Hemangiosarcoma with widespread metastasis that originated on the metatarsal pad of a Java sparrow (Padda oryzivora)

A five-year-old male Java sparrow (Padda oryzivora) was examined because of the appearance of a purple spot approximately 1 mm in diameter on the right metatarsal pad. Seven months later, the spot spread to the entire right leg, and the bird died. At necropsy, multiple neoplastic masses on the right leg reached up to the pelvic cavity. There was one similar mass on the right kidney and multiple red spots on the liver. Histopathological examination revealed that neoplastic cells proliferated solidly or formed abundant irregular blood vessels. Watanabe silver staining revealed that neoplastic cells were surrounded by argentophil fibers. Immunohistochemically, the neoplastic cells were positive for anti-human von Willebrand factor antibodies. This is the first report of hemangiosarcoma in a finch.     

Inflammatory effect of cleaved bovine lactoferrin by elastase on staphylococcal mastitis

Elastase activity and concanavalin A (Con A) low affinity bovine lactoferrin (bLf) molecule were detected in mammary gland secretions (MGSs) from mammary glands (MGs) with clinical staphylococcal mastitis. Changes in clinical symptoms correlated with increases in both elastase activity and the concentration of Con A low-affinity Lf in MGSs from mastitic MGs. Bovine Lf treated with elastase (elastase-Lf) showed various small bLf molecules and the same image on Con A two-dimensional immunoelectrophoresis as low Con A affinity bLf in MGSs. We confirmed the presence of four common bLf peptides for the elastase-bLf and low Con A affinity bLf molecules in mastitic MGSs, and synthesized four peptides. Strong mRNA expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) was induced in bovine mammary epithelial cells on stimulation with low Con A affinity bLf, elastase-bLf, and GQRDLLFKDSAL, a synthesis bLf peptide based on nuclear factor kappa B (NFkappaB) activation. These results suggest that bLf was cleaved by elastase, and that this cleavage changed the physical function of Lf. Our results indicate that elastase induced production of low Con A affinity bLf, including the bLf peptide GQRDLLFKDSAL, and had an inflammatory effect on staphylococcal mastitis.     

A new diagnostic indicator using concanavalin a low-affinity lactoferrin levels in mammary gland secretion in mastitic drying cows

We examined the effective diagnostic indicator using the concanavalin A (Con A) low-affinity lactoferrin (Lf) to mastitic drying cows. The concentrations of both Lf and Con A low-affinity Lf in mammary gland secretions (MGSs) were lower than normal MGSs at the early and middle dry periods and colostrums. On the other hand, the levels of Con A low-affinity Lf in MGSs increased following the appearance of mastitis symptoms, and decreased when the mastitic symptoms were cured. Moreover, IgG1 concentrations of colostrums decrease on the quarters where a high level of Con A low-affinity Lf was determined after the onset of dry period. These results suggest that this method could be used as a useful indicator to mastitic drying cows.     

Effect of combination therapy with lactoferrin and antibiotics against staphylococcal mastitis on drying cows

We examined combination therapy with both lactoferrin (Lf) and antibiotics on clinical mastitis due to Staphylococcus aureus (S.aureus) on drying cows. The clinical symptoms of mastitic quarters were cured 81% of combination therapeutic quarters at 7 days post injection (dpi). Moreover, most of mammary gland secretions (MGSs) in combination therapeutic quarters were normal at 7 days after parturition. In the quarters with combination therapy, S.aureus counts, Lf concentrations and content rate of concanavalin A (Con A) low-affinity Lf decreased and were lower than in the quarters treated with Lf or antibiotics alone. The mRNA expression of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) of the quarters with combination therapy also decreased and was lower than that of the Lf or antibiotics treated. The mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in bovine mammary gland epithelial lined cells (BMEC) stimulated with Lf were lower than those of Con A low-affinity Lf stimulated BMEC. Moreover, Lf showed an inhibitory effect to the induction of pro-inflammatory cytokine mRNA expression when co-stimulated with Lf and Con A low-affinity Lf. Nuclear factor kappa B (NFkappaB) activation was also induced with Con A low-affinity Lf, and the inhibitory effects of Lf were also confirmed on BMEC co-stimulated with Lf and Con A low-affinity Lf. These results indicated that the efficacy of combination therapy with antibiotics and Lf caused antibacterial effect of antibiotics and inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokine and chemokine production with Lf via the inhibition of NFkappaB activation.     

QTLs for malting flavour component associated with pre-harvest sprouting susceptibility in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

Lipoxygenase (LOX) is a key factor affecting quality of beer in terms of foam stability and flavour. Low LOX content is a desirable trait for malting quality. A doubled haploid (DH) population was made from a cross of Australian malting barley Stirling and Canadian malting barley Harrington and mapped with 513 molecular markers. The 120 DH lines with their parents were planted in field trials and the harvested grains were micro-malted for analysis of LOX content in two consecutive years. LOX content was controlled by both genetic effects and environment conditions. Three QTLs were consistently detected. One QTL flanked by the markers E6216 and SCssr03907 at the telomere region of chromosome 5HL contributed 39% of genetic variation in LOX content. The second QTL close to the centromere region of chromosome 5H accounted for 17% of genetic variation. A minor QTL on chromosome 2H explained 6% of genetic variation but was significant in both years. The Australian variety Stirling contributed to higher LOX content for the three QTLs. The two QTLs mapped at chromosome 5H for LOX content coincided with the QTLs for seed dormancy/pre-harvest sprouting from the same population. The pre-harvest sprouting susceptible alleles were associated with low LOX content, which indicated that the low LOX QTL from the Canadian malting barleys are only useful in the barley growing areas where the pre-harvest sprouting risk is low. New genetic sources for low LOX should be exploited in different germplasm with different mechanisms.     

