Annual dynamics of marine birnavirus (MABV) in cultured Japanese flounder <Emphasis Type="Italic">Paralichthys olivaceus</Emphasis> and sea water

ABSTRACT:   Seasonal changes in the infection state of marine birnavirus (MABV) in Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus and in rearing sea water are described. Sea water and 10–11 healthy fish were sampled monthly from April 2002 to February 2003. The MABV genome was detected throughout the year in > 80% of the fish examined at each sampling. The virus was isolated from the liver, kidney, and spleen, but not from the brain. The detection rate in each organ increased from April to October, and then decreased. Detection of virus antigen by the indirect fluorescent antibody technique also showed that the virus was present from spring to autumn (June–September) in the liver, kidney, and spleen, but not the brain. Sequence analysis of the MABV genome at the VP2–NS region revealed two specific mutations compared to the standard yellowtail strain (Y-6). It is suggested that the infection state of MABV in Japanese flounder changes to a latent or persistent infection after autumn. MABV was detected in sea water between September and February, suggesting that virus particles in the environment are relatively higher during cool seasons.     

Accumulation of organotin compounds and marine birnavirus detection in Korean ascidians

ABSTRACT:   Recently, a serious disease spread extensively in aquaculture sites of the ascidian Halocynthia roretzi in Korea. To understand circumstances of ascidians in Korean aquaculture sites, residue levels of organotin compounds were analyzed, and detection of a marine birnavirus (MABV) in tissues of H. roretzi was attempted. Korean H. roretzi showed high concentrations of butyltins (mono, di, and tributyltins), especially in the gill, hepatopancreas, and digestive tract. However, there was no significant difference in the residues of butyltins in the hepatopancreas between diseased and non-diseased ascidians. The positive rate of MABV detection was high in the hepatopancreas, but also no significant difference was observed between diseased and non-diseased individuals. These observations suggest that an accumulation of tributyltin and a latency of MABV in H. roretzi tissues does not directly relate to the occurrence of the disease.     

Moisture distribution in rice grains used for sake brewing analyzed by magnetic resonance imaging

Water absorption in individual white-core and non-white-core grains of rice varieties used in sake brewing was observed during soaking by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Water was absorbed faster in white-core grains than in non-white-core grains and was pooled in the core. Moisture distributions were compared using the line profiles of nuclear magnetic resonance signal intensities (SI profiles) generated from magnetic resonance images of grains soaked for 2 h. SI profiles of white-core and non-white-core grains overlapped despite slight differences in the central and intermediate regions of the grains. A white-core-like structure with loosely packed starch granules was found to exist in the endosperm of non-white-core grains. SI profiles of grains polished to 70% of the yield weight of brown rice were similar in shape to those of grains polished to 90% of the yield, but their overall moisture content was higher after the removal of the hydrophobic grain periphery. A varietal difference in the thickness of the intermediate region, which may affect fissuring resistance in the polishing process, was detected in SI profiles. Differences in water absorbability between parents and their offspring were also apparent from their SI profiles. MRI enabled the detection of variety-specific water-absorption properties in grains.     

Effects of steroid hormones on immunoglobulin M (IgM) in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss

The immunosuppressive effects of steroid hormones were evaluated as the response against implanted steroid hormones, cortisol (F), testosterone (T), estradiol-17 (E2), and 11- ketotestosterone (11-KT), in juvenile rainbow trout. In long term experiments (5 weeks), fish were given a single intraperitoneal implant of F or T. A clear suppressive effect of plasma IgM levels with F and T was not necessarily obtained, although mucus IgM levels were reduced corresponding to the elevated plasma steroid hormone levels. In short term experiments (1 week), intraperitoneal implantation of T, 11-KT and E2 suppressed plasma and mucus IgM levels, although the effects were not dose-dependent. When administered through diet, F and T caused a suppression of plasma IgM levels; F administration at both high and low dosages caused a significant decrease in plasma IgM levels, while only a high dose of T caused the suppression. These results suggest that sex steroid hormones, as well as F, have immunosuppressive functions in rainbow trout.     

