First detection of adiaspiromycosis in the lungs of a deer

Adiaspiromycosis is a pulmonary infection caused by the soil fungi, Emmonsia crescens and E. parva. It primarily affects small mammals and can range from an asymptomatic condition to fatal disseminated disease. We detected a granuloma containing fungal spherules, which were morphologically consistent with the adiaspores of E. crescens in the lungs of a female Hokkaido sika deer. This is the first reported case of adiaspiromycosis involving a cervid in the world.     

Development and preventative effect against pine wilt disease of a novel liquid formulation of emamectin benzoate

Injection of the poorly water-soluble emamectin benzoate (EB) into pine trunks required the development of an efficient liquid formulation. For injection into big trees in forests a good rate of injection and a high active content were required. Tests on the viscosity and EB-solubilizing ability of 14 various solubilizers in diethylene glycol monobutyl ether (DGMBE) led to the selection of Sorpol SM-100PM as the solubilizer of the formulation. Relationships between the solubilizing ability and amounts of Sorpol SM-100PM and DGMBE relative to that of EB, and between the concentration of the latter and the viscosity or the injection rate of the formulation led to a novel 40 g litre(-1) emamectin benzoate formulation (Shot Wan Liquid Formulation), which was composed of EB (40), Sorpol SM-100PM (120), DGMBE (160) and distilled water (50 g litre(-1)) in methanol. Injection of this formulation at a dose of 10 g EB per unit volume of pine tree prevented over 90% of the trees from wilting caused by pine wood nematode, and this preventative effect continued for 3 years. Neither discolouration of the leaves nor injury around the injection hole on the trees was observed after injection of the formulation.     

Functional changes of the LH-immunoreactive cells in adenohypophysis of the common carp (Cyprinus carpio) from rivers contaminated with estrogenic chemicals

The adverse effect of estrogenic chemicals on luteinizing hormone-immunoreactive (LH-ir) cells in the adenohypophysis of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) was examined using immunocytochemical and morphometric methods. Adult male fish were collected from two contaminated sites (Ishizu and Wada Rivers) and from a control pond at Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences, Research Center of Osaka Prefecture. The concentration of nonylphenol, bisphenol A and 17beta-estradiol in the Ishizu River was 3-4 times higher than that in the Wada River. The proportion and size of LH-ir cells were evaluated using the point-counting method by optical microscopy. In control carp, the proportion of LH-ir cells in the breeding season was significantly lower than in the pre- and post-breeding seasons. The same tendency was also found in Ishizu and Wada River carp, but without statistical significance. The proportion of LH-ir cells in Ishizu River carp was significantly lower than that of the control and the Wada River in all seasons. The LH-ir cells in control carp increased in size in the breeding season. LH-ir cells in Ishizu River carp were significantly (p<0.05) smaller than those in control fish, but not different from Wada River carp. A disturbance in the secretory function of LH-ir cells was found in carp from the Ishizu River; granulation and vacuolation were not in synchronization with those of control and Wada River fish. Our data suggest that the estrogenic chemicals in the Ishizu River interfere with functions of LH-ir cells directly or through the testis.     

Cultivar and anatomical analysis of corolla enlargement of petunia (Petunia hybrida Vilm.) by cytokinin application

We found that the corolla of petunia (Petunia hybrida Vilm.) could be conspicuously enlarged by the separate application of three cytokinins: forchlorfenuron (CPPU), N⁶-benzylaminopurine (BA), and zeatin. To obtain the same enlargement as that achieved by CPPU, approximately 30 and 900 times the concentration of BA and zeatin, respectively, were required. CPPU at 3.2 μmol/L increased the limb area of the corollas of 15 cultivars to between 1.3 and 2.4 times (1.8 times on average) the size of the control area. The increase was negatively correlated (R = 0.58) with the “genetic” limb area (i.e., that of the untreated plant). The enlargement of the corolla caused by cytokinin application was mainly attributed to an increase in cell number in most cultivars. This increase resulted from a high rate of cell proliferation and from prolongation of the cell proliferation phase during corolla development. This anatomical change caused by cytokinin application was similar to the anatomical difference among cultivars because genetic differences in limb area resulted mainly from differences in cell number.     