Purification and characterization of glutathione peroxidase 1 in the red muscle of Pacific bluefin tuna Thunnus orientalis

Glutathione peroxidase GPx1 was purified from the red muscle of Pacific bluefin tuna Thunnus orientalis and its enzymatic properties were characterized. The enzyme was optimally active at pH 7.4 with a specific activity for hydrogen peroxide and a K _m of 6.7 μM. cDNA was also isolated and it contained a predicted open reading frame (ORF) encoding a 188 amino acid protein. The phylogenetic tree shows that fish including Pacific bluefin tuna, pufferfish, and zebrafish, but not mammals, possess two genetically distinct types of GPx1, i.e., GPx1a and GPx1b. The purified enzyme was classified as a fish GPx-1b enzyme on the basis of the phylogenetic tree of the GPx1 family.     

Effect of monoenergetic neutron irradiation on the postnatal development of the cochlea in C3H/HeN mice

To investigate the toxic effect of neutrons at energies of approximately 1MeV on the ear, we exposed 7-day-old mice to 1.0 Gy of monoenergetic neutrons (1.026 MeV) or (137)Cs gamma rays, and assessed subsequent morphological changes in the inner ear by light and scanning electron microscopy. Monoenergetic neutrons, but not gamma rays, caused acute changes in the ear. The epithelium of the greater epithelial ridge in the organ of Corti had disappeared by 72 hr post-irradiation, as a result of epithelial apoptosis observed 6 hr post-irradiation. Radiation could induce apoptotic cell death of the epithelium of the greater epithelial ridge at 3 or 4 days of age. Protruding structures were detected on the surface of the hair cells by 72 hr post-irradiation. The neutron-irradiation also caused the apoptotic cell death of epithelial cells at the nasal conchae, and subsequent acute otitis media continued until 10 weeks of age.     

Anti-inflammatory effects of intramammary infusions of glycyrrhizin in lactating cows with mastitis caused by coagulase-negative staphylococci

OBJECTIVE: To determine the anti-inflammatory effects of glycyrrhizin (GL) in lactating cows with mastitis attributable to naturally occurring infection with coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS). ANIMALS: 12 lactating Holstein cows with mastitis attributable to infection with CNS and 2 healthy cows without mastitis. PROCEDURE: Clinical signs, number of bacteria in milk, somatic cell count (SCC) in milk, concentrations of alpha-lactalbumin and lactoferrin in milk, and concentration of histamine in milk were investigated before and after intramammary infusion of GL (6 cows) or antimicrobials (6 cows). Glands of 2 healthy cows were infused with staphylococcal enterotoxin; milk leukocytes were then harvested and incubated with various doses of GL. RESULTS: In cows infected with CNS that had a low bacterial concentration in milk, infusion of GL alone resulted in significant improvements in swelling, firmness of glands, and number of clots in milk, and it decreased the SCC, but not significantly. Percentage of neutrophils decreased significantly (to < 30%) by 2 days after infusion. Use of lactoferrin as a marker of inflammation in mammary glands revealed a decrease in concentrations, whereas use of alpha-lactalbumin as a marker of recovery for mammary glands revealed significant increases in concentrations in the GL-infused group. Accompanying these anti-inflammatory effects, a decrease in the concentration of histamine in milk was observed in the GL-infused group. Glycyrrhizin decreased histamine production by milk leukocytes in a concentration-dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Infusion of GL may regulate intramammary inflammation through modulation of inflammatory mediators such as histamine.     

Three evolutionary lineages of tomato wilt pathogen, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici, based on sequences of IGS, MAT1, and pg1, are each composed of isolates of a single mating type and a single or closely related vegetative compatibility group

Three evolutionary lineages of the tomato wilt pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici were found among a worldwide sample of isolates based on phylogenetic analysis of the ribosomal DNA intergenic spacer region. Each lineage consisted of isolates mainly belonging to a single or closely related vegetative compatibility group (VCG) and a single mating type (MAT). The first lineage (A1) was composed of isolates VCG 0031 and MAT1-1; the second (A2) included VCG 0030 and/or 0032 and MAT1-1; and the third (A3) included VCG 0033 and MAT1-2. Race 1 and race 2 isolates belonged to the A1 or A2 lineages, and race 3 belonged to A2 or A3 lineages, suggesting that there is no correlation between race and lineage. However, for the isolates from Japan, race 1 (with one exception), race 2, and race 3 isolates belonged to A2, A1, and A3 lineages, respectively. These results suggest that the races could have evolved independently in each lineage; and in Japan the present races were likely to have been introduced independently after they had evolved in other locations.