Surgical intrauterine insemination with cat semen cryopreserved with Orvus ES paste or sodium lauryl sulfate

The mean post-thaw sperm motilities of feline frozen semen prepared with 1% OEP or 3 g/ml SLS as a cryoprotective agent, in addition to 7% glycerin, were 35.0 ± 2.4 and 37.0 ± 2.5%, respectively, showing no significant difference. On unilateral intrauterine insemination (UIUI) using these semen samples at a sperm number of 40 × 10(6), the conception rate was 70.0% (7/10) in the OEP group and 30% (3/10) in the SLS group, showing that the rate was higher in the OEP group, but the difference was not significant. It was suggested that sperm in frozen semen showing the above qualities were transferred to the contralateral uterine horn on UIUI.     

Characterisation of the carboxylesterase enzyme cauxin in the seminal fluid of the cat

The carboxylesterase cauxin is a major urinary protein in cats that is also found in seminal fluid (SF). This study investigated cauxin in feline SF including biochemical features, concentration, distribution and gene expression in epididymal tissue, and its reaction with acylglycerol substrates.Monomeric, dimeric, and/or multimeric forms of cauxin carrying N-glycosylations were detected on Western blots of feline SF but most were monomeric. Cauxin concentrations were markedly lower in SF (0.042 ± 0.020 mg/mL) than in urine (∼0.5 mg/mL) and cauxin gene expression was 60-fold lower in the epididymis than in the kidney. Immunohistochemical examination localised cauxin within the stereocilia and cytoplasm of epithelial cells lining the caput and corpus epididymis. Cauxin-positive spermatozoa were detected in the lumen of the cauda epididymis but not in the cytoplasm of the epithelial cell lining. Using an in vitro assay, cauxin hydrolysed saturated 1-mono- but not di- and tri-acylglycerols. The results suggest that cauxin secreted from the caput and corpus epididymis acts as an esterase on lipid within feline SF.     

PREGNANCY DIAGNOSIS WITH ULTRASOUND IN THE DOMESTIC CAT

Ultrasonographic examinations of seven pregnant cats with known breeding dates were made on successive days to establish the identifiable characteristics of pregnancy. Subsequent serial examinations were made to sonographically characterize normal feline prenatal development before 30 gestational days. An enlarged uterus, gestational sacs, and fetal poles were recognized as the features of early feline pregnancy and were first seen at 4, 11, and 15 days, respectively. Cardiac activity was detected earliest on gestational day 16, and recognizable feline fetal morphology appeared at day 26. Fetal membranes became apparent at as early as 21 days of gestation. Generalized fetal movements were first noted at day 28. Live and dead fetuses were compared in utero and marked differences were noted, with dead fetuses rapidly losing previously recognizable morphology. Determination of litter size in each cat could not be done accurately by ultrasound examination. It was concluded that the diagnosis and accurate dating of early pregnancy in the domestic feline may be accomplished with serial ultrasound evaluation.     

Superoxide dismutase and catalase activities in the seminal plasma of normozoospermic and asthenozoospermic Beagles

We measured the blood plasma testosterone (T) levels and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activities in the seminal plasma of the ejaculates of 5 normal (2-5 years old) and 5 asthenozoospermic (AZ-) (3-5 years old) Beagles. Sperm ejaculated by AZ-dogs was incubated for 3 hr in Eagle's MEM only (controls) or Eagle's MEM containing 100 units/ml of SOD or catalase. Sperm motility was examined during incubation. The mean (+/- SE) plasma T level of the AZ-dogs (1.2 +/- 0.2 ng/ml) was significantly lower than in the normal dogs (2.5 +/- 0.2 ng/ml) (P<0.005). The mean (+/- SE) seminal plasma SOD and catalase activities (18.8 +/- 1.9 and 0.5 +/- 0.1 unit/g protein, respectively) were significantly lower in the AZ-dogs than in the normal dog (43.3 +/- 2.5 and 2.2 +/- 0.4 unit/g protein, respectively) (P<0.001 and 0.01, respectively). The motility of sperm incubated in Eagle's MEM containing SOD or catalase was significantly higher than that of control sperm incubated in only Eagle's MEM after 2 or 3 hr of incubation (P<0.05). The results of this study indicate that poor T secretion by the testes and low antioxidant enzyme activities are related to AZ in the dog.     

Changes in the plasma testosterone level and testicular superoxide dismutase activity of 5 azoospermic beagles after GnRH analogue injections

The peripheral blood plasma testosterone (T) levels and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were measured in 5 azoospermic (AZ-) beagles. The mean values in the AZ-dogs were significantly lower than in 7 control beagles (P<0.001). Subcutaneous injections of 1 mug/kg GnRH analogue three times weekly in the AZ-dogs induced significant increases in mean T level and SOD activity (P<0.05) and improvement in spermatogenesis. Thus, spermatogenic function in the dog appears to be maintained by T and normal SOD activity in the testis.     

