Effect of trehalose supplementation in milk replacer on the incidence of diarrhea and fecal microbiota in preweaned calves

Trehalose, a nonreducing disaccharide consisting of d-glucose with α,α-1,1 linkage, was evaluated as a functional material to improve the gut environment in preweaned calves. In experiment 1, 173 calves were divided into two groups; the trehalose group was fed trehalose at 30 g/animal/d with milk replacer during the suckling period, and the control group was fed nonsupplemented milk replacer. Medication frequency was lower in the trehalose group (P < 0.05). In experiment 2, calves (n = 20) were divided into two groups (control group [n = 10] and trehalose group [n = 10]) based on their body weight and reared under the same feeding regimens as in experiment 1. Fresh feces were collected from individual animals at the beginning of the trial (average age 11 d), 3 wk after trehalose feeding (experimental day 22), and 1 d before weaning, and the fecal score was recorded daily. Fecal samples were analyzed for fermentation parameters and microbiota. The fecal score was significantly lower in the trehalose group than in the control group in the early stage (at an age of 14 to 18 d; P < 0.05) of the suckling period. Calves fed trehalose tended to have a higher proportion of fecal butyrate on day 22 than calves in the control group (P = 0.08). Population sizes of Clostridium spp. were significantly lower (P = 0.036), whereas those of Dialister spp. and Eubacterium spp. tended to be higher in the feces of calves in the trehalose group on day 22 (P = 0.060 and P = 0.083). These observations indicate that trehalose feeding modulated the gut environment and partially contributed to the reduction in medication frequency observed in experiment 1.     

A dog with osteosarcoma which metastasized to the eye months before metastasis to other organs

A 9-year-old male Shih Tzu with osteosarcoma had a forelimb amputation and underwent chemotherapy. During chemotherapy, the right eye was enucleated due to refractory glaucoma, and was diagnosed as anterior uveal malignant melanoma. The dog lived for 4 months after the enucleation without treatment. After the dog died, the mass in the eye was re-evaluated immunohistochemically, and it was diagnosed as metastasis of appendicular osteosarcoma. Metastasis of appendicular osteosarcoma to the anterior chamber is quite rare, and the clinical course which showed clinically detectable metastases to the eye before systemic multi-organ metastases was quite unique.     

Odontoclastic resorptive lesions in a dog

We found odontoclastic resorptive lesions on premolars and molars in a 4- year-old miniature dachshund. The teeth had been extracted because the dentin was resorbed. In some teeth, the roots had been replaced by hard tissue, and so we amputated the crowns and curetted roots and alveolar bone. Histopathological examination revealed that the dentin was resorbed by odontoclasts and was replaced with bony tissue. Ten months later we found resorptive lesions in other teeth, and we treated them along with the first treatment. At the time of writing, since this is the first report of a dog with the same lesion in other teeth after the first treatment, we hope to establish better treatment and prevention methods.     

A dog with squamous cell carcinoma in the middle ear

An 8-year-old, castrated male golden retriever was referred for lethargy and inappetance. Severe pain was elicited on palpation of the left temporomandibular joint region. Computed tomography revealed aggressive bone destruction of the left bulla. Squamous cell carcinoma was diagnosed. Malignant tumor in the canine middle ear is rare.     

Spontaneous osteosarcoma in a rabbit ( Oryctolagus cuniculus)

A 6-year-old male cross-breed rabbit ( Oryctolagus cuniculus) was presented with lameness and severe swelling from the right shoulder to brachium. On 16-detector helical computed tomography images of the amputated right forelimb after being fixed in formalin, evident proliferative and destructive lesions of bone were observed. On histologic examination, the tumor was composed of proliferating neoplastic cells that resembled histiocytes, with abundant osteoid production. A large number of multinucleated giant cells were found throughout. This case was diagnosed as osteosarcoma by clinical, radiographic, and histologic findings. This is a rare case report of osteosarcoma in a rabbit consistent with canine predilection sites.     

