Scanning electron microscopic study of third-instar warbles in yak in China

Scanning electron microscopic observations were performed to compare the structures of third-instar of three species of warbles (Hypoderma bovis, H. lineatum and H. sinense) that infest yak in China. The heads of the warbles consisted of mouths and opercular sutures with spinal bands between them. We could not detect any morphological differences in the shape of the warble's heads among these three species. The spiracular plate of H. bovis was strongly concaved and had numerous spines at the spiracular opening rims. The H. lineatum had flat spiracular plates and no spines on the spiracular plates. In the case of H. sinense the spiracular plate was as flat as that of H. lineatum but had small sized and fewer spines on the spiracular plates. At the ventral side on the tenth segment of the warble body of H. bovis the spinal band was absent. Although H. lineatum had only one band at the posterior border on the tenth ventral segment, H. sinense had two bands of spines at the anterior and posterior border on the tenth segment.     

Estimation of dominance genetic variances for reproductive traits and growth traits of calves in Japanese Black cattle

The dominance genetic effects for reproductive and calf growth abilities in the practical Japanese Black populations were examined using average information (AI) algorithm restricted maximum likelihood (REML) under animal models. The reproductive traits were observed in Japanese Black cattle maintained at Tottori and Okinawa prefectures, and growth traits of calves were observed in cattle at Okinawa. The average of dominance relationships in Tottori ranged from 0.2 to 0.4%, while the level in Okinawa was lower and sparse compared with Tottori. The proportions of the dominance variances to sum of additive and dominance variances () were all 0.02 for reproductive traits in Tottori. In contrast, the proportion was 0.02–0.64 in Okinawa regardless of the level of dominance relationships. These proportions suggested that the dominance might affect the expression of calving interval, days open and gestation length in Okinawa, where breeding units were spread over many islands. Although the dominance variances could not estimate birthweight, w as 0.34 for calf market weight and 0.27 for average daily gain from birth to calf market in Okinawa. These values also suggested that the dominance might affect the early growth of calves. In the near future, genetic relationships will become more complicated with continuation of the current selection and mating systems. Therefore, genetic evaluation accounting for dominance effects would be necessary for particular traits and populations.     

Evaluation of feline serum amyloid A (SAA) as an inflammatory marker

The concentration of feline serum amyloid A (fSAA) was determined by a direct enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) by using fSAA specific monoclonal antibodies, to evaluate the fSAA as an inflammatory marker in cats. The mean concentration +/- standard deviation of fSAA was found to be 0.60 +/- 1.06 microg/m l and 33.65 +/- 67.59 microg/ml in serum samples from normal cats (n=45) and cats (n=312) with various diseases and disorders, respectively. A significant difference (p<0.001) was found between the two groups. It was also found that the concentration of fSAA begins to increase rapidly at approximately 3-6 hr after spay, and increases up to significantly high levels in some disorders, like injury, renal failure, infectious diseases, etc.     

Survival of Japanese whiting Sillago japonica and by-catch species captured by a sweeping trammel net

SUMMARY: The survival of Japanese whiting Sillago japonica and by-catch species captured by a sweeping trammel net was examined to assess the effects of differing species, captured conditions, and body lengths on survival, in Tateyama Bay, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. All the live samples were kept in laboratory tanks for 4 days of successive survival observation. The survival ratio of the Japanese whiting varied by the captured conditions. The fish captured by pocketed condition was 27% surviving at the fourth day, which was significantly higher than the gilled and entangled fish. Most of the by-catch species survived for 4 days. About 60% of dead Japanese whiting were observed to have scar injury and damage on the body surface. For the by-catch species, the body damage occurred only in stripedfin goatfish Upeneus bensasi , Temminck's surfperch Ditrema temmincki , and tidepool gunnel Pholis nebulosa . Therefore, it suggests that the conservation measure through catch-and-release may be an appropriate method for most by-catch species, but not for the Japanese whiting.     

Isolation of Pasteurella multocida during an outbreak of infectious septicemia in Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

In May 1994, about fifty Japanese quails out of ninety being bred for experimental purposes at Miyazaki University died of acute septicemia within a few days. At autopsy, there were no gross pathological lesions, however, severe bacteremia was observed in all cases. Bacterial examination revealed the presence of Pasteurella multocida in blood and several organs in pure culture and they were of Carter's capsular type A, Heddleston's type 3-4 and Namioka's type O-8-9. The LD50 of bacteria in quails and mice were 4.3 x 10(4) cfu and 3.9 x 10(2) cfu, respectively. All of the three chickens experimentally infected with 4 x 10(4) of the isolate died within 20 hr after the infection and several bacteria were recovered from their blood and organs. This, to our knowledge, is the first report on an outbreak of fowl cholera in Japanese quails in Japan.     

