A case of canine multiple inflammatory colorectal polyps treated by endoscopic polypectomy and argon plasma coagulation

Endoscopic polypectomy and argon plasma coagulation (APC) were performed in a refractory case of inflammatory colorectal polyps in a 7-year-old male Miniature Dachshund. Colonoscopic examination revealed a large sessile polyp and multiple diffuse small polyps, localized to the descending colon and rectum. The case showed a poor therapeutic response to prednisolone and cyclosporine. Under anesthesia, piecemeal resections were performed by polypectomy. APC was carried out to cauterize the polyp remnants. After treatment, reduction of the lesions and the improvement in clinical signs were observed, without recurrence of lesions for at least 10 months. Endoscopic treatment by polypectomy and APC is suggested to be a therapeutic option for refractory cases of inflammatory colorectal polyps in dogs.     

Anthracnose of three-leaf akebia (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Akebia trifoliata</Emphasis> Koidzumi) caused by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Colletotrichum acutatum</Emphasis>

In October 2001, anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum acutatum Simmonds ex Simmonds was found on three-leaf akebia (Akebia trifoliata) in Saitama, Japan. This is the first report of anthracnose on three-leaf akebia caused by C. acutatum.     

Synthesis and insecticidal activity of benzoheterocyclic analogues of N'-benzoyl-N-(tert-butyl)benzohydrazide: Part 3. Modification of N-tert-butylhydrazine moiety

Nineteen analogues were synthesized by modifying the tert-butylhydrazine moieties of N'-tert-butyl-N'-(3,5-dimethylbenzoyl)-5-methyl-2,3-dihydro-1,4-benzodioxine-6-carbohydrazide and N'-tert-butyl-N'-(3,5-dimethylbenzoyl)-5-methylchromane-6-carbohydrazide (chromafenozide), and the synthesized analogues were evaluated for their insecticidal activity against Spodoptera litura F. While all of the synthesized analogues had insecticidal activity inferior to those of the lead compounds, several of the analogues nonetheless showed high insecticidal activity. Chromafenozide has shown very high selectivity toward lepidopteran species.     

Effect of salinity on occurrence of notochord deformities in Japanese eel <Emphasis Type="Italic">Anguilla japonica</Emphasis> larvae

One of the difficulties to rear Anguilla japonica larvae is the frequent occurrence of notochord deformities. We tested the effect of salinity on the occurrence of the deformities, because we have been using 50 % diluted seawater (50 % SW) for glass eel production, on the basis of the fact that intermediate salinity saves energy due to lower cost for osmoregulation and contributes higher survival and growth rates. We reared 6-day-old larvae in 50 and 100 % SW for 85 days and observed their morphology. The occurrence rate of deformed larvae, including kyphosis and scoliosis, was significantly higher in 50 % SW (35.8 %) than in 100 % SW (25.4 %), while survival rate was significantly higher in 50 % SW (69.8 %) than in 100 % SW (32.3 %) and growth in 50 % SW (mean body depth: 7.9 ± 5.3 mm) was better than in 100 % SW (6.8 ± 4.6 mm). We speculate that the most of severely deformed larvae could not survive in the tougher condition of 100 % SW, showing the lower occurrence of deformed larvae. Eventually, the yield of normal larvae after 85 days rearing was 1.9-fold higher in 50 % SW than in 100 % SW, implying that the advantage of 50 % SW for rearing eel larvae outweighs the risk of deformities.     

Complete mitochondrial DNA sequence of the Japanese anchovy Engraulis japonicus

ABSTRACT: The complete nucleotide sequence of the mitochondrial genome for the Japanese anchovy Engraulis japonicus (Teleostei: Clupeiformes) was determined. The entire genome was purified by gene amplification using the long polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique, and products were subsequently used as templates for PCR with 56 fish-versatile primers that amplify contiguous, overlapping segments of the entire genome. Direct sequencing of the PCR products demonstrated that the genome (16 675 base pairs [bp]) contained the same 37 mitochondrial genes (two ribosomal RNA, 22 transfer RNA and 13 protein-coding genes) as those found in other vertebrates, with the gene order being identical to that in typical vertebrates. A major non-coding region between the tRNA^Pro and tRNA^Phe genes (1024 bp) was considered to be the control (D-loop) region, as it has several conservative blocks characteristic to this region.