Severe hypoplasia of the omasal laminae in a Japanese Black steer with chronic bloat--a case report

An 11-month-old Japanese Black steer with chronic bloat underwent clinical and histological analyses. During the observation period, it showed normal appetite and fecal volume but persistent chronic bloat symptoms. Compared to controls, the steer's feces contained undigested large straws. Necropsy revealed normal rumen, reticulum, and abomasum but a small omasum. The rumen, reticulum, and abomasum mucosa was normal, with well-developed ruminal papillae. However, severe hypoplasia of the omasal laminae was observed along with hypoplasia reticular groove and ruminoreticular fold. The contents of the reticulum, omasum, and abomasums comprised undigested large sized hay particles. The omasum papillae showed no pathological abnormalities. This is a rare case of a steer with chronic bloat probably caused by severe hypoplasia of the omasal laminae.     

Peripartum changes in plasma estrone sulfate and estradiol-17beta profiles associated with and without the retention of fetal membranes in holstein-friesian cattle

The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in plasma concentrations of estrone sulfate (E(1)S) and estradiol-17beta (E(2)beta) during the peripartum period (from day 10 prepartum to day 1 postpartum) associated with and without retention of fetal membranes (RFM) in Holstein-Friesian cattle (n=42). Plasma samples were analyzed for E(1)S and E(2)beta by ELISA. All parturitions were spontaneous and normal. Of 38 cattle delivering singletons, 29 had no RFM (singleton-normal group) and nine had RFM for more than 12 h (singleton-RFM group). Four cows gave birth to twins, and each twin had its own fetal membrane (FM). Two twinning cows expelled both FMs normally within 12 h (twin-normal group). In the remaining 2 twinning cows (twin-RFM group), the FM was expelled normally for one twin (first), while the FM of the other (second) was retained. There were no significant differences in the E(1)S concentrations or their increments from the concentrations on the preceding day between the normal and RFM groups of singleton cows on any peripartum day. The mean plasma E(2)beta concentrations on each day from day 10 to day 3 prepartum were significantly lower (P<0.05) in the singleton-RFM group compared with the singleton-normal group; however, on days 2 and 1 prepartum, the increments in the E(2)beta concentrations from the concentrations on the preceding days were significantly higher (P<0.05) in the singleton-RFM group than in the singleton-normal group. Thus, the plasma E(1)S concentrations just before parturition may not be associated with RFM. In the cows with RFM, the lower plasma E(2)beta concentrations that were found prior to day 2 prepartum may have been associated with immature placentomes, and the rapid rise in plasma E(2) beta within 1 to 2 days prior to calving may have produced asynchrony of placental and/or fetal maturation in relation to calving, thus resulting in RFM.     

Evaluation of the transmission risk of foot-and-mouth disease in Japan

The transmission risk of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in Japan was evaluated using a mathematical FMD transmission model. The distance-based transmission rate between farms, which was parameterized using the FMD epidemic data in 2010 in Japan, was used to calculate the local-level reproduction numbers—expected numbers of secondary infections caused by one infected farm—for all cattle and pig farms in the country, which were then visualized as a risk map. The risk map demonstrated the spatial heterogeneity of transmission risk in the country and identified risk areas with higher possibility of disease spread. This result suggests that, particularly in high-risk areas, it is important to prepare for the smooth and efficient implementation of control measures against FMD outbreaks.     

Cesium radioactivity in peripheral blood is linearly correlated to that in skeletal muscle: Analyses of cattle within the evacuation zone of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant

The accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FNPP) released a large amount of radioactive substances into the environment. Furthermore, beef contaminated with radioactive cesium above the 500 Bq/kg safety standard was circulated in the food chain in 2011. Japanese consumers remain concerned about the safety of radioactively contaminated food. In our previous study, we detected a linear correlation between radioactive cesium (¹³⁷Cs) activity in blood and muscle around 500 to 2500 Bq/kg in cattle. However, it was unclear whether the correlation was maintained at a lower radioactivity close to the current safety standard of 100 Bq/kg. In this study, we evaluated 17 cattle in the FNPP evacuation zone that had a ¹³⁷Cs blood level less than 10 Bq/kg. The results showed a linear correlation between blood ¹³⁷Cs and muscle ¹³⁷Cs (Y = 28.0X, R² = 0.590) at low radioactivity concentration, indicating that cesium radioactivity in the muscle can be estimated from blood radioactivity. This technique would be useful in detecting high‐risk cattle before they enter the market, and will contribute to food safety.