Utility of progesterone receptor-ires-Cre to generate conditional knockout mice for uterine study

In mice, the conditional knockout strategy using the Cre-loxP system is useful for various types of research. The Cre mouse line with progesterone receptor promoter (Pgr^Cre) has been widely used to produce specific uterine gene-deficient mice, but in the Cre line, endogenous Pgr gene is replaced by Cre recombinase gene, which makes the breeding of homozygous mice (Pgr^Cre/Cre) difficult because they are infertile. Yang et al. (2013, https://10.1016/j.cell.2013.04.017 ) reported the generation of another Pgr^iresCre mouse line that still has endogenous Pgr gene, and they inserted Cre recombinase downstream of the Pgr gene via an internal ribosome entry site (IRES). It is possible that this new Pgr^iresCre line would be useful for uterine research as the mice can be bred as homozygotes (Pgr^{iresCre/iresCre}). Herein, we confirmed the Pgr^iresCre mice effectively directed recombination in the female reproductive tract and was capable of genetic alteration in the endometrium that enables the studies of its uterine function. Our findings demonstrate that the new Pgr^iresCre mouse line is also useful for the generation of uterine-specific knockout mice. The findings using Pgr^iresCre mouse will contribute to the understanding of reproductive systems and diseases in humans and domestic animals.     

Genetic mapping of a dwarfing gene found inSolanum phureja clone 1.22

Dwarf plants were obtained in an F₂ population of a cross betweenSolanum chacoense (clone chc 525-3) andS. phureja (clone 1.22). Segregation analyses in F₂ and backcross populations suggested that the dwarfism was controlled by a single recessive gene transmitted fromS. phureja clone 1.22. The dwarf plants responded to treatment with gibberellic acid, which recovered normal growth. We named this gene‘ga ₂’. Linkage analysis of the genega ₂ with RFLP and RAPD markers indicated that the genega ₂ was located on the most or near distal end of chromosome 7.     

Preliminary study of the effects of condensed barley distillers soluble on rumen fermentation and plasma metabolites in Japanese Black cows

In Japan, condensed barley distillers soluble (CBDS) is a widely known liquor byproduct that contains a high level of protein and is used as a supplementary protein feed for cattle. The present study evaluated the effects of CBDS feed on rumen fermentation and plasma metabolites in Japanese Black cows. Applying a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design, nine cows were offered CBDS and hay (CBDS‐t), soy bean meal and hay (Soybean‐t) and only hay (Hay‐t) over 35 days. We collected ruminal fluid and plasma just before feeding and at 3 h after feeding. The concentrations of propionate and butyrate in the rumen before feeding were lower in the CBDS‐t than in the Soybean‐t group (P < 0.05). However, after 3 h, the concentrations were higher in the CBDS‐t than in the Soybean‐t and Hay‐t groups (P < 0.05). Although, there were no differences in the compositions (% mol) of propionate and butyrate in the rumen and the concentration of plasma β‐hydroxybutyric acid before feeding between treatments, after 3 h they were significantly higher in the CBDS‐t than in the Soybean‐t and Hay‐t groups (P < 0.05). These results indicate that feeding CBDS promotes rumen fermentation and butyrate metabolism.     

Static bending strength performances of cross-laminated woods made with five species

Thirty types of three-ply parallel- and cross-laminated woods were prepared from five species, and their static bending strength performance were investigated. The modulus of elasticity (MOE), proportional limit stress, and modulus of rupture (MOR) perpendicular to the grain were increased by cross-laminating, and the extent of the increase increased with decreasing density of the species. The measured values of MOE parallel and perpendi-cular to the grain of parallel-laminated woods and perpendicular to the grain of face laminae of cross-laminated woods were approximately equal to those calculated from true MOEs of individual laminae. However, the MOE parallel to the grain of face laminae of cross-laminated woods was much lower than the calculated MOE owing to the effect of the deflection caused by shear force on the MOE. The percentage of deflection caused by shear force versus total deflection (Y _s) showed high values, from 16.1% (buna) to 40.5% (sugi), and it decreased linearly with increasing shear modulus in the cross section of the core. In addition, there was an extremely high positive correlation between the MOR and the measured MOE parallel to the grain of face laminae of cross-laminated woods. The MOR was also highly dependent on the shear modulus in cross section of the core.Part of this paper was presented at the 50th Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Kyoto, April 2000