Mercaptan-capturing properties of mushrooms.

Mercaptan-capturing properties of 33 kinds of mushrooms were measured. The mushrooms having a high capturing ability toward methyl mercaptan (MeSH) were Agaricus bisporus, A. campestris, Boletus fraternus, B. subvelutipes, Gyrodon lividus, Leccinum scabrum, Suillus grevillei, Morchella esculenta, Russula nigricans, Hypholoma sublateritium, and Lyophyllum sykosporum. These are liable to change their color when injured. The mixture of their acetone powders, which contain polyphenol oxidases, and phenolic compounds such as tyrosine, gamma-L-glutaminyl-4-hydroxybenzene (GHB), DOPA, variegatic acid, grevillin B and C, and pigments, and fluorescent compounds from H. sublateritium also showed high MeSH-capturing properties. 2,5-Bis(methylthio)-DOPA was isolated from the reaction mixture of tyrosine and MeSH with tyrosinase, and the existence of 2- and 5-methylthio-DOPAs was also suggested. Furthermore, acetone powders from fruits and vegetables oxidized the above diphenolic compounds to bind MeSH.     

Establishment of canine and feline cells expressing canine signaling lymphocyte activation molecule for canine distemper virus study

Antimicrobial therapy is a useful tool to control bovine mastitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus, as consequence an increase in staphylococci resistant cases has been registered. Alternative strategies are desirable and bacteriocins represent attractive control agents to prevent bovine mastitis. The aim of this work was to evaluate the activity of five bacteriocins synthesized by Bacillus thuringiensis against S. aureus isolates associated to bovine mastitis. Fifty S. aureus isolates were recovered from milk composite samples of 26 Holstein lactating cows from one herd during September 2007 to February 2008 in México and susceptibility of those isolates to 12 antibiotics and 5 bacteriocins from B. thuringiensis was evaluated. S. aureus isolates were mainly resistant to penicillin (92%), dicloxacillin (86%), ampicillin (74%) and erythromycin (74%); whereas susceptibility to gentamicin, trimethoprim and tetracycline was detected at, respectively, 92%, 88%, and 72%. All S. aureus isolates showed susceptibility to the five bacteriocins synthesized by B. thuringiensis, mainly to morricin 269 and kurstacin 287 followed by kenyacin 404, entomocin 420 and tolworthcin 524. Our results showed that S. aureus isolates had differences in the antimicrobial resistance patterns and were susceptible to bacteriocins produced by B. thuringiensis, which could be useful as an alternative method to control bovine mastitis.     

Listeriosis in a raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) associated with canine distemper

A wild raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) that manifested severe illness and died was examined. Necropsy revealed severe emaciation, systemic icterus and petechial hemorrhages on the mucous membranes. Histopathologically, necroses were seen in the liver and brain stem associated with meningitis. Eosinophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies were observed in the spleen and intestinal mucosa, and eosinophilic intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies were seen in transitional epithelium in the bladder. Listeria monocytogenes 4b was isolated from the liver, spleen, kidneys and lungs, and the pathogen was also detected in the liver and brain stem immunohistopathologically. The disease was diagnosed as listeriosis associated with canine distemper virus infection in a raccoon dog.     

Epistatic effects between pairs of the growth hormone secretagogue receptor 1a,growth hormone,growth hormone receptor,non‐SMC condensin I complex,subunit G and stearoyl‐CoA desaturase genes on carcass,price‐related and fatty acid composition traits in Japanese Black cattle

Growth hormone secretagogue receptor 1a (GHSR1a), growth hormone (GH), growth hormone receptor (GHR), non‐SMC condensin I complex, subunit G (NCAPG) and stearoyl‐CoA desaturase (SCD), are known to play important roles in growth and lipid metabolisms. Single and epistatic effects of the five genes on carcass, price‐related and fatty acid (FA) composition traits were analyzed in a commercial Japanese Black cattle population of Ibaraki Prefecture. A total of 650 steers and 116 heifers for carcass and price‐related traits, and 158 steers for FA composition traits were used in this study. Epistatic effects between pairs of the five genes were found in several traits. Alleles showing strain‐specific differences in the five genes had significant single and epistatic effects in some traits. The data suggest that a TG‐repeat polymorphism of the GHSR1a.5′UTR‐(TG)_n locus plays a central role in gene–gene epistatic interaction of FA composition traits in the adipose tissue of Japanese Black cattle.     

