylose. The retention time in the digestive tract was shorter in the deer than in the cattle. In the deer, the number of ruminal protozoa was somewhat higher, and the concentrations of propionic acid and butyric acid were higher (P < 0.05) than in the cattle. These results indicate that Sika deer might utilize pectic polysaccharides as a carbon source in preference to glucose containing polysaccharides such as cellulose. The lower digestibility of all cell wall components except galactose in the Sika deer might be mainly due to its shorter retention time.     

高架栽培槽栽培草莓效果研究

日本广泛应用的草莓高架袋栽模式为对照,以草莓品种丰香为材料,设计了一种草莓高架栽培槽,研究了2种不同栽培模式对草莓营养生长、生理特性以及果实产量和风味品质的影响.研究结果表明,高架栽培槽模式下的草莓平均单果质量、果实总产量及品质均与对照差异不显著,而其果实成熟期比对照提早了8 d,前期产量(1～3月产量之和)提高了3....     

Neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinosis in longhaired Chihuahuas: clinical, pathologic, and MRI findings

Neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinosis (NCL) is a rare group of inherited neurodegenerative lysosomal storage diseases characterized histopathologically by the abnormal accumulation of ceroid- or lipofuscin-like lipopigments in neurons and other cells throughout the body. The present article describes the clinical, pathologic, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of the NCL in three longhaired Chihuahuas between 16 mo and 24 mo of age. Clinical signs, including visual defects and behavioral abnormalities, started between 16 mo and 18 mo of age. Cranial MRI findings in all the dogs were characterized by diffuse severe dilation of the cerebral sulci, dilated fissures of diencephalons, midbrain, and cerebellum, and lateral ventricular enlargement, suggesting atrophy of the forebrain. As the most unusual feature, diffuse meningeal thickening was observed over the entire cerebrum, which was strongly enhanced on contrast T1-weighted images. The dogs' conditions progressed until they each died subsequent to continued neurologic deterioration between 23 mo and 24 mo of age. Histopathologically, there was severe to moderate neuronal cell loss with diffuse astrogliosis throughout the brain. The remaining neuronal cells showed intracytoplasmic accumulation of pale to slightly yellow lipopigments mimicking ceroid or lipofuscin. The thickened meninges consisted of the proliferation of connective tissues with abundant collagen fibers and mild infiltration of inflammatory cells suggesting neuroimmune hyperactivity. Although the etiology of this neuroimmune hyperactivity is not currently known, MRI findings such as meningeal thickening may be a useful diagnostic marker of this variant form of canine NCL.