Spinal epidural empyema concurrent with sequestrum in a cat: a case report

A 5-month-old intact female mixed cat presented with repetitive paraplegia and drainage of pus from the back despite continuous antibiotic medication. Neurologic examination was consistent with below T3-L3 myelopathy. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a contrast-enhanced mass in the L1-3 spinal canal, and bone fragments in the T13 and L1 spinal canal. Spinal epidural empyema was suspected, and hemilaminectomy was performed for T12-L2 on the right side and T11-12 on the left side. Bone fragments were diagnosed as sequestrum infected with Bacteroides sp. The cat recovered enough to ambulate next day. One month after surgery, there was no deficit in neurological function. This is the first report of spinal epidural empyema concurrent with sequestrum in a cat.     

Use of parasites as biological tags for separating stocks of the starspotted dogfish Mustelus manazo in Japan and Taiwan

ABSTRACT:   The parasite fauna of Mustelus manazo from seven localitiesin Japan and Taiwan was assessed for the feasibility of using parasitesas biological tags for the identification of different host stocks.Examination of 1038 host specimens resulted in 13 parasite speciesrecorded: one nematode, two myxosporeans, two copepods and eightcestodes. Although relatively low overall prevalence of the firstfive species at different localities showed some significant differences,the samples collected in Tokyo Bay bore the lowest similarity (19.2%).These results support previous studies, which suggested the existenceof a unique host stock in Tokyo Bay. Accordingly, combinations ofprevalence data may provide useful information on stock identification.Cestodes probably have the greatest potential for use as biologicaltags. Detailed examination of 25 specimens of M .  manazo fromAomori and Tokyo Bay disclosed eight species of intestinal cestodes.A canonical discriminant analysis based on these species separatedthe two localities clearly.     

The relationship between plasma leptin concentrations and the distribution of body fat in crossbred steers

The objective of the present study was to examine the relationship between plasma leptin levels and fat distribution in crossbred steers. Twenty-four crossbred steers (Japanese Black × Holstein) were used in this study. Six steers belonged to the growing phase (11 months of age), and 18 steers to the finishing phase (from 21 to 28 months of age). Plasma leptin levels correlated positively with body fat weight ( r  = 0.807, P  < 0.01), body fat percentage ( r  = 0.802, P  < 0.01), visceral fat weight ( r  = 0.807, P  < 0.01), visceral fat percentage ( r  = 0.780, P  < 0.01), subcutaneous fat weight ( r  = 0.745, P  < 0.01), subcutaneous fat percentage ( r  = 0.734, P  < 0.01), intermuscular fat weight ( r  = 0.793, P  < 0.01), intermuscular fat percentage (0.775, P  < 0.01), renal fat weight ( r  = 0.694, P  < 0.01), renal fat percentage ( r  = 0.642, P  < 0.01), subcutaneous fat thickness ( r  = 0.755, P  < 0.01), intermuscular fat thickness ( r  = 0.721, P  < 0.01), beef marbling score ( r  = 0.706, P  < 0.01) and the crude fat content of Musculus longissimus thoracis ( r  = 0.592, P  < 0.01). The location of fat deposits did not affect the correlation values. However, when steers were divided into growing ( n  = 6) and finishing ( n  = 18) groups, there was no significant correlation between plasma leptin levels and the carcass characteristics related to fat deposition (fat weight, fat percentage, carcass traits) in either group. These results suggest that plasma leptin levels in crossbred steers positively correlate with body fat content and carcass traits when these parameters vary widely.     

Development of structural composite products made from bamboo II: fundamental properties of laminated bamboo lumber

This experiment explored the technical feasibility of using bamboo zephyr mat with pre-hot-pressed treatment for the manufacture of laminated bamboo lumber (LBL), which is similar in construction to that of laminated veneer lumber (LVL). Six LBL boards (made from four-ply bamboo zephyr mats) with approximate dimensions of 2×42× 42cm were fabricated using resorcinol-based adhesive. The experimental design involved three combinations of layered structures (types I, II, and III) and two LBL loading positions (H-beam and V-beam) during the bending test. These materials were then compared to ordinary LVL. Results indicated that the bending properties (moduli of rupture and elasticity) of LBL were comparable to those of LVL, but there was no significant effect on the physical and mechanical properties among the three types of LBL beam. Interestingly, orienting the glue line to the vertical direction (V-beam) could maximize the ultimate strength of the LBL.Part of this research was presented at the 49th Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Tokyo. April 1999, and at the Pacific Timber Engineering Conference, Rotorua, New Zealand, March 1999     

Lectin binding pattern of gastric mucosa of pacific white-sided dolphin, Lagenorhynchus obliquidens

The stomach of the Pacific white-sided dolphin is divided into three parts: forestomach, proper gastric gland portion, and pyloric chamber. The histological features of the dolphin stomach are similar to those of terrestrial mammal stomachs, although the distribution of glycoconjugates in mucosal cells of the dolphin stomach is unknown. To learn about glycoconjugates in cetacean gastric mucosa, the glycoconjugate distribution in the mucous epithelium of the Pacific white-sided dolphin was studied using 21 lectins. Among the lectins tested, GSL-I and DBA specifically labelled the superficial layer of the forestomach epithelium. GSL-I, SBA, RCA-I, VVA, GSL-II, DSL, LEL, STL, s-WGA, WGA, PNA, and Jacalin labelled the luminal surface of the chief cells in the proper gastric gland. GSL-I, SBA, RCA-I, DSL, LEL, STL, s-WGA, PNA, and LCA labelled tubular structures in the cytoplasm of parietal cells. The surface portion of the pits in the pyloric chamber strongly reacted with RCA-I, GSL-II, WGA, PNA, LCA, PHA-L, and UEA-I, whereas the neck portion reacted weakly. Although lining one tubular portion, individual secretory cells in the pyloric gland displayed a heterogeneous reaction. This is the first report on the lectin histochemistry of a cetacean stomach and reveals GSL-I and DBA as specific marker lectins for the cornified stratified squamous epithelium cells of the Pacific white-sided dolphin. The stomachs of cetaceans and terrestrial mammals have similar histological features and mucous glycoconjugate content.     

Genotyping of Giardia intestinalis from domestic and wild animals in Japan using glutamete dehydrogenase gene sequencing

To determine the genotypes of Giardia intestinalis from domestic and wild animals in Japan, Giardia isolates obtained from feces of 24 dogs kept in households and breeding kennels, three companion cats, five dairy calves and three wild monkeys, Macaca fuscata, were genotyped using the 177 bp sequence of the glutamete dehydrogenase gene (gdh). The genotypes were assemblages A, C, D or A/D for dog isolates, Assemblage F for cat isolates, assemblages A or E for calf isolates and assemblage B for monkey isolates. This is the first report on the genotypes of Giardia isolates from cats, calves and wild monkeys in Japan.     

Quantitative analysis of Staphylococcus aureus in skimmed milk powder by real-time PCR

A large-scale outbreak of food poisoning caused by consumption of skimmed milk powder contaminated with staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) occurred in Japan. No viable Staphylococcus aureus was detected in the skimmed milk powder, however, sea and nuc genes of S. aureus were detected in it by PCR. The number of S. aureus in skimmed milk powder was estimated by quantitative real-time PCR.