Evidence of cormorant‐induced mortality,disparate migration strategies and repeatable circadian rhythm in the endangered North Sea houting (Coregonus oxyrinchus): A telemetry study mapping the postspawning migration

Life history theory predicts a trade‐off between migration and residency where migration is favoured when it infers elevated fitness. Although migration to more favourable environments may offer higher growth rates, migrants often experience increased mortality due to predation. Here, we investigated mortality and migration behaviour of the North Sea houting (Coregonus oxyrinchus), an anadromous salmonid endemic to the Wadden Sea. We used acoustic telemetry to map the migration of the only remaining indigenous population by applying stationary hydrophones combined with manual tracking. Data suggested a total mortality of 26%, with 30% of the total mortality attributed to predation by great cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis), highlighting that North Sea houting conservation could be jeopardised by increased cormorant predation. Risk of cormorant predation was size‐dependent, with smaller fish suffering higher risk of predation. The study found North Sea houting to exhibit disparate migration strategies and identified a lentic area in the estuary as an important habitat. Two newly established artificial lakes within the river system significantly reduced the migration speeds, possibly indicating constrained navigation through the lakes. The migration into the Wadden Sea correlated with temperature perhaps indicating osmoregulatory constraints of sea entry. Unlike many salmonid species, migration occurred both day and night. Moreover, fish exhibited repeatable individual differences in diel activity patterns, suggesting that individuals differ consistently in their migratory activity throughout the 24‐hr period. Our study provides novel information on salmonid migration, which is crucial for the development of science‐based conservation strategies.     

Diagnostic real-time PCR assay for the quantitative detection of Theileria equi from equine blood samples

We developed a TaqMan real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for the quantitative detection of Theileria equi from the in vitro-cultured parasite and field blood samples collected from horses living in Ghana and Brazil. The detection limit for the assay was determined to be 1.5 parasites/microl per sample, and the quantitative capacity was demonstrated using the in vitro-cultured parasite. For field applications, the real-time PCR assay was compared to a previously established nested PCR assay used as the gold standard for the real-time PCR assay. Of 65 field blood samples, 46 samples were T. equi-positive in the nested PCR assay, while the real-time PCR assay also detected the parasite in all 46 of the nested PCR-positive samples but did not detect T. equi in the remaining 19 negative blood samples. This quantitative real-time PCR assay provides a valuable tool for fast laboratory diagnostic assessment of T. equi infection in horses.     

Reproduction of postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome in pigs by prenatal porcine circovirus 2 infection and postnatal porcine parvovirus infection or immunostimulation

Postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) was reproduced in prenatally porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2)-infected pigs by either postnatal infection with porcine parvovirus (PPV) or by immunostimulation. Twenty-four randomly selected piglets from 3 sows, which had been experimentally infected during gestation with PCV2, were randomly divided into 3 groups; group 1 (prenatal PCV2 infection, with postnatal PPV infection), group 2 (prenatal PCV2 infection, with postnatal keyhole limpet hemocyanin, emulsified in incomplete Freund's adjuvant [KLH/ICFA] injection), and group 3 (prenatal PCV2 infection only). Twenty-four randomly selected piglets from 3 uninfected sows were randomly divided into 3 groups; group 4 (no prenatal infection, with postnatal PCV2 and PPV infection), group 5 (no prenatal infection, with postnatal PCV2 infection), and group 6 (negative control pigs). Body weight in negative control pigs (group 6) was increased significantly compared with pigs in groups 1, 2, and 4 at 49, 52, 56, 59, and 63 days of age. The granulomatous inflammatory reaction and lymphoid depletion that are typical lesions in pigs with PMWS were observed in the lymph node of piglets in groups 1, 2, and 4 at 63 days of age. Pigs in group 3 had significantly fewer PCV2-positive cells than those from groups 1, 2, 4, or 5. When the prenatally PCV2-infected pigs were infected with PPV or injected with immunostimulant in the postnatal period, they developed PMWS. Thus, factors that potentiate the progression of prenatal PCV2 infection to PMWS are postnatal infection with PPV or immune stimulation.     

