Characterization of Herpes virus vitreum isolated from hyperplastic epidermal tissue of walleye,Stizostedion vitreum vitreum (Mitchill)*

Abstract. A new virus, provisionally named Herpesvirus vitreum, was isolated from hyperplastic epidermal tissue from a walleye, Stizostedion vitreum vitreum (Mitchill), taken in Saskatchewan, Canada. The virus, which was isolated in the walleye ovarian (WO) cell line, was identified as a herpesvirus on the basis of size (190–230 nm), morphology and apparent pattern of replication. The virus, which passes polycarbonate membranes of 200 nm mean pore diameter, was ether-labile. Virus replicated in WC-1 cells at 4 and 15°C, but not at 20°C. Although walleye cell lines (WO, WC-1, We-2) were susceptible to infection at 15°C, non-period cell lines were refractory. Syncytial formation and lysis occurred in susceptible cell lines. Virus was quantified by plaque assay at 13 to 15°C for two weeks. Replication was inhibited by 10^-3.0m phosphonoacetate and by 10^-5.0m 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BUDR), but addition of excess thymidine reversed the inhibition by BUDR. Viral replication in WO cells, but not in WC-1 cells, was inhibited by the antiherpetic drug acyclovir (10^-5.0m ). The relationship of the herpesvirus isolate and epithelial neoplasms was not determined.     

Effects of temperature, salinity and irradiance on the growth of the toxic dinoflagellate Gymnodinium catenatum (Dinophyceae) isolated from Hiroshima Bay, Japan

ABSTRACT: Temperature and salinity ranges in which Gymnodinium catenatum (Hiroshima Bay strain) showed specific growth rates higher than 0.2/day were approximately 20–30°C and 20–32. The specific growth rate (μ), expressed as a polynomial equation as functions of temperature ( T ; °C) and salinity ( S ) were μ = (−6.84 × 10⁻⁴ T ² + 0.0354 T – 0.213) × (−1.03 × 10⁻³ S ² + 0.0579 S – 0.548)/0.31; the maximum growth rate (0.31/day) was obtained at 25°C and 30. From a comparison with field data recording temperature, salinity and light intensity, this species may be expected to bloom from summer to autumn in Hiroshima Bay.     

Antioxidative activities of volatile extracts from green tea, oolong tea, and black tea

Antioxidative activities of volatile extracts from six teas (one green tea, one oolong tea, one roasted green tea, and three black teas) were investigated using an aldehyde/carboxylic acid assay and a conjugated diene assay. The samples were tested at levels of 20, 50, 100, and 200 micrograms/mL of dichloromethane. The results obtained from the two assays were consistent. All extracts except roasted green tea exhibited dose-dependent inhibitory activity in the aldehyde/carboxylic acid assay. A volatile extract from green tea exhibited the most potent activity in both assays among the six extracts. It inhibited hexanal oxidation by almost 100% over 40 days at the level of 200 micrograms/mL. The extract from oolong tea inhibited hexanal oxidation by 50% in 15 days. In the case of the extract from roasted green tea, the lowest antioxidative activity was obtained at the level of 200 micrograms/mL, suggesting that the extract from roasted green tea contained some pro-oxidants. The extracts from the three black teas showed slight anti- or proactivities in both assays. The major volatile constituents of green tea and roasted green tea extracts, which exhibited significant antioxidative activities, were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The major volatile chemicals with possible antioxidative activity identified were alkyl compounds with double bond(s), such as 3,7-dimethyl-1,6-octadien-3-ol (8.04 mg/kg), in the extract from green tea and heterocyclic compounds, such as furfural (7.67 mg/kg), in the extract from roasted green tea. Benzyl alcohol, which was proved to be an antioxidant, was identified both in a green tea extract (4.67 mg/kg) and in a roasted tea extract (1.35 mg/kg).     

Infection of humans and animals with Echinococcus granulosus (G1 and G3 strains) and E. ortleppi in Southern Brazil

The Rio Grande do Sul state, in Southern Brazil, is one of the foci of human cystic echinococcosis (CE). The sheep strain (G1) of Echinococcus granulosus and Echinococcus ortleppi (also known as cattle strain G5) have been reported before to infect livestock. However, up to the present, no molecular data are available on isolates of the E. granulosus complex from humans and dogs. The present study analyzed hydatid cysts from 6 CE patients and adult worms from 12 dogs. Sequencing of the mitochondrial cox1 and 12S rRNA genes detected the E. granulosus G1 genotype from four human cases, the G3 genotype (or buffalo strain) from one human case and E. ortleppi from another human case, respectively. Ten of the twelve dogs were found infected with the G1 genotype, and one dog each harbored worms of the G3 genotype and E. ortleppi. Obvious morphological differences were recognized between the G1 and E. ortleppi adult worms from dogs in this region. The buffalo strain (G3) is for the first time reported from South America.     

