A case of stranded Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) with lobomycosis-like skin lesions in Kinko-wan,Kagoshima, Japan

Lobomycosis is a chronic fungal disease caused by the etiologic agent, Lacazia loboi, in the skin and subcutaneous tissues in humans and dolphins in tropical and transitional tropical climates. An Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) stranded in Kagoshima, Japan, had severe skin lesions characterized by granulomatous reactions and hyperkeratosis that were similar to those of the lobomycosis, but no fungal organism was observed in the skin lesion. In this paper, we report a stranded Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin with lobomycosis-like lesions based on pathological examinations in Japan.     

Resistance phenotypes and genotypes among multiple-antimicrobial-resistant Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Choleraesuis strains isolated between 2008 and 2012 from slaughter pigs in Okinawa Prefecture,Japan

A total of 349 Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Choleraesuis (S. Choleraesuis) strains, which were isolated between 2008 and 2012 from 349 pigs at two slaughterhouses in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, were investigated for antimicrobial susceptibility and the presence of antimicrobial resistance genes. All isolates were resistant to at least four antimicrobial agents. The antimicrobial agents for which isolates showed a high incidence of resistance were as follows: ampicillin (100%) and streptomycin (100%), followed by gentamicin (99.7%), oxytetracycline (99.7%), sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (99.4%), nalidixic acid (40.1%) and oxolinic acid (40.1%). All isolates were sensitive to cefuroxime, ceftiofur, colistin, fosfomycin, enrofloxacin, orbifloxacin and danofloxacin. The predominant resistance phenotypes and genotypes were: resistance to ampicillin, streptomycin, gentamicin, oxytetracycline and sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (58.5%, 204/349) and blaTEM-strA-strB-aadA1-aadA2-aacC2-tet (B)-sul1-sul2-dhfrXII-dhfrXIII (36.1%, 126/349). The quinolone resistance-determining regions (QRDRs) of gyrA, gyrB, parC and parE of the quinolone-resistant isolates (n=12) showed amino acid substitutions of Ser-83→Phe or Asp-87→Tyr in GyrA and Ser-107→Ala in ParC. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the molecular characterization of antimicrobial resistance among S. Choleraesuis strains in Japan.     

Development of a programmable piggyback syringe pump and four-times-a-day injection regimen for superovulation in non-lactating Holstein cows

The objectives of the present study were to develop a programmable piggyback syringe pump for bovine superovulation and to evaluate the effects of a four-times-a-day injection regimen using the pump. Non-lactating Holstein cows were treated with a total of 30 armour units of porcine FSH by injection four times a day with the pump (study, n = 9) or injection twice a day manually (control, n = 9) for four consecutive days from D10 of the estrous cycle. The pump-driven program successfully induced superovulation in all cows tested. The numbers of small (3– < 5 mm in diameter) and large (≥ 10 mm in diameter) follicles were greater in the study group on D11-13 and D14, respectively. There were fewer unovulated follicles detected on D21 (7 days after estrus) in the study group than in the control group (1.2 ± 0.4 and 3.2 ± 0.6, respectively).     

Glutathione supplementation to semen extender improves the quality of frozen-thawed canine spermatozoa for transcervical insemination

The present study was conducted to evaluate whether supplementation of semen extender with glutathione (GSH) can maintain the quality of frozen-thawed canine spermatozoa. Eighteen ejaculates were obtained from 5 dogs and placed in extender (20% egg yolk, Tris, citric acid, lactose, raffinose, antibiotics and 6.5% glycerol) containing 0 (control), 2.5, 5, 7.5 or 10 mM GSH. The samples were cooled to 4 C and then frozen in liquid nitrogen vapor. Motility parameters of the sperm were evaluated at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 12 and 24 h after thawing. Sperm motility was higher in the 5 mM GSH group than in the control or 2.5 and 10 mM GSH groups; this effect was observed at 1 to 24 h after thawing (P < 0.05). The 5 mM GSH group had a higher sperm viability index at 12 and 24 h after thawing compared with the other groups (P < 0.05). Acrosome integrity, evaluated at 4 h after thawing, was greater in two of the GSH-treated groups (5 and 10 mM) compared with the control. Lipid peroxidation (LP) levels immediately after thawing were lower in the 5 and 10 mM GSH groups compared with the control, while those at 12 h after thawing did not differ significantly. Frozen-thawed semen in the 5 mM GSH group was used for transcervical insemination of 4 bitches, resulting in delivery of 5 puppies from 2 bitches. These results indicate that supplementation of semen extender with 5 mM GSH was effective in improving motility, longevity and acrosomal integrity and inhibiting LP levels in post-thaw canine spermatozoa, without any adverse impacts on full-term development after transcervical insemination.     

