Molecular typing and antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Choleraesuis isolates from diseased pigs in Japan

Salmonella enterica serovar Choleraesuis (S. Choleraesuis) isolates derived from diseased pigs in Japan during 2001 and 2005 were analyzed for biotype, based on H(2)S production and dulcitol fermentation, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) profile, and antimicrobial resistance profile. S. Choleraesuis biotype Choleraesuis (biotype Choleraesuis) was classified into one genotype, while varietas Kunzendorf (var. Kunzendorf) was classified into two genotypes. The isolates of var. Kunzendorf belonging to one genotype were isolated in a limited area of Japan. Variation in the antimicrobial resistance pattern was observed in isolates of both biotypes Choleraesuis and var. Kunzendorf. We have also shown that the PFGE profile was associated with the biotype and isolation region of each isolate.     

Molecular phylogenetic analysis of Theileria species detected from Japanese serows (Capricornis crispus) in Iwate Prefecture, Japan

In the present study, we tried to detect DNA for ribosomal RNA genes of piroplasma parasites from the liver or blood of 43 Japanese serows (Capricornis crispus) in Iwate Prefecture of Japan by polymerase chain reaction. Approximately 500-bp amplicons were obtained in 35 (81.4%) of the 43 samples by amplification for V4 hyper-variable regions of the 18S rRNA gene, and the amplicons were considered to be DNA of Theileria species. The complete nucleotide sequences (1,700 or 1709 bp) of the 18S rRNA gene were determined in 20 samples and were divided into 5 genotypes that were phylogenetically separated into two different lineages showing a polyphyletic relation. The Theileria DNAs of the two different lineages were considered to be those of distinct species.     

Phylogenetic groups and cephalosporin resistance genes of Escherichia coli from diseased food-producing animals in Japan

A total of 318 Escherichia coli isolates obtained from different food-producing animals affected with colibacillosis between 2001 and 2006 were subjected to phylogenetic analysis: 72 bovine isolates, 89 poultry isolates and 157 porcine isolates. Overall, the phylogenetic group A was predominant in isolates from cattle (36/72, 50%) and pigs (101/157, 64.3%) whereas groups A (44/89, 49.4%) and D (40/89, 44.9%) were predominant in isolates from poultry. In addition, group B2 was not found among diseased food-producing animals except for a poultry isolate. Thus, the phylogenetic group distribution of E. coli from diseased animals was different by animal species. Among the 318 isolates, cefazolin resistance (minimum inhibitory concentrations: ≥32 μg/ml) was found in six bovine isolates, 29 poultry isolates and three porcine isolates. Of them, 11 isolates (nine from poultry and two from cattle) produced extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL). The two bovine isolates produced bla_CTX-M-2, while the nine poultry isolates produced bla_CTX-M-25 (4), bla_SHV-2 (3), bla_CTX-M-15 (1) and bla_CTX-M-2 (1). Thus, our results showed that several types of ESBL were identified and three types of β-lactamase (SHV-2, CTX-M-25 and CTX-M-15) were observed for the first time in E. coli from diseased animals in Japan.     

Detection of chromogranin A in the adrenal gland extracts of different animal species by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using Thomsen-Friedenreich antigen-specific Amaranthus caudatus lectin

The reactivity of different lectins with crude chromogranin A (CgA) obtained from different animals, namely, cow, horse, dog, pig, and dolphin, was examined to identify lectin(s) that would be useful as coating reagent(s) in a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Of the different lectins studied, the Amaranthus caudatus lectin (ACA), which is specific for the Thomsen-Friedenreich (T)-antigen (Galβ1-3GalNAc), was found to react with the CgA from different animals by western blotting. Purified rabbit anti-bovine CgA antibody was also found to cross-react with the crude CgA preparations. On the basis of these findings, a sandwich ELISA was developed with ACA as the coating reagent and anti-bovine CgA antibody as the probing antibody. Using this method, concentration-dependent curves ranging from 0.003 μg/mL to 25 μg/mL and from 0.02 μg/mL to 25 μg/mL were obtained for bovine CgA and canine CgA, respectively. Similarly, concentration-dependent curves were obtained for the equine, swine, and dolphin crude CgA extracts. Thus, ACA is concluded to be a valuable reagent for CgA detection in crude extracts from different animal species, and for CgA isolation/purification.     

On the nature of fresh volcanic ashes as parent material ejected from the Sakurajima and Aso volcanoes

There are few pedological studies in Japan of fresh volcanic ash. Fundamental information of the material from which Japanese volcanic-ash soils have developed, is of importance to obtain a better understanding of pedogenesis of such soils. The present paper deals with the mechanical. mmeralogical, and chemical characteristics of fresh ash ejected from the Sakurajima and Aso volcanoes which are among the most active in Japan.     

Method of extracting organic acid from flooded soil

Investigations on the extraction and determination of organic acids in flooded soil have been reported by TAKAI (1) and TAKIJIMA (2). TAKAI applied water to extract acids from soil and determined them by BULLEN's method (3). However, TAKIJIMA reported that organic acid could not be completely extracted by TAKAI's procedure, especially in soil with a high organic matter content such as muck and peaty soils, and proposed an extraction procedure with 0.5 N sulfuric acid. He also discussed the absorption of acids by soil.     

Characteristics and classification of an unirrigated anthropogenic-alluvial soil found in the Kumamoto Plain

In Japan anthropogenic-alluvial soils excluding irrigated rice soils are lagging for behind other genetic soil types in pedological investigations. Although there are some investigations of anthropogenic-alluvial soils used for mulberry plantations, orchards, vegetable gardens, and seeding beds for trees, the main object of these investigations is not pedological. Kanno et al. (1) reported that unirrigated anthropogenic-alluvial soils used for vegetable growing in the Chikugo Plain resemble the “Alochthonous brown warp soil” defined by Kubiena (2). First of all, it is of great importance to accumulate general data for unirrigated anthropogenic-alluvial soils and to develop the classification principles for them. Classification problems will be settled in accordance with the accumulated data. This paper deals with characteristics of an unirrigated anthorpogenic-alluvial soil found in the Kumamoto Plain and with classification principles for it. These principles have almost never been described for a pedological standpoint in Japan.     

Genesis and characteristics of brown forest soils derived from Serpentine in Kyushu,Japan

One of the main objects of the present study is to determine what genetic soil types have been formed from ultra-basic rocks such as serpentine under humid, subtropical conditions. Red-Yellow soils, which are important zonal soils in Kyushu, have not been formed from serpentine, but Brown Forest soils have been formed, as will be described in the part 2 of this paper. This fact for the most part has been governed by the mineralogical and chemical peculiarities of serpentine. Therefore the part 1 of this paper deals with the mineralogical and chemical characteristics of serpentine as a parent rock from which Brown Forest soils have developed.     

On the interlamellar complex between montmorillonite and organic substance in certain soil

KODAMA and SCHNITZER (1) have shown that organic substance of the fluvic acid fraction separated from a podzol soil could penetrate into the interlamellar region of montmorillonite. But the natural occurence of such a complex has not been observed yet (2).