Serum progesterone concentrations using P-EIA kit in captive and free-ranging Hokkaido brown bears, Ursus arctos yesoensis.

Serum progesterone (P) concentrations using P-EIA kit (Ovucheck, Cambridge Life Science Co., Ltd.) were examined in 8 captive and 7 free-ranging female Hokkaido brown bears (Ursus arctos yesoensis). The intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation were 8.9%, 12.6% and 16.6%, 22.7%, respectively, based on 2 serum samples. There was a significant correlation between EIA and radioimmunoassay results based on 64 serum samples (r = 0.725; p less than 0.01). Serum P concentrations were examined in 5 pregnant, 2 solitary non-pregnant bears and a lactating non-pregnant bear in captivity. Annual changes of P levels in pregnant bears were observed as a small elevation during the mating season (May-June), a re-elevation in September-October and a sharp elevation in November-December. The sharp elevation was suspected to reflect changes when implantation occurred. Annual changes of P levels in solitary non-pregnant bears were similar to those in pregnant bears. An annual change of P levels in a lactating non-pregnant bear maintained levels under 5 ng/ml. Two of 7 free-ranging bears exhibited P levels over 1 ng/ml and the birth of cubs was confirmed in the following year in 1 of the 2 bears. P concentrations of other free-ranging bears exhibited less than 1 ng/ml, and these bears were considered to be non-pregnant. It was concluded that P-EIA kit was available for measuring P concentrations in Hokkaido brown bears.     

Kazakhstani native cattle reveal highly divergent mtDNA from Bos taurus and Bos indicus lineages with an absence of Bos indicus Y chromosome

Kazakhstan is the largest landlocked country and contains two important propagation routes for livestock from the Fertile Crescent to Asia. Therefore, genetic information about Kazakhstani cattle can be important for understanding the propagation history and the genetic admixture in Central Asian cattle. In the present study, we analyzed the complete mtDNA D‐loop sequence and SRY gene polymorphism in 122 Kazakhstani native cattle. The D‐loop sequences revealed 79 mitochondrial haplotypes, with the major haplogroups T and I. The Bos taurus subhaplogroups consisted of T (3.3%), T1 (2.5%), T2 (2.5%), and T4 (0.8%) in addition to the predominant subhaplogroup T3 (86.9%), and the Bos indicus subhaplogroup of I1 (4.1%). Subsequently, we investigated the paternal lineages of Bos taurus and Bos indicus, however, all Kazakhstani cattle were shown to have Y chromosome of Bos taurus origin. While highly divergent mtDNA subhaplogroups in Kazakhstani cattle could be due to the geographical proximity of Kazakhstan with the domestication center of the Fertile Crescent, the absence of Bos indicus Y chromosomes could be explained by a decoupling of the introgression dynamics of maternal and paternal lineages. This genetic information would contribute to understanding the genetic diversity and propagation history of cattle in Central Asia.     

Interstrain comparison of glutathione-dependent reactions in susceptible and resistant houseflies

Glutathione S-alkyl- and S-aryltransferase activities and the glutathione-dependent reactions involved in the metabolism of diazinon, parathion, DDT and γ-BHC were determined in two susceptible and three resistant housefly strains. The relative rate of formation of desethyl diazinon and desethyl parathion and the degradation of γ-BHC paralleled the activities of the alkyl and aryltransferases in the various strains of houseflies suggesting that a single enzyme might be involved. DDT-dehydrochlorinase showed different relative rates among the strains indicating that the dechlorination was catalyzed by a different enzyme. The enzyme responsible for the conjugation of the pyrimidinyl moiety of diazinon appears to be different from the one which catalyzes the conjugation of the p-nitrophenyl moiety of parathion. The dearylation reactions were not mediated by the glutathione S-aryltransferase in the various housefly strains.     

Randomized clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness of enrofloxacin as a second‐line antibiotic for treatment of acute Escherichia coli mastitis

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of enrofloxacin (ERFX) as a second‐line antibiotic for treatment of acute Escherichia coli (E. coli) mastitis. Forty‐two cows with naturally occurring acute E. coli mastitis were enrolled. On the first day of treatment (day 0), empirically selected antibiotics (oxytetracycline: n = 32, kanamycin: n = 10) were administered. Although systemic signs improved in 10 cows (first‐line group), the signs remained unchanged or worsened in 32 cows on day 1, including two cows that were found dead. The 30 surviving cows were randomly assigned to second‐line groups constituting an ERFX group (n = 19) or a control group (n = 11) that was treated with other antibiotics. Response to each treatment was evaluated by measuring clinical signs from day 0 to day 3, subsequent quarter milk recovery, and the 60‐day survival rate. Appetite on day 3 was significantly better in the ERFX group compared to the control group. No significant differences were observed in the 60‐day survival rate or the subsequent milk recovery between the ERFX group and the control group. Thus, the use of ERFX as a second‐line antibiotic for the treatment of acute E. coli mastitis could induce a rapid appetite recovery.     

Effect of oral administration of colostrum on inflammation in the udders of dairy cows suffering from mastitis

The present study was undertaken to examine whether oral administration of colostrum to mastitic cows reduced inflammation in the udder. Fifty milliliters of a colostrum whey product was administered orally daily for 3 days to cows suffering from mastitis. Milk was collected on day 0 and 7 of colostrum administration. For Experiment 1, milk from 11 udder quarters with high somatic cell counts (SCC) in four cows was used. SCC in milk decreased significantly after colostrum administration, whereas colostrum administration increased sodium and IgA concentrations significantly compared with those before administration. In Experiment 2, cows with clinical mastitis were divided into two groups, with and without colostrum administration, whereas all cows with subclinical mastitis were administered colostrum. Antibiotics were infused into the mammary gland from the first day of colostrum administration for 2–4 days. There was no significant decrease in SCC after colostrum administration in any group. However, udder firmness in both clinical mastitis groups was reduced after administration regardless of colostrum administration. IgA concentration in both clinical mastitis groups was significantly increased after colostrum administration compared to that before administration, although there was no significant difference between them. These results suggest the possibility that oral administration of colostrum attenuates inflammation of the mammary gland. Further studies are required to examine the effect of colostrum more precisely using cows with subclinical and chronic mastitis and longer duration of colostrum administration.     