Molecular detection and characterization of unclassified bovine enteric caliciviruses in South Korea

The unclassified bovine enteric calicivirus (BEC) is a new bovine enteric calicivirus that is different from bovine norovirus, and causes diarrhea and pathologies in the small intestine of calves. This virus includes Nebraska (NB)- and Newbury agent 1 (NA1)-like strains. The prevalence of this BEC and its genetic characterization has only been reported in the UK and the USA. This study examined the prevalence and genetic diversity of these BECs in diarrheic calves in South Korea. Among a total of 645 diarrheic fecal specimens obtained from 629 cattle herds, these unclassified BECs were detected in 59 (9.1%) diarrheic fecal samples from 57 herds (9.3%) by either RT-PCR or nested PCR. Sequence and phylogenetic analyses of the partial RdRp gene showed that all the Korean BECs clustered together and were closely related to the NB-like viruses (80.9-88.1% nucleotide and 84.5-98.4% amino acid) but not to the NA1-like viruses (75.8-78.4% nucleotide and 79.7-82.8% amino acid). Although these viruses could not be classified into NA1- and NB-like viruses from the sequence and phylogenetic data of the entire capsid gene, all the Korean BECs clustered together on a branch separate from the other known BECs. These results show that these BEC infections are endemic in diarrheic calves in South Korea. The infecting strains are genetically closer to the NB-like viruses but have a distinct evolutionary pathway.     

The Effects of Feed Form on Consumption Time and Glucose and Insulin Response to a Concentrate Meal in Equine

This study tested the hypothesis that feeding an identically formulated, low sugar and starch concentrate in three forms (5-mm extruded [E], 4-mm pellet [P], and 19-mm oval [O]) would affect consumption rate and glucose or insulin responses, or both. Horses received 1.8 kg treatment feed in a randomized, crossover design, with samples taken every 30 minutes for 6 hours for blood glucose and insulin response. Pearson's correlation compared consumption time, insulin and glucose peak, and time to peak insulin and glucose. The pellet (P) elicited a lower (P = .01) glucose concentration at 2.5 hours than O. The pellet also elicited a lower (P = .03) insulin concentration at 5.5 hours than E and O. There were no differences (P > .05) in area under the curve (AUC) insulin, peak insulin, and time to peak insulin for the three treatments. Average insulin concentration was lower (P = .01) for P versus O. There were no differences (P > .05) in average insulin between P and E, nor between O and E. There were no differences (P > .05) in AUC and peak glucose concentration. Time to peak glucose was longer (P = .04) for P versus E. Average glucose concentration was lower (P = .02) for P versus O. Consumption time was longer (P = .03) for O versus P. There was a positive correlation between consumption time and time to peak insulin (r = 0.46, P = .029). Further research on feeding practices, feed forms, and consumption times that affect glycemic response is necessary.     

Molecular analysis of endogenous avian leukosis/sarcoma virus genomes in Korean chicken embryos

Since the status of endogenous avian leucosis/sarcoma virus (ALSV) infections in Korean broiler chickens is unclear, this study examined embryonated eggs obtained from broiler farms and Korean native chicken breeds in Korea using PCR with the primer sets specific for endogenous ALSVs. The PCR assays detected the genomes of EAV, ev, ev/J and ART-CH belonging to the endogenous ALSV from all embryos tested. Phylogenetically, the Korean EAV genomes were more closely related to the prototype EAV-0 than to the other prototype, E51. The Korean ART-CH elements clustered together but were distinct from the prototype ART-CH clones, 5 and 14. Although there was comparatively little divergence in the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of the Korean ev and ev/J genomes compared with the other known ev and ev/J genomes, the Korean genomes had phylogenetically distinct branches. From these results, endogenous genomes are quite prevalent in Korean broiler chickens. In addition, the endogenous genomes circulating in Korean broiler chickens are genetically different from the other known endogenous genomes. These results are expected to provide useful information for the control and establishment of a surveillance system for endogenous ALSVs in Korea.     