Altered leukocyte responsiveness in dairy cows with naturally occurring chronic Staphylococcus aureus mastitis

Changes in inflammatory parameters, leukocyte surface markers, functional responses and cytokine mRNA expression of leukocytes of dairy cows with naturally occurring chronic Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) mastitis and healthy cows were determined to elucidate the leukocyte responses to S. aureus infection of the mammary gland. Increased values in inflammatory parameters and matrix metalloproteinase activities in milk revealed the characteristics of cows with chronic mastitis. Expression of L-selectin and CD18 molecules on neutrophils and proportion of CD8 cells in milk from cows with S. aureus mastitis were significantly (P<0.05) increased compared with those found in healthy cows. The FcR-stimulated CL response of blood neutrophils was significantly (P<0.05) decreased in cows with S. aureus mastitis. Significantly (P<0.05) decreased mitogenic responses of lymphocytes were found in cows with S. aureus mastitis; however, the values were not restored to those of healthy cows when stimulated with both mitogens and the cytokine IL-1β. The mRNA expression of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-8 on milk leukocytes from cows with S. aureus was found to be increased compared with that of healthy cows. The changes of immune responses found in cows with S. aureus mastitis appear to be influenced by the severity and duration of inflammation in infected quarters. The down-regulation of the leukocyte functions found in cows with S. aureus mastitis appears to be associated with the progress of the chronic stage of S. aureus mastitis.     

Plasma concentration and cardiovascular effects of lidocaine during continuous epidural administration in dogs anesthetized with isoflurane

The cardiovascular effects of continuous epidural administration (CEA) of lidocaine were investigated in anesthetized dogs. Loading epidural injections of 2, 4, or 6 mg/kg of lidocaine were followed by CEA with 1, 2, or 3 mg/kg/hr lidocaine, respectively, for 2 hr under 2.0% isoflurane anesthesia. Heart rate, direct blood pressure, cardiac index, and stroke volume decreased dose-dependently during CEA, whereas systemic vascular resistance did not significantly differ with dose, and no characteristic changes were observed in any groups. Plasma lidocaine concentration reached a steady state during CEA and increased in a dose-dependent manner. Circulatory suppression caused by lidocaine CEA was not attributable to peripheral vasodilation, but rather to the direct cardiac action of systemic lidocaine absorption from the peridural space.     

Relationship between adipose maturity and fatty acid composition in various adipose tissues of Japanese Black,Holstein and Crossbred (F1) steers

The amount of monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) is intimately related to adipose softness, melting point (MP) and flavor in beef. Stearoyl‐CoA desaturase (SCD) is a main gene involved in MUFA synthesis. Mature adipose tends to be highly saturated, whereas immature or maturing adipose is highly unsaturated when chronologically based, so the degree of non‐saturation can be an index of adipose maturity. In this study, three different adipose tissues (coelomic (CL), perirenal (PR), and subcutaneous (SC)) from three beef breeds with differing slaughter ages (Japanese Black (29.5 months), Holstein (20.1 month), and F1 crossbreed (25.6 months)) were examined to: (i) determine adipose maturity level as indexed by MUFA %; and (ii) determine SCD and other lipogenic gene messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels in relation to unsaturated fatty acid content. Fatty acid composition was significantly different between adipose tissues (P < 0.05). MUFA amount was high in the following order: SC > CL > PR. This pattern corresponded to SCD mRNA expression profile showing higher expression in SC than CL and PR. However, Japanese black cattle are an exception with CL adipose containing similar UFA % as SC adipose, yet having the lowest SCD mRNA expression level among all adipose tissues tested. Therefore, SCD mRNA expression and MUFA % appear to be directly related; however, differences in SCD mRNA expression among three adipose tissues may reflect differences in the fat development characteristics affected by chronological age of the cattle breeds.     

Molecular phylogeny and diversity of Myanmar and Bhutan mithun based on mtDNA sequences

The mithun (Bos frontalis), synonymous with mithan and gayal, is considered to be a domesticated form of gaur (B. gaurus). However, there has been a controversy concerning its origin. In an effort to address this issue, the mitochondrial cytochrome b (cytb) genes of 20 mithun from Myanmar and 13 from Bhutan were sequenced to trace its maternal origin. Seven cytb haplotypes were found in the 33 mithun, and the phylogenetic tree for these haplotypes clearly showed three embranchments involving five gaur types, a B. indicus type, and a B. taurus type. Sixteen Myanmar and 12 Bhutan mithun had gaur haplotypes, while a B. indicus haplotype was found in three Myanmar and one Bhutan mithun. The B. taurus haplotype was detected in a single Myanmar animal. These results demonstrated that the principal maternal origin of mithun was gaur and suggested that it was directly domesticated from gaur. However, some introgression of domestic cattle existed in current mithun populations. The presence of cattle mtDNA raised the question of how many cattle nuclear genes might have been integrated into the gene pool of mithun.     

Complete nucleotide sequence of mitochondrial DNA in White Leghorn and White Plymouth Rock chickens

Among the chicken breeds, White Leghorn (WL) and White Plymouth Rock (WR) are major breeds and have different history in their establishments. Whole mitochondrial DNA of the breeds were sequenced in order to elucidate the genetic relationship between the breeds. The lengths of the two WL and two WR mitochondrial DNA were found to be 16 788 and 16 785 base pairs, respectively. When the DNA sequences were compared, the similarity was found to be 99.96% (six nucleotide differences). In addition, the present study conformed the existence of an extra nucleotide ‘C’ in NADH dehydrogenase subunit 3 (ND3) of the chicken mitochondrial DNA, which has been consistently observed in Galliformes.