Purulent Necrotic Dislocation of the Hip Joint Associated with Umbilical Infection in a Foal

A 42-day-old heavy draft horse fell into sudden astasia. Significant swelling and heat sensation of the left femoral region were observed. Because of a friction sound in the left hip, we supposed that the hip joint was dislocated or the hip bone was fractured. Computed Tomography (CT) examination showed that the left hip joint was dislocated and the left femoral head was disjunct. We carried out a pathological autopsy, and made a diagnosis of the foal as fracture of the hip bone and femoral head with suppurative umbilical arteritis. Pathologic changes in the umbilical artery and hind leg were completely unilateral, suggesting that left umbilical arteritis spread to the blood circulation, causing arthritis and dislocation of the hip bone.     

Genetic analysis of fat‐to‐protein ratio,milk yield and somatic cell score of Holstein cows in Japan in the first three lactations by using a random regression model

We estimated the genetic parameters of fat‐to‐protein ratio (FPR) and the genetic correlations between FPR and milk yield or somatic cell score in the first three lactations in dairy cows. Data included 3 079 517 test‐day records of 201 138 Holstein cows in Japan from 2006 to 2011. Genetic parameters were estimated with a multiple‐trait random regression model in which the records within and between parities were treated as separate traits. The phenotypic values of FPR increased soon after parturition and peaked at 10 to 20 days in milk, then decreased slowly in mid‐ and late lactation. Heritability estimates for FPR yielded moderate values. Genetic correlations of FPR among parities were low in early lactation. Genetic correlations between FPR and milk yield were positive and low in early lactation, but only in the first lactation. Genetic correlations between FPR and somatic cell score were positive in early lactation and decreased to become negative in mid‐ to late lactation. By using these results for genetic evaluation it should be possible to improve energy balance in dairy cows.     

Relation of Japanese <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xanthomonas campestris</Emphasis> pv. <Emphasis Type="Italic">vesicatoria</Emphasis> with worldwide strains revealed with three specific monoclonal antibodies

Strains of Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria Dye 1978 (Xcv), the causal agent of bacterial spot, have been classified into two groups based on their ability to hydrolyze starch. Three monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), 7AH10, 5HB3, and 4AD2, were produced immunized against the living bacteria and were specific to and could distinguish Xcv strains able or unable to hydrolyze starch (Amy⁺ or Amy^–). The MAb 7AH10, obtained against strain UPB141(Amy^–) reacted in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with all the Amy^– strains (n = 19) and 1 of 11 Amy⁺ strains. Against Xcv 2625, an Amy^– unusual phenotype strain, MAb 5HB3, recognized 97% of our worldwide collection of Xcvs (n = 30). Also against that strain, the MAb 4AD2 reacted with none of the homologous Amy^– phenotypes and with 90% (n = 11) of the heterologous Amy⁺ phenotypes. For all the MAbs, cross reactions with other pathovars or species were less than 4% (n = 67). By assaying a Japanese collection of strains against the three MAbs, the Amy⁺ strains were distinguished from the Amy^– strains, and their relation with other world strains could be demonstrated. All the MAbs reacted with the lipopolysaccharide fraction of the bacterial cell wall during immunoblotting.     

Novel SNP in 5' flanking region of EDG1 associated with marbling in Japanese Black beef cattle

Marbling, defined by the amount and distribution of intramuscular fat, is an economically important trait of beef cattle in Japan. The endothelial differentiation , sphingolipid G-protein-coupled receptor , 1 ( EDG1 ) gene has been considered as a positional functional candidate for the gene responsible for marbling. We have recently reported that 2 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), c.-312A > G in the 5' untranslated region (UTR) and c.*446G > A in the 3' UTR in EDG1 were associated with marbling in Japanese Black beef cattle, but this was not functional and a causal mutation for marbling. In the present study, we detected 2 novel SNPs, referred to as g.1475435G > A and g.1471620G > T , in the 5' flanking region of the EDG1 between low-marbled and high-marbled steer groups, which were previously shown to have EDG1 expression differences in musculus longissimus muscle. The g.1475435G > A SNP seemed not to segregate in Japanese Black beef cattle. The g.1471620G > T SNP was associated with the predicted breeding value for beef marbling standard number by the analyses using Japanese Black beef cattle population. Based on these findings, we hypothesized that the g.1471620G > T SNP might have an impact on EDG1 expression and also marbling.     

Pathogenic characters of Japanese potato strains of Ralstonia solanacearum

Ralstonia solanacearum (Rs) strains in phylotypes I and IV isolated from potato in Japan were investigated for pathogenicity on potato, tomato, eggplant, Solanum integrifolium, tobacco, groundnut, and pumpkin. The strains were divided into 17 types based on differences in their pathogenicity on the tested plants. Particularly, the pathogenicity of most phylotype I strains on eggplant was distinctly different from that of the phylotype IV strains. When nine potato varieties (included two breeding lines) were inoculated with several Rs strains, phylotype IV strains were highly virulent on the breeding lines that are regarded as resistant to phylotype I strains.     

Current classification of Ralstonia solanacearum and genetic diversity of the strains in Japan

Ralstonia solanacearum is the causal organism of bacterial wilt of more than 200 species representing 50 families of plants in tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate regions in the world. Traditionally classified into five races based on differences in host range, R. solanacearum has also been grouped into six biovars on the basis of biochemical properties. With recent developments in molecular biology, various DNA-based analyses have been introduced and used to confirm that this binary system does not completely represent the diversity within R. solanacearum strains. Therefore, a new hierarchical classification scheme has been suggested, which defines R. solanacearum as a species complex and reorganized the concept of the species as a monophyletic cluster according to a phylogenetic analysis based on genomic sequence data. Here we discuss the current bacterial wilt situation and genetic relationships based on the recent classification system of Japanese R. solanacearum strains as well as worldwide strains. We also review the genetic, biochemical, and pathological characteristics of R. solanacearum strains, in particular, those affecting potato and Zingiberaceae plants as distinctly important pathogens in relation to continuously problematic and recent emergent diseases in Japan.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Spongospora subterranea</Emphasis> soil contamination and its relationship to severity of powdery scab on potatoes

We investigated soil contamination by Spongospora subterranea f. sp. subterranea (Sss) and disease severity of powdery scab in 29 potato fields in Hokkaido, Japan, using a hydroponic culture method with tomato seedlings as bait plants. The quantity of Sss infection on the roots of bait plants was evaluated using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and expressed in terms of the infection potential in the soil. The infection potential was positively correlated with the disease severity of harvested tubers, whereas the spore ball density determined using PCR had an indistinct relationship with disease severity. The infection potential can be useful in evaluating soil contamination and in applying countermeasures against powdery scab.