Effect of drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization loaded with cisplatin on normal dogs

Transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) are standard treatments for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and particularly for unresectable tumors or liver metastases in humans. However, reports on TACE used in veterinary medicine are few. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and safety of drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE). We performed DEB-TACE in four clinically normal dogs and pharmacokinetically compared the results against hepatic arterial infusion (HAI) of cisplatin in two dogs. Drug-eluting beads (DEB) loaded with cisplatin were injected through a microcatheter for selective embolization of the left hepatic artery. After embolization, computed tomography (CT) images and histological examination findings were obtained during a 4-week observation period. Serum platinum concentrations were measured to evaluate cisplatin after each procedure. Biochemical analysis was performed during a 12-week observation period. Embolization was successful in all dogs, and there were no clinically apparent abnormalities. Embolization was confirmed up to 4 weeks after DEB-TACE in two of the four dogs and up to 1 week in the other two dogs using postoperative CT images. Cisplatin was not detected in peripheral veins in all dogs after DEB-TACE, but it was detected in trace amounts after HAI. DEB-TACE using cisplatin was safe and well tolerated by normal dogs. DEB-TACE may be useful in terms of determining systemic toxicity and drug concentration within tumors.     

Histopathology of acute colchicine intoxication: novel findings and their association with clinical manifestations

A 32-year-old woman attempted suicide by ingesting Gloriosa bulbs and died approximately 2 days later. Toxicological examination revealed a potentially fatal blood concentration of colchicine (0.096 mg/L). In addition to the increased mitotic figures in the gastrointestinal mucosa, a unique finding for acute colchicine intoxication, pathological examination showed microvesicular lipid droplets in the liver, kidney, heart, and conduction system. Furthermore, central chromatolysis of neurons was observed in the pontine nucleus, medial accessory olivary nucleus, nucleus of the solitary tract, and nucleus ambiguus. Grumose degeneration of the cerebellar dentate nucleus was also evident. These pathological findings may help identify colchicine intoxication, even in the absence of evidence suggesting ingestion during autopsy. Moreover, pathological changes in the heart and central nervous system may be associated with the development of serious complications of acute colchicine intoxication.     

Effect of growth and parturition on hair cortisol in Holstein cattle

The effect of growth and parturition on hair cortisol concentrations of cattle was investigated. Plasma, saliva, and hair (black and white from the shoulders and hip) samples were collected from calves at 6 and 24 weeks old and from dairy cattle at the dry (1 and 2 months prepartum) and lactation (10, 50, 150, and 250 days postpartum) periods. Plasma and saliva cortisol concentrations were lower in 24-week-old calves than those of 6-week-old calves, and hair cortisol concentrations decreased regardless of color and position. In 6-week-old calves, hair cortisol concentrations differed between sampling positions, but this difference was not observed in 24-week-old calves. Plasma and saliva cortisol concentrations increased before parturition until 10 days postpartum then decreased until 50 days postpartum. The same trend was observed in the cortisol concentrations of white hair. Contrarily, cortisol concentrations in black hair remained unchanged and was lower than that in white hair. Hair cortisol concentration can vary greatly depending on the location on the body, hair color, cattle age, or parturition. When this method is used, all of the above factors must be considered.     

Maternal high‐fat diet promotes onset of diabetes in rat offspring

The onset and progression of type II diabetes is closely related to environmental factors, in particular dietary habit. Moreover, the environmental exposures very early in life can influence the risk for development of type II diabetes later in life. In this study, we investigated pathophysiological changes in the pups of maternal Spontaneously Diabetic Torii (SDT) rats that were fed a high‐fat diet (HFD) throughout gestation and lactation. Maternal SDT rats were continued on HFD for 5 weeks, from day 8 of gestation to day 21 after birth, and biological analyses of the pups were performed from 2 to 22 weeks of age. Results of serum lipid levels in pups from dams fed HFD were higher than pups from dams fed a standard diet, and the onset of diabetes was significantly accelerated in pups from dams fed HFD. In pathological analyses, pups from dams fed HFD showed increases in liver weight and vacuolation of hepatic cells at 2 weeks of age. In conclusion, the metabolic disorder of lipids and glucose in SDT rats is closely related to the nutritional condition of dams during the periods of gestation and lactation.     

Immune response during the onset of coliform mastitis in dairy cows vaccinated with STARTVAC®

The immune response during the onset of coliform mastitis in vaccinated cows was investigated by measuring lactoferrin (LF), interleukin-8 ( IL-8), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) concentrations and somatic cell counts in 28 milk samples at the onset of acute coliform mastitis (ACM) and 73 milk samples at the onset of peracute coliform mastitis (PCM). Vaccinated ACM, unvaccinated ACM, and vaccinated PCM showed significantly higher values for LF and IL-1β levels than unvaccinated PCM (p < .01). The IL-8 concentration was lower in vaccinated PCM than in unvaccinated PCM (p < .05). There was no significant difference in somatic cell counts for each parameter. There were no significant differences in the parameters between vaccinated and unvaccinated ACM cows, or vaccinated ACM and PCM cows. From the above results, it is suggested that mastitis vaccination improved the early immune response, particularly at the onset of PCM, and played a large role in host defense against the initial infection.