Distribution of mecA-harboring staphylococci in healthy mares

The prevalence of staphylococci that harbor the mecA gene responsible for methicillin resistance was examined in healthy breeding mares. Staphylococci often cause diseases of horses such as metritis, keratitis, and abscess. Methicillin-resistant staphylococci would make antibiotic treatments ineffective, so it may be significant to know the distribution of mecA-harboring staphylococci in mares. Isolation of mecA-harboring staphylococci was achieved from nares and pasterns of 100 mares in Hokkaido, Japan. From 13% of the mares, mecA-harboring staphylococci, including 15 isolates of Staphylococcus sciuri and 3 of Staphylococcus lentus, were isolated. Isolates of S. sciuri were found to be genetically polyclonal by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. These isolates produced no PCase and showed low or no resistance to beta-lactam and other classes of antibiotics. Distribution of staphylococcal species and levels of antibiotic resistance were found to be different between isolates from the present mares and those previously reported from riding-horses. Antibiotic pressure may lead to these differences. In addition, it appears that mecA-harboring S. sciuri may be native to horses.     

Effect of addition of Orvus ES paste to frozen canine semen extender on sperm acrosomes

Using the triple-stain technique, we investigated whether sperm acrosomes in frozen canine semen were protected during freezing and thawing by addition of a surfactant, Orvus ES Paste (OEP), to the extender. Acrosomes were clearly shown to be protected by the addition of OEP to the entender when compared with those in sperm frozen without OEP addition (p<0.05).     

Isolation of Staphylococcus species from the tonsils of healthy cattle and phage patterns of isolates

Staphylococci were found in the tonsils of 121 (75.2%) of 161 cattle. There were 15 different species, 10 belonging to novobiocin-sensitive species. The most predominant species was S. simulans (79.3% of the 121 carriers), followed by S. aureus (20.7%), S. chromogenes (10.7%) and S. epidermidis (8.3%). The other 11 species were present in 0.8 to 5.8%. Twenty-six unidentifiable isolates were isolated from 26 (21.5%) carriers. Sixty-two (51.2%) of the 121 carriers yielded two to five Staphylococcus species together while only one species could be found in each of the other 59 (48.8%). Combinations of S. simulans and other species were most frequently encountered in 50 (41.3%) of the 121 carriers. Twenty-four (96.0%) out of 25 S. aureus isolates, 3 (42.9%) of 7 S. hyicus isolates and 45 (25.4%) of 177 coagulase-negative staphylococci (13 species and unidentifiable isolates) isolates were phage typable. Most of S. aureus isolates were lysed by bovine phages 119 (n = 16) or 116 (n = 5). Thirty-three (25.4%) of 45 coagulase-negative staphylococci typable isolates with Pulverer's phage set showed the phage pattern ph5/ph9/ph10/ph12/ph13/U4/U14/U16/++ +U20/U46. The tonsils of cattle thus appear to be a suitable environment for Staphylococcus species, particularly novobiocin-sensitive species.     

A method for isolation of milled-wood lignin involving solvent swelling prior to enzyme treatment

Summary A new lignin isolation method has been developed. Wood and pulp were subjected to ball milling, swelled in an organic solvent, and then treated with a cellulase. The enzyme digestion time could be shortened to 1 day with this method. The lignin obtained has been named Swelled Enzyme Lignin (SEL). Swelling and enzyme digestion conditions and their effects on lignins were investigated. The SEL's from wood could be directly washed with water, while those from pulp had to be washed with aqueous acetic acid because they were water soluble. The purification of crude SEL's was accomplished by extracting them with dioxane-water, and then precipitating and washing with ethyl ether. Lignin yields were 24–67% based on the total amount of lignin present. The characteristics of the SEL's were further investigated by gel-permeation chromatography (GPC), infrared and ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy.Symbols SUKP Softwood Unbleached Kraft Pulp - BUKP Birch Unbleached Kraft Pulp - TD Todomatsu (Abies sachalinensis) wood - MWL Milled Wood Lignin - MWLS (BK, TD) Milled Wood Lignin of SUKP (BUKP, TD) - SEL-C Swelled Enzyme Lignin (crude) - SELS-C SEL-C of SUKP, other materials named in the same way - SELS-90 SEL-C of SUKP and extracted with 90% dioxane-water - SELS-96 SEL-C of SUKP and extracted with 96% dioxane-water, other materials named in the same way     

Growing situation of afforested trees and damage to lower-story trees caused by felling in multi-storied forest management in Peninsular Malaysia

The growing condition of afforestation trees and damage to lower-story trees caused by felling and hauling of upper-story trees in a multi-storied forest in Peninsular Malaysia was surveyed. Seventy months have passed since the planting ofAcacia mangium upperstory trees, which have grown 233 m³/ha in volume. The growth ofShorea leprosula thirty-five months after planting of lower-story trees have reached 5.54 m in height. However, as the ratio of height to basal diameter exceeds 100:1, trees are tapering to a considerable degree. A backhoe was installed in order to fell the upper-story trees. From the results of logging, the damage ratio estimation of the lower-story trees was simulated by using the Monte Carlo method. The damage ratio differed considerably depending on planting patterns, height of upper-story trees and felling skills. The results of this survey proved that the felling and hauling of upper-story trees would be technically feasible in the future, except when one row upper-story trees and one row lower-story trees method were employed.     

The effect of strain, growth stage, and cultivating condition of Ganoderma lucidum on 5α-reductase inhibition

The inhibitory effects of 102 methanol extracts of 40 mycelia, 9 culture fluids, and 53 fruiting bodies of 40 strains of Ganoderma lucidum on 5-reductase were investigated. The methanol extract of the fruiting body of each strain was found to show the strongest 5-reductase inhibitory activity among the extracts tested.     

Productivity of kayu putih (Melaleuca leucadendron LINN) tree plantation managed in non-timber forest production systems in Java,Indonesia

Kayu putih oil, extracted from the kayu putih tree (Melaleuca leucadendron), is an important non-timber forest product (NTFP) in Indonesia. We compared productivity of kayu putih tree plantations among three different sites in East, Central, and West Java, Indonesia. Leaf-twig, and branch production per tree differed significantly among the three sites. Tree biomass production was highest at the site in West Java practicing tumpangsari (a form of shifting cultivation) of kayu putih with rice (Oryza sativa) on alluvial soils. Tree biomass production was lowest at the site in East Java, practicing tumpangsari of kayu putih with maize (Zea mays) and cassava (Mani- hot esculenta). At this site, tree biomass production increased with increasing stand age and low production was compensated by greater biomass yield of companion crops. Intermediate tree biomass production was observed at the site in Central Java where intercropping is only practiced for the first two years after plantation establishment. Production of tree biomass and kayu putih oil did not increase with increasing stand density, indicating that at a given site, high tree stocking did not lead to high production. Stand-level productivity of the plantations increased with increasing stand age and maximum productivity was attained at 15 to 35 years, after which productivity declined. This suggested unsustainable stand productivity as plantations increase in age.