Changes of lymphocyte subpopulations and natural killer cells in mice sensitized with Toxoplasma lysate antigen before and after Babesia infection

When 8-week-old BALB/c mice were sensitized with two intramuscular injections of Toxoplasma lysate antigen (TLA) at 2 week interval, the numbers of sIg(+), Thy-1,2(+), Lyt-1,2(+) Lyt-2,2(+), and Asialo GM1(ASGM1)(+) cells in the spleen, liver and peripheral blood increased by 2 to 4 times over those found in unsensitized mice of the same age. When TLA-sensitized and unsensitized mice were infected with Babesia, 4 of 10 (40%) of the TLA-sensitized mice survived infection, while none of the unsensitized control mice lived longer than 14 days after Babesia infection. By contrast, sensitization of nude mice with TLA had no effect on survival, and mice did not live more than 12 days. The number of thymic Thy-1,2(+) cells decreased in TLA-sensitized and unsensitized BALB/c mice by almost 80% within 10 days after infection (AI). During the same time, the numbers of B cells, T cells, and NK cells increased in the spleen, liver and peripheral blood of both sensitized and unsensitized mice. Especially notable were increases in numbers of Lyt-2,2(+) cells in the spleen and blood and increases in numbers of NK cells in the spleen, liver and blood in both TLA-sensitized and unsensitized mice. When spleen cells from TLA-sensitized and unsensitized mice were cultured in the presence or absence of TLA for 6 days, assays for cytotoxicity using NK-insensitive P-815 target cells and NK-sensitive YAC-1 target cells demonstrated higher rates of cytotoxicity in cultures of TLA-sensitized spleen cells.     

Narthecium asiaticum Maxim. Poisoning of grazing cattle: observations on spontaneous and experimental cases

A total of 39 Holstein cattle were grazed in tracts of wild grassland on account of shortage in pasture grass. Twenty-nine cattle were affected and 26 of them died during a 21-day period. The main signs were depression, anorexia, ascites, and oliguria. There was elevated serum urea nitrogen and sugar and protein in the urine. Pathological examination revealed turbid swelling of the kidney, an increase in the amount of fluid in the body cavity, edema in the perirenal adipose tissue and hemorrhage in various visceral organs and tissues. Histologically, acute tubular necrosis in the kidney, hypoplasia of the erythroblast series in the bone marrow, atrophy and degeneration of the lymphatic tissue and focal necrosis of the liver were observed in many of the cattle. Among cows experimentally fed Narthecium asiaticum Maxim., Polygonum sachalinense Fr. Schum., and Vitis coignetiae Pulliat which were presumed to have been ingested in large amounts by grazing cattle in the field, the cows fed N. asiaticum revealed the clinical, biochemical and pathological changes similar to those noticed in naturally affected cattle. Cows fed P. sachalinense and V. coignetiae showed no distinct systemic symptoms except transient anorexia and hypothermia.     

Correlation between the Cell Number and Diameter in Bovine Embryos Produced In Vitro

This study was designed to examine the effects of age and developmental stage of in vitro‐produced bovine embryos on the cell number of the embryos and to investigate the correlation between the cell number and diameter in the embryos. The diameter and cell number in blastocysts and expanded blastocysts collected on days 7–9 after in vitro fertilization (IVF) were examined. Although the diameters of the blastocysts collected on days 7 and 8 after IVF were smaller than those of the expanded blastocysts collected on day 9, the cell number in both types of embryos was similar. The cell numbers of the blastocysts and expanded blastocysts decreased with increasing embryo age. There were positive correlations between the cell number and diameter in bovine embryos at each stage collected on each day after IVF. However, the value of the correlation coefficient in the day‐9 expanded blastocyst group tended to be higher than that in the other groups. These results indicate that the cell number of in vitro‐produced embryos is affected by the embryonic stage and age. The diameter of the embryo may be potentially used for the viability testing of the expanded blastocysts collected on day 9 after IVF.