Changes in glial fibrillary acidic protein immunoreactivity in the dentate gyrus and hippocampus proper of adult and aged dogs

Astrocytes perform neuron-supportive tasks, repair and scarring process in the central nervous system. In this study, we observed glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), a marker for astrocytes, immunoreactivity in the dentate gyrus and hippocampus proper (CA1-3 region) of adult (2-3 years of age) and aged (10-12 years of age) dogs. In the adult group, GFAP immunoreactive astrocytes were distributed in all layers of the dentate gyrus and CA1-3 region, except in the stratum pyramidale of the CA1-3 region. In the aged group, GFAP immunoreactivity decreased markedly in the molecular layer of the dentate gyrus. However, GFAP immunoreactivity in the CA1-3 region increased in all layers, and the cytoplasm of GFAP immunoreactive astrocytes was hypertrophied. GFAP protein levels in the aged dentate gyrus decreased; however, GFAP levels in the CA1-3 region increased. These results suggest that the morphology of astrocytes and GFAP protein levels in the hippocampal dentate gyrus and CA1 region are changed, respectively, with age.     

A homolog of the O157 urease-encoding O island 48 is present in porcine O149:H10 enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli

The relationship of the urease operon in the highly virulent O149 porcine enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) strain Ro8 to a genomic island (GI) homologous to O island (OI) 48 of O157 enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) strain EDL933 was investigated. Eighty-four of 84 O149:H10 strains were urease positive whereas 44 of 44 O149:H43 porcine ETEC strains were urease-negative. Seventeen of 17 O149:H10 strains that were tested possessed the OI-48 homolog whereas 24 of 24 O149:H43 strains lacked this OI. Transposon insertions in lipB or guaA genes in strain Ro8 eliminated urease activity while insertions in the caiF gene increased urease activity. When the O149 ure operon was cloned on a high copy number plasmid, urease expression was increased approximately 11-fold in Ro8 and 83-fold in O157 strain EDL933 compared with that in the wild type Ro8. The O149 urease activity was expressed despite the presence of the same premature stop codon in ureD that is present in ure+ O157:H7 strains that are urease-negative. The ure operon in Ro8 consists of 4 893 nucleotides with 99% identity with the ure operons in EHEC O157:H7 strains EDL933 and Sakai, and is part of a GI similar to GI-48 of strain EDL933. This OI, designated OI-48149 , is inserted in the serX tRNA gene in strain Ro8 and contains genes for urease, tellurite resistance, iha and an AIDA-I-like adhesin. The presence of a homolog of the O157:H7 OI-48 in highly virulent O149 porcine ETEC suggests that this OI may contribute to establishment of the bacteria in the intestine.     

Effects of chemical treatments on pH and bacterial population in poultry litter: a laboratory experiment

1. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of three chemical treatments on pH and bacterial populations (total aerobic bacteria and gram-negative bacteria) in poultry litter under laboratory conditions. 2. Litter obtained from poultry houses was treated with three chemical treatments (alum, AlCl(3) and FeSO(4)) at the same concentration (8 g/100 g litter), while untreated litter served as a control. The study was conducted for 3 weeks. 3. All of the chemical treatments reduced total aerobic bacteria (22 to 87% of the untreated control) and gram-negative bacteria (63 to 99% of the untreated controls) populations and lowered litter pH values (5.95 to 6.64). However, a significant difference in gram-negative bacteria did not exist among chemical treatments at 0, 1 and 2 weeks. 4. These results suggest that the reduction in total aerobic bacteria and gram-negative bacteria populations is highly related to a decrease in litter pH, and acidifying treatment (alum, AlCl(3) and FeSO(4)) of poultry litter may serve as a means to help the reduction in pathogen populations and to improve economical benefits under commercial production conditions.