Enzymatic saccharification of spent wood-meal media made of 5 different tree species after cultivation of edible mushroom <Emphasis Type=Italic>Auricularia polytricha</Emphasis>

The chemical characteristics and the suitability for enzymatic saccharification in the spent culture media (SCM) of Auricularia polytricha were examined in order to investigate the utilization of the SCM as a biomass resource for alternative energy production. Wood meals from 3 hardwood species (Quercus serrata, Betula platyphylla var. japonica, and Alnus japonica) and 2 softwood species (Pinus densiflora and Cryptomeria japonica) were used as basal culture media. Dry weight of fruiting bodies were higher in the cultural media made of B. platphylla var. japonica and A. japonica. Amount of weight loss in media showed almost the same value among the cultural media made of 5 species, except for media made of C. japonica. The amounts of the main chemical components (Klason lignin, holocellulose, and α-cellulose) in SCM showed lower values than those in wood meals (WM) and fresh media (FM). After saccharification of the media by Meiselase for 48 h, the hydrolysis weight decrease dramatically increased in SCM. The amount of glucose in SCM ranged from 10.9 to 19.2 g/100 g dry biomass. The highest amount of glucose was obtained in the SCM from B. platyphylla var. japonica. These results indicate that SCM of A. polytricha is a suitable biomass material to produce fermentable sugars for bio-ethanol production.     

Stress-wave velocity of trees and dynamic Young’s modulus of logs of 4-year-old Eucalyptus camaldulensis trees selected for pulpwood production in Thailand

Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh. is extensively planted in Thailand to produce wood chips used as raw material for pulp and paper. To promote the utilization of the wood from plantation-grown E. camaldulensis for solid lumber, stress-wave velocity of trees and dynamic Young’s modulus of logs were investigated for 4-year-old trees of eight half-sib families selected for pulpwood production on the basis of the growth characteristics in the previous tree breeding program. For the eight families, the mean stem diameter at 1.3 m above ground level and mean tree height were 7.6 cm and 11.9 m, respectively. The mean stress-wave velocity of eight families was 3.45 km/s. Dynamic Young’s modulus of logs ranged from 7.88 to 17.64 GPa, and the mean value for the eight families was 11.72 GPa. Stress-wave velocity of trees was significantly correlated with dynamic Young’s modulus of logs, suggesting that dynamic Young’s modulus of wood can be evaluated nondestructively by stress-wave velocity of trees. Significant differences in stress-wave velocity and dynamic Young’s modulus of logs were obtained among families. Thus, to promote the utilization of E. camaldulensis wood for solid lumber production, selection of trees with high Young’s modulus should be applied to trees already selected for the growth characteristics in the previous tree breeding program.     

Utility of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in differential diagnosis of adrenal tumors in dogs

This prospective case study aimed to clarify the clinical significance of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) for the differential diagnosis of canine adrenal tumors. Forty-three client-owned dogs with adrenal tumors were included. All dogs underwent CEUS, which was evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively. The peak signal intensity (PI), time to peak signal intensity (TPI), mean transit time (MTT), upslope, and downslope were calculated for each time-intensity curve. The histopathological diagnosis of each resected mass was compared with the CEUS findings and parameters. Enhancement distribution, vascularity, tortuous nourishing vessels, enhancement pattern, and late-phase enhancement did not differ significantly between adrenal cortical adenoma (CA), adenocarcinoma (CAC), and pheochromocytoma (PHEO) in qualitative assessment. In PHEO, the TPI was significantly more rapid compared with that in CA (P=0.0287) and CAC (P=0.0404). The MTT in PHEO was significantly shorter than that in CA (P=0.0016) and CAC (P=0.0003). Upslope in PHEO was larger than that in CAC (P=0.0406). Downslope in PHEO was significantly larger than that in CA (P=0.0048) and CAC (P=0.0018). A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated that the area under the MTT curve yielded 0.91 for distinguishing PHEO from adrenocortical tumors in dogs; an MTT cut-off value less than 6,225 msec yielded a sensitivity of 69%, specificity of 94%, and likelihood ratio of 12.46. CEUS appears to be clinically applicable for the differential diagnosis between cortical and medullary origins of primary adrenal tumors in dogs.     

Growth and ontogenetic migration of greeneye Chlorophthalmus albatrossis in Tosa Bay, Pacific Coast of South-Western Japan

ABSTRACT:   Growth and ontogenetic migration of greeneye Chlorophthalmus albatrossis were studied in the area from 100–400 m depths in Tosa Bay, from April 1996 to March 1997, using samples collected by an otter trawl net with a 1.3 mm mesh cod end. In the monthly changes of the standard length (SL) composition, four year classes were recognized, although the third- and fourth-year classes were not clearly separated in all the monthly samples. Individuals of 40–50 mm SL settled on the bottom of the 150–200 m depth zone from August to February. By May and June, they grew to 75–80 mm SL modal size, and migrated to 200–300 m depth. In one year after settlement, they grew to 125–130 mm SL, and migrated to 300–350 m depth. They grew to a maximum of 160 mm SL and were not sampled in the winter three years after settlement, suggesting either migration or mortality. Seasonal changes in the gonadosomatic index for combined samples of males and females showed that greeneye did not mature in Tosa Bay. It is suggested that the planktonic larvae are transported from the spawning grounds, the location of which remains unknown.