Changes in soil chemical and physical characteristics in Japanese cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa Endl.) stands by mixture of deciduous broad-leaved trees in the northern Kanto region of Japan

In order to clarify the effects of a mixture of deciduous broad-leaved trees on soil fertility, we investigated litter biomass accumulation, mineral soil chemical and physical characteristics, characteristics of nitrogen mineralization, and the mutual relationships between them in Japanese cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa) stands mixed with deciduous broad-leaved trees at different ratios (mixture ratio; MR = 0, 16, 33, 43, 100% by basal area) in the northern Kanto region of Japan. Litter biomass in the forest floor and mineral soil was 19.1 Mg ha⁻¹ in MR 0% and decreased approximately 60 % in MR 33%, MR 43% and MR100%. The permeability at 0–5 cm soil depth in MR100% was twice as much as that in MR 0%. Increases in soil permeability were likely due to larger soil pores in the higher MR with much accumulated deciduous broad-leaves. At 0–5 cm soil depth, the differences in carbon concentration among the plots were not clear. On the other hand, carbon concentrations at 5–10 cm depth increased from 90 g kg⁻¹ to 147 g kg⁻¹ with increases in MR from 0% to 100%. Concentrations of exchangeable bases increased two to four times with increases in MR from 0 to 100% at 0–10 cm depth. Soil pH (H₂O) generally increased with increases in MR at each depth. The rates of net nitrogen mineralization at 0–5 cm depthin vitro increased from 25 to 87 mg kg⁻¹ 2 weeks⁻¹ with increases in MR from 0 to 100%. However, increases in nitrification with increases in MR were not clear compared with nitrogen mineralization. These results indicated that a mixture of deciduous broad-leaved trees in a Japanese cypress stand was effective in preventing soil fertility decline. This study was supported by a grant from the Showa Shell Sekiyu Fundation for Promotion of Environmental Research. A part of this study was presented at the 7th International Congress of Ecology (1998).     

Direct connection of supercritical fluid extraction and supercritical fluid chromatography as a rapid quantitative method for capsaicinoids in placentas of Capsicum.

The fruits of Capsicum annuum L. are used worldwide as chili peppers and in folk medicines. The pungent components of C. annuum, which are irritants, are called capsaicinoids (CAPS), and the most abundant components are capsaicin, dihydrocapsaicin, and nordihydrocapsaicin. To analyze CAPS in the placentas of Capsicum fruits rapidly and safely, we used a directly connected system of supercritical fluid extraction and supercritical fluid chromatography (SFE/SFC). As a column for SFE/SFC, only a silica-type column was found to be suitable. The CAPS contents in placentas of C. annuum cv. Jalapeno (hot type) and C. annuum cv. Shishitoh (less-hot type) determined by the SFE/SFC method agreed well with those in the range of 0-13.81 mg g(-1) fr. wt determined by the usual extraction-HPLC method. The SFE/SFC method has the advantages of no need for pretreatment and no (or minimal) need for organic solvents. We conclude that this method is useful as a rapid (20 min) and safe screening test for the pungency of various Capsicum fruits.     

Immunohistological distributions of fibronectin, tenascin, type I, III and IV collagens, and laminin during tooth development and degeneration in fetuses of minke whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata.

The immunohistological distributions of fibronectin, tenascin, type I, III and IV collagens, and laminin were observed in the tooth buds of fetuses of minke whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata. Distributions of extracellular matrices (ECMs) examined in this study except for tenascin were generally similar to those of terrestrial mammalian species during development of the tooth bud. Tenascin in the fetuses of minke whale showed characteristic distributions in the dental lamina and the enamel organ in the early tooth developmental stage. In the physiological degeneration stage of tooth bud development, immunoreactivity of the ECMs were very weakly and limitedly detected in the dental papilla and the surrounding mesenchyme. Immunoreactivity of tenascin and type I and III collagens were positively detected in the developing baleen plate germ which was associated with the degenerating tooth bud. These findings suggested that expressions of the ECMs were related to the formation of the tooth bud and baleen plate germ, and that the lack of the ECMs was related to the degeneration of the tooth bud in the fetal minke whale.     

Differentiated embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma in a cow.

An embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma was found in the pleura of a 2-year-old Holstein cow after first delivery. The most predominant cells in the tumor were relatively small in size, but considerable numbers of more differentiated cells of larger sizes mingled with the small cells. The most differentiated cells were characterized by multinucleation, abundant cytoplasm containing cross-striated fibrils, intense immunoreactivity for desmin, and weak or negative reactivity for vimentin. Such cells, lacking mitotic activity and displaying weak or no reactivity for proliferating cell nuclear antigen, were considered to be malignant counterparts of myotubes or muscle fibers. This neoplasm seems to follow normal skeletal muscle embryogenesis, and to be capable of differentiation into the final stage of muscle development.