Breed Differences in Dopamine Receptor D4 Gene (DRD4) in Horses

Genetic polymorphisms in genes related to neurotransmitters or hormones affect personality or behavioral traits in many animal species including humans. In domestic animals, the allele frequency of such genes has been reported to be different among breeds and it may account for breed differences in behavior. In this study, we investigated breed differences in horses in the dopamine receptor D4 gene (DRD4), which has been reported to affect horse personality. We collected samples from seven horse breeds including those native to Japan and Korea, and compared the sequence of the DRD4 exon3 region among these breeds. We found that there were two types of polymorphisms (VNTR and SNPs) in the exon3 region, and some of them seemed to be breed-specific. In addition, we found that the allele frequency of G292A, reported to be associated with horse personality, differed greatly between native Japanese horses and Thoroughbred horses. The frequency of the A allele which is associated with low curiosity and high vigilance, was much lower in native Japanese horses (Hokkaido, 0.03; Taishu, 0.08) than in Thoroughbreds (0.62). This difference may account for breed differences in personality or behavioral traits. Further studies of the function of these polymorphisms and their effect on behavior are indicated.     

Successful outcome after a single endoscopic fecal microbiota transplantation in a Shiba dog with non-responsive enteropathy during the treatment with chlorambucil

A 7-year 6-month-old, castrated male Shiba dog presented with a 1-month history of lethargy, anorexia, vomiting, and frequent watery diarrhea. Weight loss, hypoalbuminemia, anemia, and leukocytosis were detected at the first visit. The dog was diagnosed with non-responsive enteropathy (NRE) based on clinical and histopathological examinations. Since the dog did not respond to the immunosuppressive drugs, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) was performed during the treatment with chlorambucil. A single endoscopic FMT into the cecum and colon drastically recovered clinical signs and clinicopathological abnormalities and corrected dysbiosis in the dog. No recurrence or adverse events were observed. The present case report suggests that FMT, possibly together with chlorambucil, might be a treatment option for NRE in Shiba dogs that have poorer prognosis compared with other dog breeds.     

Foot rot disease of sweet potato in Japan caused by Diaporthe destruens: first report,pathogenicity and taxonomy

Journal of General Plant Pathology - Foot rot, also known as stem rot or tuber-root rot syndrome, on sweet potato occurs in sweet potato fields in Okinawa, Japan. Isolates of one fungal species...     

Experimental study on the influence of dissolved organic matter in water and redox state of bottom sediment on water quality dynamics under anaerobic conditions in an organically polluted water body

To understand aquatic environmental deterioration due to the anoxic state in an organically polluted water body, water quality dynamics under anaerobic conditions were examined through beaker-scale water quality monitoring. This study focused on the dynamic properties of NO₃–N, NH₄–N, PO₄–P, and sulfide from the biochemical reactions point of view, and based on anaerobic respiration activities, such as denitrification, iron reduction, and sulfate reduction. The specific aims of this study were to quantitatively estimate the impacts of the oxidative/reductive state of the sediment surface and the high/low concentrations of dissolved organic matter on the dynamic properties of water quality under anaerobic conditions. The beaker-scale water quality monitoring was carried out through continuous measurements of dissolved oxygen and oxidation–reduction potential (ORP), as well as periodic observations of water quality parameters for six cases that are composed from combinations of three experimental conditions: (1) concentration of dissolved organic carbon (DOC); (2) redox state of the sediment; and (3) concentration of NO₃–N. As a result, the temporal changes in ORP under anaerobic conditions exhibited a five-step process of decline without these conditions. Also, high DOC concentrations and oxidative states of the bottom mud accelerated the release of PO₄–P and sulfide generation through promoting biological iron reduction and sulfate reduction, because these conditions increase respiratory substrates for anaerobic microorganisms, such as iron and sulfate-reducing bacteria. It was concluded that our results would provide important information about the mechanisms of aqueous environmental deterioration due to organic pollution in closed water bodies.