Characterization of Staphylococcus intermedius from pigeons, dogs, foxes, mink, and horses by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis

Staphylococcus intermedius from pigeons, dogs, foxes, mink, and horses, was characterized by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) to evaluate the use of this typing method for discriminating among strains. SmaI cut the chromosomal DNA into 7-13 fragments ranging from approximately 48 kb to 655 kb, with most of the detectable fragments being smaller than 172 kb. S. intermedius from various animals had a high degree of restriction fragment length polymorphism. Pigeon strains have a similar genotype, despite the difference in their isolation area. Phage typing indicated that the dog, fox, and mink strains belong to the canine I or canine II type. The PFGE method further differentiated the mink strains from the dog and fox strains with regard to three fragments between 256 kb and 570 kb. As such, genomic DNA fingerprinting by PFGE appears to be an effective technique for discriminating S. intermedius strains from various animals. A combination of PFGE typing and phage typing would provide more detailed information than the single method for ecological investigations of S. intermedius.     

Omental herniation through the esophageal hiatus in a cat

A four-year-old male cat was presented with regurgitation. Thoracic radiography and contrast radiogram showed a large oval mass and elevated esophagus. Exploratory thoracotomy showed omental herniation into the posterior mediastium through the esophageal hiatus. Because the mass of the omental herniation was so large, celiotomy through a paracostal incision was combined in order to return the omentum to its normal position. The diameter of the esophageal hiatus was approximately 1 cm but no fibrous adhesion was observed around the hiatus. Continuous 1-0 surgical sutures on the hiatus reduced the diameter of the hiatus. The cat made a successful postoperative recovery without complications.     

Application of restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis to simple and rapid genotyping of bovine viral diarrhea virus strains isolated in Japan

The E2 regions of 177 bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) strains isolated in Japan between 1957 and 2006 were analyzed for genotyping. The strains were classified into 8 genotypes (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e, 1f, So and 2a) based on the phylogenetic analysis. The restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of the RT-PCR products using 6 selected enzymes (Apo I, Mly I, BstAP I, Pvu II, Ear I, EcoR V) disclosed the cutting patterns classified into 11 groups (I-XI), each of that consisted of strains belonging to a single genotype. Namely, groups-I and -II were composed by genotype-1a strains, groups-III and -IV by 1b strains, and groups-V and -VI by 1c strains. Other groups-VII, -VIII, -IX, -X and -XI comprised genotypes-1d, -1e, -1f, -So and -2a strains, respectively. The results suggest that the RFLP analysis can simply and rapidly differentiate the 8 genotypes of BVDV strains.     

Changes in levels of GnRH in the brain and pituitary and GTH in the pituitary in male masu salmon,Oncorhynchus masou,from hatching to maturation

Levels of two types of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (salmon GnRH and chicken GnRH-II) in the brain and pituitary, and content of gonadotropin (GTHIβ and IIβ) in the pituitary were measured in male masu salmon from hatching to gonadal maturation for three years in order to clarify the involvement of GnRHs in precocious maturation. Underyearling precocious males were distinguishable in summer of year 1 and were marked by an increased GSI. Spermiation was observed among these individuals thereafter every autumn. Pituitary GTHIβ content in both precocious and immature males, and GTHIIβ content in precocious males showed seasonal fluctuations — high in autumn and low in winter. Pituitary GTHIIβ content was low in immature males. Pituitary sGnRH content in precocious males increased from spring to autumn during the three-year period. sGnRH concentrations in discrete brain areas showed seasonal changes — high during autumn to winter and low in summer. Concentrations in the olfactory bulbs and hypothalamus increased significantly in association with testicular maturation during year 3. sGnRH concentrations in the hypothalamus were significantly higher in precocious males than in immature males; this was possibly due to positive feedback of steroid hormones. cGnRH-II was undetectable in the pituitary and no distinct changes were observed in its concentration in the brain in relation to maturation. The phenomenon of underyearling precocious maturation is considered to be triggered before the onset of early summer. It is suggested that males which mature precociously are larger in size and contain much sGnRH in the pituitary before the outward signs of precocity appear; sGnRH may stimulate GTH II synthesis and induce precocious maturation.     

Evaluation of the temperature and relative humidity preferences of the western dry-wood termite <Emphasis Type="Italic">Incisitermes minor</Emphasis> (Hagen) using acoustic emission (AE) monitoring

Twenty-four different combinations of six temperatures (15°, 20°, 25°, 30°, 35°, and 40°C) and four relative humidity (RH) (60%, 70%, 80%, and 90%) conditions were used for pseudergates of the western dry-wood termite Incisitermes minor (Hagen). The feeding activities of the termites were monitored by the detection of generated acoustic emission (AE) events from feeder wood blocks in a test chamber. Temperature and RH showed independent and interactive significant effects on the feeding activity of I. minor. The optimal temperature and RH conditions for the feeding activities were 35°C and 70%, respectively, and the optimal combinations were 35°C-70% and 35°C-80% with an exceptionally higher feeding activity at the combination condition of 30°C-70%.     