Pathogenicity of border disease virus FNK2012-1 strain isolated from a pig in the natural host,sheep

A first isolation of border disease virus (BDV) in Japan was from a pig on a farm without keeping any ruminants. Our previous study showed that this BDV, termed the FNK2012-1 strain, replicated inefficiently in swine-derived cells compared with those of ruminant origin. Pigs inoculated with this virus showed neither clinical symptoms nor viremia. In this study, we evaluated the pathogenicity of the FNK2012-1 strain in sheep, its natural host. The inoculated sheep showed clinical symptoms and transient viremia. Seroconversion was observed in the inoculated sheep. These results suggest that the FNK2012-1 strain was introduced from sheep and has not yet adapted to swine. Therefore, surveillance of border disease in Japan is necessary among both the swine and ruminant populations.     

Abnormal clonalities of B-lymphocytes in bovine leukemia virus-infected cattle with persistent lymphocytosis

Peripheral B-lymphocyte clonality of 274 bovine leukemia virus-infected cattle with lymphocytosis was analyzed using clonality PCR based on sequences of the variable region of the bovine immunoglobulin H chain. None of the cattle showed monoclonal proliferation, while 10, 31, and 233 showed minor-clonal, oligoclonal, and polyclonal proliferation, respectively. A total of 163 cattle were analyzable the following year, and lymphocytosis was maintained in 157, indicating persistent lymphocytosis (PL). B-lymphocyte clonality of the 157 PL cattle was minor-clonal in 6 (3.8%), oligoclonal in 8 (5.1%), and polyclonal in 143 (91.1%). A higher rate of enzootic bovine leukosis (EBL) onset within a year was observed in PL cattle with minor-clonal (50.0% (3/6)) and oligoclonal (25.0% (2/8)) proliferation compared to those with polyclonal (5.6% (8/143)) proliferation. Minor-clonal and oligoclonal proliferation in PL cattle may be a prognosis factor for developing EBL.     

Analgesic and cardiopulmonary effects of premedication with tramadol in calves anesthetized with the infusion of guaifenesin and thiamylal

This study examined the analgesic and cardiopulmonary effects of intravenous (IV) tramadol during general intravenous anesthesia in calves. Calves were premedicated with diazepam (0.2 mg/kg, IV) with tramadol (2 mg/kg, IV) (group T) or saline (group S). Anesthesia was induced by thiamylal sodium (4 mg/kg, IV) and maintained with an infusion (2 ml/kg/hr) of 5% guaifenesin containing thiamylal sodium (2 mg/ml). Additional thiamylal sodium (1–2 mg/kg, IV) was administered when interference from the calves was observed during surgery. The total counts of additional thiamylal sodium administration, analgesia score using a visual analog scale, recovery time, and cardiopulmonary function in the different groups were assessed and compared. Group T showed significantly fewer counts of additional drug administration and a significantly higher analgesia score. Tramadol may provide adequate analgesia with minimal cardiopulmonary changes in calves during general anesthesia.     

Characterization of mucin gene expression and goblet cell proportion in inflammatory colorectal polyps in miniature dachshunds

Hyperplastic goblet cells and abundant mucus are significant characteristics of inflammatory colorectal polyps (ICRPs) in miniature dachshunds. In this study, selected mucin gene expressions and goblet cell proportions were evaluated in miniature dachshunds with ICRPs and in healthy dogs. Mucin 2 (MUC2) gene expression was not significantly different among the groups, whereas mucin 5AC (MUC5AC) gene expression was significantly higher in the polypoid lesions than in healthy colonic mucosa. Although the percentage of goblet cells in the upper crypt regions did not significantly differ between the groups, that in the lower crypt regions was significantly decreased in polypoid lesions. In conclusion, increased MUC5AC gene expression and goblet cell proportion changes may be associated with the pathogenesis of ICRPs.     

灌浆结实期弱光对水稻籽粒淀粉积累及相关酶活性的影响

 选用IR72（籼稻）和日本晴（粳稻）为材料，在开花后进行遮光处理，对弱光条件下籽粒淀粉和直链淀粉含量的动态变化及相关酶的活性进行了研究。在弱光条件下，两品种籽粒的淀粉含量减少，直链淀粉含量下降，蔗糖含量降低，ADPG焦磷酸化酶活性的变化较小，可溶性淀粉合成酶和颗粒结合型淀粉合成酶活性减弱，可溶性淀粉分支酶Q酶和颗粒结合型淀粉分支酶活性增强，淀粉去分支酶活性因品种而异，IR72表现为减弱，日本晴则为增强。相关分析表明，遮光下蔗糖输入量的减少量和淀粉合成量的下降量呈显著正相关；ADPG焦磷酸化酶和淀粉分支酶活性与淀粉积累速率呈显著正相关。分析指出，遮光下淀粉合成酶活性的降低与淀粉合成量的下降有关，淀粉分支酶活性的升高是直链淀粉占淀粉总量的比率减少的重要原因。