Seasonal foraging patterns of forest‐grazing Japanese Black heifers with increased plasma total antioxidant capacity

Forest‐grazing enables the intake of high total antioxidant capacity (TAC) plants that might be beneficial for the TAC status of cattle. This study evaluated the relation between the seasonal foraging patterns of forest‐grazing Japanese Black (JB) heifers or the TAC levels in shrubs and trees and the changes of plasma TAC. We examined 12 JB heifers, four each of which were allocated to forest‐grazing (F), pasture‐grazing, and pen‐housed groups. The plasma TAC level in F heifers on July 26, August 13, 30 and September 17 were significantly higher than those on April 27 and June 4 (P < 0.05). In F group, the mean rates of foraging frequency (FF) of shrubs and trees during July 5–8 and September 13–16 were much higher than that during May 31–June 3 (P < 0.05). The rate of FF of grass significantly decreased later in the season (P < 0.05). The mean TAC levels in these shrubs and trees were higher than those in grasses, concentrates, and timothy hay. Results suggest that an important factor in the increase of plasma TAC in forest‐grazing cattle might be the increased foraging of TAC‐rich shrubs and trees during summer–fall.     

Salmonella typhimurium infection in domesticated fowl in a children's zoo.

Salmonella typhimurium infection occurred in a children's zoo where 11 fowl and 85 mammals were kept. Initially, the guinea pigs were infected and transmitted the infection to the fowl and rabbits. These mammals responded to medication and cleared of the infection; however, the birds were judged to contain excreters despite four regimens of treatment with antibiotics. Cloacal swabs were taken from all the birds. One turkey was positive for Salmonella and was destroyed. Pooled fecal samples from the birds were again positive. All the birds were tested serologically, and two birds, a goose and a turkey, were positive with Salmonella pullorum-gallinarum antigen, which was assumed to be a cross reaction with S. typhimurium antigen. The two birds were destroyed and the goose yielded Salmonella. The infection was finally eradicated, and the serologic examination was considered to be the most useful procedure for detection of the excreters.     

Change of fish fauna in ponds after eradication of invasive piscivorous largemouth bass,Micropterus salmoides,in north‐eastern Japan

• 1. The change in fish fauna was monitored in ponds within irrigation systems in Iwate prefecture, north‐eastern Japan to evaluate the effectiveness of eradicating the invasive piscivorous largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides.
• 2. Eleven study ponds were categorized into three pond groups: bass‐dwelling (n=3), bass‐eradicated (n=3) and non‐invaded ponds (n=5).
• 3. Species richness and diversity, which temporally decreased in bass‐dwelling ponds, increased in bass‐eradicated ponds. Furthermore, in bass‐eradicated ponds, the mean numbers of topmouth minnow and freshwater goby were gradually restored, but in bass‐dwelling ponds the numbers decreased and both species eventually disappeared.
• 4. Although the eradication of piscivorous invaders is helpful for restoring fish species diversity in ponds, its effectiveness varies among species, and other alien fish such as the rose bitterling (Rhodeus ocellatus ocellatus) often invade and proliferate in the bass‐eradicated ponds.
• 5. To ensure successful restoration of native biota and avoid undesirable results, it is necessary to plan and implement continuous monitoring and adaptive management after eradication of alien predators. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

     

Changes in water‐holding capacity and textural properties of chicken gizzard stored at 4°C

The water‐holding capacity (WHC), and toughness (shear force) of chicken gizzard were evaluated during postmortem storage for 4.5, 7, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h at 4°C. Degradation of the cytoskeletal proteins desmin, talin and vinculin were monitored by sodium dodecyl sulfate – polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blotting during the same designated storage period. The WHC of the gizzards decreased significantly from 12 h to 72 h of storage, but by 96 h the WHC was restored to the level measured after storage for 12 h. The shear force value of the gizzards increased rapidly until 12 h and then decreased until 24 h, with a further slight decrease by 48 h. Degradation products of desmin, talin and vinculin appeared at 96 h, 12 h and 48 h postmortem, respectively. The intensity of immunolabeling for desmin, talin and vinculin after storage for 96 h decreased to 51%, 25% and 52% of the initial value. The appearance of desmin degradation products was accompanied by an increase in WHC. This suggests that the postmortem degradation of desmin is involved in the increase of WHC in chicken gizzard during storage at 4°C, and talin and vinculin may be involved.     

Growth response of Tilapia zillii fingerlings fed isocaloric diets with variable protein levels

Six purified casein diets within a range of 21–53% crude protein were fed for 3 weeks to young tilapia (Tilapia zillii) to determine the optimum protein requirement and protein: energy ratio for growth. Growth rate increased proportionally to protein level of the diet to an incorporation rate of about 35%. Beyond this a gradual retardation in growth rate was observed. The diet containing about 30% crude protein with a protein: energy ($\text{P}\text{E}$) ratio of 81, however, appeared to be more efficiently utilized by the fish in terms of protein deposition and energy retention than diets with higher levels of crude protein. These results indicate that Tilapia zillii requires about 35% protein in the diet for optimum growth while 30% for the maximum bodily protein deposition when casein is used as the sole source of protein. All six diets, however, showed an excellent feed conversion. Protein efficiency ratio (PER) decreased with the increase in protein in the diet.