An epidemiological survey on pigs showing symptoms of infectious enteric diseases and dyspepsia in Japan

Diarrhea in pigs has the potential to have a serious economic impact on the swine industry. Previously, we suggested that the likely cause of the presence of non-infectious diarrhea in pigs characterized by lactate accumulation was dyspepsia. In this experiment, the prevalence of enteropathogens and hyper-lactate accumulation in feces of piglets in 4 distinct growth stages was examined. The feces were collected when veterinarian experts recognized abnormalities in sporadic outbreaks. Prevalence of enteropathogens in diarrheal feces was 100% in fattening pigs (FP), 75% in weaning pigs (WP), 50% in suckling pigs (SP), and 42% in growing pigs (GP). Prevalence of enteropathogens in loose feces was 53% in WP, 50% in SP, 40% in FP, and 28% in GP. Prevalence of hyper-lactate accumulation in diarrheal feces was 33% in GP, 33% in SP, 25% in WP, and 25% in FP. Prevalence of hyper-lactate accumulation in loose feces was 40% in GP, 0% in SP, 7% in WP, and 5% in FP. Accordingly, non-infectious dyspepsia is frequent in growing pigs. In this period, pigs are potentially exposed to needless antimicrobial therapeutic treatments in sporadic cases.     

Basal levels and responses to glucose infusion of plasma glucose and insulin in beef steer before and after the end of the growing phase on pasture

We examined the effect of grazing during the growing phase on plasma glucose and insulin behavior at the end of the growing phase and at the early stage of the subsequent fattening phase in beef steers. From 13 to 45 weeks of age (growing phase), crossbred beef steers were grazed with minimal supplement (group G: n = 5) or housed while being fed on hay and concentrate (group H: n = 5). Following this phase, both groups were housed for finishing (fattening phase). At the end of the growing phase, group G showed faster plasma glucose disappearance after intravenous glucose infusion, with a smaller plasma insulin response, compared with group H. At the third week of the fattening phase, group G still showed higher glucose tolerance, although they experienced abrupt changes in nutritional and environmental factors. The results suggest that grazing during the growing phase probably improves the glucose tolerance and insulin response to glucose infusion in steers compared with animals that were housed during the corresponding period, and the improved properties may persist at least a few weeks after the commencement of fattening.     

Stress-induced apoptosis by heat shock, UV and γ-ray irradiation in zebrafish embryos detected by increased caspase activity and whole-mount TUNEL staining

SUMMARY: Environmental stress-induced apoptosis in zebrafish Danio rerio embryos was characterized by assaying caspase-3-like activity and whole-mount terminal deoxynucleotidyl nick-end labeling (TUNEL) staining. Severe stress conditions, such as heat shock at 39°C for 1 h, ultraviolet light at 10–100 mJ/cm² and γ-ray irradiation at 5–20 Gy induced extensive apoptosis in embryos. Apoptotic cells were observed after the bud and 1-somite stages in normal embryos by TUNEL staining, and after stress treatment many TUNEL-positive cells were found in the enveloping and deep cell layers and the larval fin. The caspase-3-like activity increased severalfold during stress-induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. These findings indicate that apoptotic pathways, mediated by caspase-3-like activity, play a major role in zebrafish embryogenesis under stress conditions.     

Site of nitrogen accumulation in tulip (Tulipa gesneriana L.) roots during winter

Abstract

Plants (60 species in 37 genera, 27 families) grown on granite weathered soils of temperate natural forest in central Japan were sampled and analyzed for Fe, Mn and Cu. Soil samples coIlceted from the site of plant stands were also analyzed. Results showed that considerable difference existed amons plant species with less variations amons plant samples of the same plant species. Similar responses were frequently found among plant species in the same genus and sometimes in the same family. Variations due to soU also occurred but to a lesser degree. Pe, Mn and Cu were generaIly low in coniferous trees. On the other hand Acantiropanax sciadophylloides accumulated higher amount of Mn in the leaves (4.6 × 10³ ppm, dry matter basis) which is about 180 times more than that of low content species. Other Mn accumulating species were found in Anacardiaceae and Aceraceae. Cryptomeria japonica was the lowest in Mn content (26 ppm). Mean concentration ratio for Mn was 113. Cu was found to be slightly rich in scattering species including Lastrea japonica, Magnolia salleifolia, Acer mono var. connivens and Callicarpa japonica. Mean concentration ratio for Cu was 17.