Occurrence of equine coital exanthema in pastured draft horses and isolation of equine herpesvirus 3 from progenital lesions

During the period from 2001 to the following year, progenital diseases had been epidemic among the draft stallions and mares pastured together in Iwate Prefecture, the northeastern district of Japan. A stallion and 8 of 31 mares were affected in 2001, and 1 of 2 stallions and 10 of 36 mares in 2002. The clinical symptoms consisted of the formation of papules, pustules, ulcers and scabs on the progenital skin and mucosa in stallions and mares. In 2002, Equine herpesvirus 3 (EHV3) was isolated from 2 mares and the glycoprotein G gene of the virus detected from a stallion and 4 mares by polymerase chain reaction. Serum neutralizing tests showed that 12 of 38 horses, 10 clinically and 2 subclinically affected, changed to be positive for the EHV3 antibody. The results suggest that the horses were affected with equine coital exanthema (ECE) through coitus. Five mares with the antibody at the pre-pastured period may have been the possible origins of EHV3 infection in 2002, although the exact origin in 2001 remains unknown. The artificial insemination was performed for the prevention of ECE spreading through coitus on the pasture in 2003. There was no epidemic of the disease in 31 mares, although 3 mares with the antibody at the pre-pastured period showed the significant increase in the titers during the pastured period.     

Receptor assay-guided isolation of anti-GABAergic insecticidal alkaloids from a fungal culture

The gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor bears sites of action for insecticides. To discover GABA receptor-directed insecticides in natural products, fungal culture extracts were screened for their ability to inhibit specific binding of the radiolabeled noncompetitive antagonist [3H]1-(4-ethynylphenyl)-4-n-propyl-2,6,7-trioxabicyclo[2.2.2]octane to housefly head membranes. The screening efforts led to the isolation of two alkaloids from Aspergillus terreus: PF1198A (alantrypinone) and PF1198B (serantrypinone), which had IC50 values of 0.34 and 2.1 microM, respectively, in this assay. These compounds were ca. 47-61-fold selective for housefly vs rat GABA receptors. Both compounds showed insecticidal activity against Myzus persicae in the range of 100-500 ppm. Binding assay-guided screening should provide significant opportunities for the identification of novel and selective insecticides.     

Bending resistance of repaired column members and shear resistance of opening frames with repaired columns of conventional Japanese wooden houses

When it is necessary to repair conventional Japanese wooden houses, the decayed lower parts of columns should be replaced with new wood material. The bending resistance of columns repaired by four methods and the shear resistance of opening frames with those repaired columns were investigated in this study. Bending tests of the repaired columns showed differences in initial bending stiffness and maximum bending moment related to the repair methods and loading direction. Racking tests were conducted on door opening frames with conventional door head members or upper partial walls sheathed with 12-mmthick plywood. The conventional frame specimens broke at door head-column joints with no obvious bending deformation of the columns, resulting in little difference in load-shear deformation curves among the repair methods. The columns of plywood-sheathed specimens, on the other hand, clearly were bent after the nails at the plywood-to-wood frame joints started to pull off. The load-shear deformation curves of the plywood-sheathed specimens did not vary regardless of the repair methods when shear deformations were small but were affected by repair methods as shear deformation increased.     

Effect of grain direction on transmittance of 100-GHz millimeter wave for hinoki (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Chamaecyparis obtusa</Emphasis>)

The attenuation coefficients of 100-GHz millimeter waves polarized linearly were measured for cross-cut, quarter-sawn, and flat-sawn boards of hinoki (Chamaecyparis obtusa) that were 0.2–2.0 cm thick. This was done to examine the applicability of free-wave propagation theory for applying electromagnetic waves to wood. It was found that the transmittance of a millimeter wave through the specimen boards was lower when the fiber direction of a board was parallel to the direction of the electric field of the incident wave than when the fiber direction was perpendicular to the electric field, and there was little difference in the transmittance between the tangential and radial directions for the former case. These findings can be quantitatively explained by using propagation theory and the dielectric properties of wood.     

Neuroanatomical distribution of disease-associated prion protein in cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy detected by fallen stock surveillance in Japan

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder of cattle characterized by accumulation of the disease-associated prion protein (PrP(Sc)) in the central nervous system (CNS). The immunohistochemical patterns and distribution of PrP(Sc) were investigated in the CNS, brains, and spinal cords of 7 naturally occurring BSE cases confirmed by the fallen stock surveillance program in Japan. No animals showed characteristic clinical signs of the disease. Coronal slices of 14 different brain areas in each case were immunohistochemically analyzed using an anti-prion protein antibody. Immunolabeled PrP(Sc) deposition was widely observed throughout each brain and spinal cord. Intense PrP(Sc) deposition was greater in the thalamus, brainstem, and spinal cord of the gray matter than in the neocortices. The topographical distribution pattern and severity of PrP(Sc) accumulation were mapped and plotted as immunohistochemical profiles of the different brain areas along the caudal-rostral axis of the brain. The distribution pattern and severity of the immunolabeled PrP(Sc) in the CNS were almost the same among the 7 cases analyzed, suggesting that the naturally occurring cases in this study were at the preclinical stage of the disease. Immunohistochemical mapping of the PrP(Sc) deposits will be used to clarify the different stages of BSE in cattle.