Physiochemical factors affecting the salt tolerance of Echinochloa crus-galli Beauv. var. formosensis Ohwi

The effects of NaCl-induced stress on physiochemical factors such as inorganic cations, proline, malondialdehyde (MDA) and polyamines were investigated in the gramineous weed, Echinochloa crus-galli Beauv. var. formosensis Ohwi ( E. crus-galli ) and rice ( Oryza sativa L. cv. Nipponbare). Growth inhibition at the 2nd leaf stage under salt stress was more severe in rice than in E. crus-galli . Water content in the 2nd leaves was also more severely decreased in rice, indicating that E. crus-galli was more salt-tolerant. After NaCl treatment, Na⁺ accumulated in the 2nd leaves of both plant species but not in their roots. Proline accumulation in the 2nd leaves was significantly higher in salt stressed E. crus-galli than in rice, suggesting the significance of proline production in the salt tolerance of this weed. Content of MDA of the rice increased more greatly with NaCl treatment than that in E. crus-galli . NaCl treatment affected polyamine metabolism of both plant species, but the response of each plant to salt stress was somewhat different, especially in the leaves. Leaf putrescine and spermidine contents were high in non-stressed plants in salt-sensitive rice, although rather lower in E. crus-galli in response to NaCl concentrations. These results indicate that an increase in proline and changes in polyamines relates to the salt tolerance of E. crus-galli .     

Pharmacokinetic disposition and arthropathic potential of oral ofloxacin in dogs

We examined the relation between the pharmacokinetic disposition and arthropathic potential of ofloxacin, a new quinolone antibacterial agent, using both male immature (3-month-old) and mature (18-month-old) beagles. Ofloxacin was orally administered to these dogs at 20 mg/kg once daily for 8 consecutive days, and the animals were killed 2 h after the last treatment. Serum ofloxacin concentrations were repeatedly measured on days 1 and 7 by use of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated. In addition, on day 8, the drug concentrations in the joint synovial fluid and humeral and femoral condyles were measured. Clinico-pathological tests of blood and serum or histopathological examination of bone specimens were also performed. Arthropathy was macroscopically observed in the cartilage surface of all immature dogs, but not in mature dogs. There were, however, no noticeable differences in pharmacokinetic parameters between the two age groups of dogs or between single and 7-day treatments. In contrast to the occurrence of arthropathic lesions, the synovial fluid and condylar drug concentrations in immature dogs was equal to or lower than those in mature dogs, suggesting that the pharmacokinetic disposition of ofloxacin may not be essential for cartilage lesions.     

Sheep genetic diversity in Bhutan using microsatellite markers

Genotype data from eight microsatellite markers were used to assess genetic diversity and relationships among five indigenous Bhutanese sheep populations, Sakten, Jakar, Sarpang, Sipsu and Tsirang. Estimates of mean observed and expected heterozygosities, mean number of alleles per locus/population were obtained. The highest observed heterozygosities were found in Jakar (0.657) and Sakten (0.647), while the lowest one was found in Tsirang (0.539). Genetic distances, pairwise proportion of different alleles, UPGMA tree, and principal component analysis indicate close relationship among Tsirang, Sipsu and Sarpang populations, while Jakar and Sakten populations are located in one cluster. These two clusters are separated geographically, and show distinct phenotypic as well as molecular characters. We therefore recommend that the Bhutanese native sheep populations be classified into at least two distinct breeds, Jakar‐Sakten sheep and Sipsu sheep. Since Jakar and Sakten sheep have different morphological phenotypes, further analyses will be required to understand the genetic differences between these two sheep populations.     

Prevalence and pathogenicity of infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV) associated with feral lake trout, Salvelinus namaycush (Walbaum)

Abstract. A study was undertaken in 1987 to determine the prevalence of infectious panercatic necrosis virus (1PNV) infection in the lake trout population of Cornwall Lake. Alberta, Canada, and its pathogenicity to cultivable salmonid fish. Virological examination indicated that 44.4% of the adult lake trout in the lake, which is situated in a remote northern region of Alberta, were infected with the virus, mainly in the pyloric caeca and intestine. Virus was not detected in kidney, leucocytes, liver or gonads. In experimental immersion infection of brook trout fry, the virus caused a cumulative mortality of up to 74% in 30 days, beginning at 10 days post-infection. Pyloric caeca, intestine and to some extent gills were found to be early sites of viral replication. The virus was less pathogenic to rainbow trout causing a cumulative mortality of 10% and the survivors were IPNV carriers for at least 3 months. The virus did not cause mortality in young lake trout, the natural host, but the infected fish carried the virus during the experimental period of 30 days.     

Genetic variation in mitochondrial genes and intergenic spacer region in harmful algae <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chattonella</Emphasis> species

In this study, nuclear ribosomal RNA gene internal transcribed spacer regions and the cox2-cox1 fragment of the mitochondrial (mt) genome were sequenced in 24 strains of Chattonella spp. Variability in both regions showed that the mt genome sequences of Chattonella spp. have a higher evolutionary rate than the nuclear rRNA gene sequences. A maximum likelihood tree based on the mt sequence grouped the Japanese Chattonella strains into two groups (Groups A and B), although no correlation was observed amongst the phylogenetic groups, their morphologies, or the isolated areas. Groups A and B were clearly identified by a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) assay using Fokl, without the need for a sequencing experiment. The PCR-RFLP assay revealed that Chattonella cells obtained from sea water in Oita, Japan, in 2004 and 2005 belonged to Group B. This is the first report showing the genetic variation in Chattonella spp. using a PCR-RFLP identification protocol.     

Successful measures to prevent the spread of bovine papular stomatitis in a dairy farm

Nasal papules and oral ulcers were observed in calves that were group-housed at a dairy farm. The calves were diagnosed with bovine papular stomatitis (BPS) due to parapoxvirus (PPV) infection based on virologic examinations using polymerase chain reaction to detect PPV. To prevent the spread of BPS, we isolated the affected calves, made procedural changes so that the affected herd was managed after the healthy herd, disinfected the bedding with slaked lime, disinfected the stalls and fences with invert soap, and changed the animals’ feed to soft grass which does not damage the oral cavity. As a result, we succeeded in control the infection quickly.