Identification of novel QTL for leaf traits in soybean

Several leaf traits of soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.), including leaf area (LA), leaf shape (LS) and specific leaf weight (SLW) may be related to soybean yield. The objective of this study was to identify novel quantitative trait loci (QTL) for LA, LS and SLW in a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population. The phenotype data were collected in 2011 and 2012 for 93 F_7:10 RILs using a randomized complete block design with 2 replicates each year. Five hundred and sixteen single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers and the phenotype data were used to detect QTL using single marker analysis (SMA) and composite interval mapping (CIM). Single markers analysis identified 26 QTL for the three traits, of which 17 were novel and the rests were previously reported QTL. Most of these QTL were also identified by CIM. Most QTL reported in this study were in close proximity (<1 cM) of one or more SNP markers. These publicly available SNP markers with close linkage to LA, LS and SLW should be useful for marker‐assisted breeding for these traits.     

Effect of expiratory phase for radiographic detection of left heart enlargement in dogs with mitral regurgitation

Radiography is a standard diagnostic test for characterizing left heart enlargement in dogs however limited information is available on the effects of respiratory phases. This prospective and retrospective method comparison study investigated the respiratory effect on the size and shape of the left heart in dogs to determine the usefulness of expiratory radiographs to detect enlargements in the left atrium (LA) and left ventricle (LV). Thoracic radiographs taken at full inspiration and expiration were evaluated in 20 normal beagles and 100 dogs diagnosed with mitral regurgitation (MR). Vertebral heart score (VHS), vertebral left atrial size, elevation of the carina, and dorsal bulging of LA on lateral view and lateral bulging of the left auricular appendage and LV on ventrodorsal view were assessed. In normal dogs, there were no significant differences in the evaluative factors between inspiration and expiration. In dogs with MR, VHS did not change according to respiration. However, bulging of the LA, left auricular appendage, and LV had sharp margin during expiration compared with inspiration. The expiratory radiographic finding of LA bulging had a higher correlation with the LA to aorta ratio compared with LA bulging in the inspiratory radiography. Using a LA to aorta echocardiographic ratio greater than 1.5 as the gold standard, the radiographic sensitivity for LA enlargement was higher during expiration than inspiration. These findings of our study indicated that expiratory radiography can be helpful to support the detection of left heart enlargement, although it can overestimate LA enlargement in dogs with MR.     

In vivo cell tracking of canine allogenic mesenchymal stem cells administration via renal arterial catheterization and physiopathological effects on the kidney in two healthy dogs

Stem cell therapy is being special premise for various renal diseases. However, there is limited literature on localization and pathologic and functional effects of allogenic mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in healthy dogs. Two healthy dogs were included in this study. Canine MSCs (cMSCs) were cultured from canine bone marrow and incubated with superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) for in vivo cell tracking via MR imaging. The dogs were given the MSC (3 × 10(6) cells) into a renal artery via femoral artery catheterization. Follow-up serial renal assessments included ultrasonography and MRI, serum chemistry, urine analysis, and renal clearance tests. The dogs were euthanized at days 8 and 35 respectively for histopathologic evaluation of kidney. Strong hypointensity in MRI was detected in the treated renal cortex the day after cMSCs infusion. However they disappeared from MR image by the 8th day. Of the serum chemistry tests, serum hepatic enzymes (ALT, AST) were significantly elevated for one week after cMSCs treatment. Histopathological findings also revealed infiltration of SPIO-containing cells into the parenchyma of kidney. On 35th day, histopathology, glomerular atrophy, tubular necrosis, and mineralization were found in the subcapsular cortex, with fibrosis of the interstitial tissues. In vivo MRI studies of stem cells were useful in determining the sequential location of stem cells in the renal parenchyma of healthy dogs. Allogenic stem cells administered via renal artery caused inflammation, tubular necrosis, mineralization, and fibrosis without functional complications.     

Differential modulation of cytokine, chemokine and Toll like receptor expression in chickens infected with classical and variant infectious bursal disease virus

ABSTRACT: Infectious bursal disease (IBD) is an important immunosuppressive disease of chickens. The causative agent, infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV), consists of two serotypes, 1 and 2. Serotype 1 consists of classic IBDV (cIBDV) and variant IBDV (vIBDV). Both of these strains vary in antigenicity and pathogenesis. The goal of this study was to compare the immunopathogenesis of cIBDV and vIBDV. Three-week-old specific pathogen free chickens were inoculated intraocularly with standard challenge strain (STC) (cIBDV) and a variant strain Indiana (IN) (vIBDV). The cIBDV produced more pronounced bursal damage, inflammatory response and infiltration of T cells as compared to vIBDV. There were significant differences in the expression of innate (IFN-α and IFN-β), proinflammatory cytokine and mediator (IL-6 and iNOS) in cIBDV- and vIBDV-infected bursas. The expression of chemokines genes, IL-8 and MIP-α was also higher in cIBDV-infected chickens during the early phase of infection. The expression of Toll like receptor 3 (TLR3) was downregulated at post inoculation days (PIDs) 3, 5, and 7 in the bursas of vIBDV-infected chickens whereas TLR3 was upregulated at PIDs 3 and 5 in cIBDV-infected bursas. In vIBDV-infected bursa, TLR7 expression was downregulated at PIDs 3 and 5 and upregulated at PID 7. However, TLR7 was upregulated at PIDs 3 and 7 in cIBDV-infected bursas. The expression of MyD88 was downregulated whereas TRIF gene expression was upregulated in cIBDV- and vIBDV-infected bursa. These findings demonstrate the critical differences in bursal lesions, infiltration of T cells, expression of cytokines, chemokines and TLRs in the bursa of cIBDV-and vIBDV-infected chickens.     

Isolation and characterization of a novel H9N2 influenza virus in Korean native chicken farm

An outbreak of avian influenza, caused by an H9N2 low-pathogenic avian influenza virus (AIV), occurred in a chicken farm and caused severe economic losses due to mortality and diarrhea. AIV was isolated and identified in a sample from an affected native Korean chicken. Genetic analysis of the isolate revealed a high sequence similarity to genes of novel reassortant H9N2 viruses isolated from slaughterhouses and live bird markets in Korea in 2008 and 2009. Animal challenge studies demonstrated that the replication kinetics and pathogenicity of the isolate were considerably altered due to adaptation in chickens. Vaccine protection studies indicated that commercial vaccine was not able to prevent virus shedding and clinical disease when chickens were challenged with the isolate. These results suggest that the novel H9N2 virus possesses the capacity to replicate efficiently in the respiratory system against vaccination and to cause severe disease in domestic chickens. The results also highlight the importance of appropriate updating of vaccine strains, based on continuous surveillance data, to prevent the possibility of a new H9N2 epidemic in Korea.     

Multicystic dysplastic kidney disease in a dog

A 1-year-old female mongrel dog was evaluated for anorexia and vomiting of 4 days duration. Abdominal ultrasonographic findings revealed small kidneys with multiple anechoic cysts. The dog was euthanized due to poor prognosis. A full necropsy was performed, and the histopathologic findings were consistent with multicystic dysplastic kidney disease.