Psittacine beak and feather disease in three captive sulphur-crested cockatoos (Cacatua galerita) in Thailand

Three sulphur-crested cockatoos (Cacatua galerita) were diagnosed as psittacine beak and feather disease (PBFD). Histopathology of the feather pulp and follicles showed intracytoplasmic botryoid clusters or granular inclusion bodies in epithelial cells and macrophages. Electron microscopy revealed multiple cytoplasmic clusters of electron dense viral particles corresponding to the inclusions. PBFD virus (circovirus) DNA-specific product was detected from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded feathers by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method.     

Cerebellar myxoid type meningioma in a Shih Tzu dog

A 6-year and 9 month-old, male, Shih Tzu dog showed ataxia and trembling. By MRI examination, a mass (1 cm) was found in the right cerebellum. As the dog did not respond to radiation therapy, and showed a rise of intracranial pressure, he was euthanized. The cerebellar mass was soft and hemorrhagic. Histologically, the mass contained vimentin-positive spindle- or polyhedral-shaped cells arranged in a cord-like pattern. Mucinous materials were observed in the intercellular spaces. Ultrastructural examination revealed cell processes, microtubule-like structures and desmosomes. The case was diagnosed as myxoid type meningioma.     

Biological activities of tethered equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) and its deglycosylated mutants

Equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG), which consists of highly glycosylated alpha- and beta-subunits, is a unique member of the gonadotropin family because it elicits response characteristics of both follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) in species other than the horse. In this study, recombinant tethered-eCG as well as its deglycosylated mutants were produced to determine if alpha- and beta- subunits can be synthesized as a single polypeptide chain (tethered-eCG) and display biological activity. We found that tethered-eCG (T- betaalpha) had both LH- and FSH-like activities comparable to dimeric eCG. Luteinizing hormone-like activity of tethered-eCGs deglycosylated at Asn(56) (T-betaalpha56) was decreased. In contrast, LH-like activity of eCG without O-glycosylated carboxyl-terminal peptide (CTP) (T-betacalpha) was slightly decreased but still similar to T-betaalpha. Double mutation at Asn(56) and CTP (T-betacalpha56) caused marked decrease in the activity, indicating that both glycosylations at Asn(56) and CTP are involved in LH-like activity in the tethered form. Interestingly, FSH-like activity remained in all deglycosylated eCG mutants (T-betaalpha56, T-betacalpha and T-betacalpha56) as well as T-betaalpha. The biological roles of oligosaccharides at Asn(56) of eCG alpha-subunit and O-linked peptide of beta-subunit appear to be different in LH- and FSH-like activities in tethered-eCG.     

Basic reproduction number for equine-2 influenza virus a (H3N8) epidemic in racehorse facilities in Japan, 1971

Characterizing the epidemiologic determinants of equine influenza to facilitate effective control measures, including determining the critical proportion of the population that must be immunized to achieve containment, is critical. Through the use of counting process and martingale method, the basic reproduction number (R₀; a measure of transmission potential) of equine-2 influenza A virus (H3N8) infection was estimated based on outbreak data recorded in 1971. The final attack rate ranged from 81.9% to 99.4%. Our estimate of R₀ was in the order of 2 to 5, which was smaller than the previously suggested estimate. Numerical analysis supported airborne spread as the major mode of transmission. Given that simple threshold vaccination coverage might not be realistic within racing stables, the combination of movement restrictions, isolation, and other countermeasures alongside vaccination is recommended to contain outbreaks of equine influenza.     

Eurasian blackbird predated by wild Rhinopithecus roxellana in the Qinling Mountains,China

Although there are some reports that have described primates eating animals, it is unknown whether predation on vertebrates exists in herbivorous leaf‐eating primates. We have witnessed firsthand wild Sichuan snub‐nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana) preying on and consuming Eurasian blackbirds (Turdus meruld) in the Qinling Mountains of China. This event suggests that R. roxellana, which has previously been described as a herbivorous leaf‐eating primate, may be partially carnivorous and the correct classification of this species would be omnivorous. Furthermore, food‐share behavior among higher‐ranked members occurs in a one‐male unit when vertebrate prey is hunted by this species.     

Contamination of agricultural products and soils with radiocesium derived from the accident at TEPCO Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station: monitoring,case studies and countermeasures

Five years have passed since the accident at Tokyo Electric Power Company Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station that was triggered by the Great East Japan Earthquake on 11 March 2011. Severe damage to agriculture and the environment is still of great concern in Japanese society. We review the contamination status of agricultural products and soils, decontamination efforts and countermeasures to reduce radiocesium concentration in soil and crops, as well as the responses of Japanese ministries. Since rice is an important staple food for Japanese, the impact of radiocesium on rice (Oryza sativa L.) and paddy fields has been extensively investigated since the accident, and, therefore, issues concerning rice receive considerable attention in this review.     

Response of the subterranean termite Coptotermes formosanus (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) to soil treated with microencapsulated fenobucarb

BACKGROUND: Treating soil with insecticides is thought to be an effective method for termite control. Speed of action and repellency of insecticides are important factors for discussing their barrier effects as soil-treatment termiticides. The chemical barrier effect of microencapsulated fenobucarb against Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki was examined in the laboratory.RESULTS: Fenobucarb had a significantly faster lethal effect when applied to the mouthparts than to the tergites of worker termites. Soil that had been treated with > or = 50 mg kg(-1) of microencapsulated fenobucarb had a barrier effect within a single day, and could stop or retard the penetration of termites for 7 days. Microencapsulated fenobucarb did not act as a repellent, as indicated by a gradual increase in mortality at > or = 50 mg kg(-1) with slight penetration into the treated soil during the 7 day test.CONCLUSION: The results suggest that microencapsulated fenobucarb is a fast-acting termiticide, with a good barrier effect as a soil treatment, that also acts as a reduced repellent, retarding entry of termites into treated soil.     

Functional regression in crop lodging assessment with digital images

A method is proposed to predict a lodging score for a rice field based only on a digital overhead image of the field. This method converts the two-dimensional image data to a one-dimensional function by computing the average variance of transects across the image as a function of the transect angle. Then principles of functional data analysis are applied to estimate a regression function, and the predicted lodging score is an intercept term plus a measure of overall variability plus the inner product of the regression function and the periodogram of the average variance function.     

A case of congenital hyperostosis in a newborn piglet

One female newborn piglet showed prominent thickening of both forelimbs and died soon after birth. Histopathologically, thin and woven trabeculae of bone was extending out from the edge of cortical bone in the affected forelimbs, and diagnosed as congenital hyperostosis. The extent of radially proliferated trabeculae was most prominent in radioulna. Many round- to spindle-shaped cells were observed in periosteum, which were considered to be osteoblasts. Around the periosteum, the mesenchymal proliferation was extensive with abundant mucus, and cartilaginous metaplastic changes were observed mainly around the radioulna and humerus. Dilatation of vessels with fibrin deposition in vessel walls was often observed, which were considered to reflect the localized circulatory disturbance.