Therapeutic effects of beta-thujaplicin eardrops on canine Malassezia-related otitis externa

An eardrop solution of beta-thujaplicin was examined for therapeutic effects on canine Malassezia-related otitis externa. Half to one ml of beta-thujaplicin solution of 100 microg/ml including DMSO 2% was injected everyday into both external ear canals of 31 cases for test-of-cure agreement. Fifteen score phases were established from the symptoms and cerumen smear biopsy findings, and score changes were recorded at least once a week. The means of the second and the third inspection day scores decreased significantly more than the previous value of each. In addition, the numbers of yeast-like organisms clearly decreased. These results suggest that beta-thujaplicin eardrops are effective for Malassezia-related otitis externa in dogs.     

An electric field strongly deters whiteflies from entering window-open greenhouses in an electrostatic insect exclusion strategy

Dual functions (insect repelling and capturing) of a single-charged dipolar electric field screen were evaluated to successfully exclude whiteflies from a window-open greenhouse. The screen consisted of three parts: 1) insulated conductor wires (ICWs) arrayed in parallel at 5?mm intervals, 2) two earthed stainless nets placed within 3?mm of both sides of the ICW layer, and 3) a voltage generator for the negatively charged ICWs. The screen formed two electric fields between the ICW-layer and the ICW-side surface of the earthed net and between the ICWs. At negative charging of 1.5–2.5?kV, all whiteflies reaching the outer surface of the screen net avoided entering the electric field and flew away from the screen. This avoidance was disturbed by 3?m s^?1 wind, as the insects were compulsorily blown inside. However, almost all whiteflies (99.4?%) were captured with the ICW. These results indicate that the insect-capturing function is effective to complement a failure to repel. A greenhouse assay was conducted in the screen-attached and non-screened parts in which a greenhouse was divided with a partition. During the 3-month operation, the screen was durable and functional for excluding pests, and better air ventilation changed the climate conditions in the greenhouse. Thus, the present study demonstrated that our electric field screen can provide an airy condition for tomatoes in a window-open greenhouse and successfully exclude whiteflies using dual screen functions.     

Carcass quality and meat tenderness of Hawaii pasture-finished cattle and Hawaii-originated, mainland feedlot-finished cattle

The objective of this study was to compare the carcass quality and meat tenderness of Hawaii cattle finished on subtropical pasture with those of mainland US feedlot-finished cattle that were shipped from Hawaii after weaning. Rib-eye steak samples were collected from 30 feedlot-finished cattle harvested at a slaughter house in Washington State, USA and from 13 subtropical pasture-finished cattle harvested at a local slaughter house in Hawaii, then shipped to meat science laboratory at the University of Hawaii, Manoa. Samples were aged for 2?weeks at 4°C and frozen for later proximate analysis and meat tenderness measurement. Feedlot-finished cattle had significantly heavier carcass weight (353 vs 290?kg) and thicker backfat (13.5 vs 6.6?mm), but no significant difference was observed in rib-eye area between the two groups. Marbling score (Small) and United States Department of Agriculture quality grade (Choice) of the pasture-finished beef were not significantly (P?相似文献   

Immunohistochemical studies for the neuronal elements in the vomeronasal organ of the one-humped camel

The neuronal elements of the vomeronasal organ (VNO) of camel were investigated immunohistochemically. PGP 9.5 labeled the receptor cells in the vomeronasal sensory epithelium, but not the supporting or basal cells. OMP stained some receptor cells, but no immunoreactive signals for OMP were detected in the non-sensory epithelium. PLCβ2 labeled scattered cells in the sensory epithelium and a larger number of cells in the non-sensory epithelium. Double labeling immunohistochemistry revealed that the PLCβ2-positive cells were surrounded by substance P-positive nerve fibers. Collectively, these data suggest that the camel VNO bears, in addition to the mature vomeronasal receptor cells, trigeminally-innervated solitary chemosensory cells which are expected to play a substantial role in the control of stimulus access to the VNO.     

Methylene Blue Stainability of Root-Tip Protoplasts as an Indicator of Aluminum Tolerance in a Wide Range of Plant Species, Cultivars and Lines

We previously developed a new simple technique of methylene blue (MB) staining for the discrimination of aluminum (Al)-tolerant protoplasts from 4 plant species (rice, oats, maize and pea). The objectives of the present study were to confirm the applicability of this technique to a wider range of plant species, cultivars and lines, and to identify a common strategy for the early stage of Al tolerance. A total of 10 plant species, two Brachiaria spp., two Oryza spp., buckwheat, maize, pea, triticale, wheat and barley, corresponding to 18 different plant samples (species, cultivars, and lines), were used. Al tolerance (relative net root elongation of the longest root), which was screened at 20 μM AICI₃ in 0.2 mM CaCl₂ (pH 4.9) for 24 h, ranged widely from 10 to 88. Among cultivars and lines within the same species, Al accumulation in the root tip portion was higher in Al-sensitive plants, corresponding to more severe permeabilization of the plasma membranes (PM). Protoplasts isolated mainly from the epidermis, and outer and central parts of the cortex were stained to different degrees by MB, and the blue color was observed both on the surface and inside the protoplasts. Color pictures obtained after staining for 3 min with 0.1% MB were analyzed by Image Hyper II. The ratio of the heavily stained area at threshold 95 to the entire area stained with MB at threshold 125 was defined as MB stainability. MB stainability was negatively correlated with Al tolerance ( y = 48.6e^{−0.02 x} , R ²= 0.676**) suggesting the common importance of permeation characteristics of PM, in addition to PM negativity for Al tolerance in a wide range of plant species, cultivars and lines. Analysis of the PM lipid composition was proposed as an important topic for future studies on the negativity and permeation of PM.     

Neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinosis in longhaired Chihuahuas: clinical, pathologic, and MRI findings

Neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinosis (NCL) is a rare group of inherited neurodegenerative lysosomal storage diseases characterized histopathologically by the abnormal accumulation of ceroid- or lipofuscin-like lipopigments in neurons and other cells throughout the body. The present article describes the clinical, pathologic, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of the NCL in three longhaired Chihuahuas between 16 mo and 24 mo of age. Clinical signs, including visual defects and behavioral abnormalities, started between 16 mo and 18 mo of age. Cranial MRI findings in all the dogs were characterized by diffuse severe dilation of the cerebral sulci, dilated fissures of diencephalons, midbrain, and cerebellum, and lateral ventricular enlargement, suggesting atrophy of the forebrain. As the most unusual feature, diffuse meningeal thickening was observed over the entire cerebrum, which was strongly enhanced on contrast T1-weighted images. The dogs' conditions progressed until they each died subsequent to continued neurologic deterioration between 23 mo and 24 mo of age. Histopathologically, there was severe to moderate neuronal cell loss with diffuse astrogliosis throughout the brain. The remaining neuronal cells showed intracytoplasmic accumulation of pale to slightly yellow lipopigments mimicking ceroid or lipofuscin. The thickened meninges consisted of the proliferation of connective tissues with abundant collagen fibers and mild infiltration of inflammatory cells suggesting neuroimmune hyperactivity. Although the etiology of this neuroimmune hyperactivity is not currently known, MRI findings such as meningeal thickening may be a useful diagnostic marker of this variant form of canine NCL.     

Stem necrosis of aster and Russell prairie gentian caused by Chrysanthemum stem necrosis virus

A new disease causing necrotic streaks on stems and necrosis on leaves of aster (Callistephus chinensis) and Russell prairie gentian (Eustoma grandiflorum) was observed in Toyama Prefecture, Japan, in September 2009. On the bases of host reactions, serological reactions, viral particle morphology, and the nucleotide sequence of the nucleocapsid protein gene, the causal pathogen was identified as Chrysanthemum stem necrosis virus (CSNV). This report is the first in the world of natural infection of aster and Russell prairie gentian by CSNV. We propose the name “stem necrosis of aster and Russell prairie gentian” for these new diseases.     

Trilostane-induced inhibition of cortisol secretion results in reduced negative feedback at the hypothalamic–pituitary axis

Cushing's disease caused by pituitary corticotroph adenoma in dogs is usually treated by medical treatment, and the efficacy of this treatment has been reported. However, controversy remains as to whether reduced negative feedback through the inhibition of cortisol secretion, similar to Nelson's syndrome, may appear as an adverse effect. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of reduced negative feedback through the inhibition of cortisol secretion by daily trilostane administration on the pituitary–adrenal axis in clinically normal dogs. Dogs were administered 5 mg/kg trilostane twice a day every day for 8 weeks (n = 8) or 16 weeks (n = 3). After the initiation of trilostane administration, plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) concentrations were increased remarkably. As assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) during administration, the pituitary became enlarged. After trilostane administration, the cytoplasmic areas of the pituitary corticotrophs were increased and the ratio of pituitary corticotrophs to all cells in the anterior lobe was greater in the trilostane-treated dogs than that in untreated animals. In addition, histological examinations revealed bilateral adrenal cortical hyperplasia. Using real-time PCR quantification, the expression of proopiomelanocortin (POMC) mRNA in the pituitary and ACTH receptor (ACTH-R) mRNA in the adrenal gland was greater in the dogs treated with trilostane than in untreated dogs. These results indicate that reduced negative feedback induced hyperfunction of the pituitary corticotrophs and pituitary enlargement in healthy dogs. These changes suggest that the inhibition of cortisol secretion by trilostane may increase the risk for accelerating the growth of corticotroph adenomas in dogs with Cushing's disease.     

Spontaneous Cardiac Hypertrophy in a Crl:CD(SD) Rat

Cardiac hypertrophy was observed in a 9-week-old Crl:CD(SD) rat that died unexpectedly. The animal was allocated to the control group of a toxicity study, and no abnormalities in its general conditions, body weight or food intake were observed. Necropsy revealed an increase in heart weight. Gross examination indicated cardiac enlargement with thickening of the right and left ventricular walls. Histopathological examination revealed hypertrophy of the cardiomyocytes in the right and left ventricular walls and the interventricular septum. Electron microscopic examination indicated bizarre nuclei and accumulation of an increased number of various sizes of mitochondria in the perinuclear region of the hypertrophied myocytes. Hypertrophied myocytes connected by intensely folded intercalated disks were also observed. Based on these findings, the animal was diagnosed with cardiac hypertrophy. This is the first case report of cardiac hypertrophy in this strain.     

First record of Cryptosporidium infection in a raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides viverrinus)

Cryptosporidium species have been found in more than 150 species of mammals, but there has been no report in raccoon dogs. Here we found the Cryptosporidium organism in a raccoon dog, Nyctereutes procyonoides viverrinus, and identified this isolate using PCR-based diagnostic methods. Cryptosporidium diagnostic fragments of the 18S ribosomal RNA, Cryptosporidium oocyst wall protein and 70-kDa heat shock protein genes were amplified from the isolate and sequenced to reveal the phylogenetic relationships between it and other Cryptosporidium species or genotypes reported previously. The results showed that the raccoon dog isolate represented the C. parvum cattle genotype which could be a causative agent in human cryptosporidiosis.