A clinical case of single left ventricle in a Holstein calf

A 15-day-old Holstein calf with lethargy and tachypnea presented to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine for evaluation of suspected congenital heart defect. A Levine grade 6 systolic murmur was noted at right apical site auscultation and phonocardiogram also recorded systolic a murmur. Electrocardiography findings include increased R and S waves, R wave split, and negative T waves without arrhythmia. Echocardiography revealed a single ventricle with a trace of the right ventricular wall, atrioventricular valve regurgitation, and turbulent in a single ventricle. Arterial blood analysis showed a marked decrease in oxygen saturation of 78% and oxygen partial pressure of 44 mmHg. Post-mortem examination confirmed the diagnosis of a single left ventricle.     

Effects of feeding high volumes of milk replacer on reproductive performance and on concentrations of metabolites and hormones in blood of Japanese black heifer calves

We evaluated the effects of feeding high volumes of milk replacer on growth and reproductive performances in Japanese black heifers. Fifty-one heifers were fed milk replacer at 9 L/day for 60 days (9 L × 60 days; n = 18) or 41 days (9 L × 41 days; n = 15), or at 7 L/day for 40 days (7 L × 40 days; n = 18). Artificial insemination (AI) was performed on heifers with ≥270 kg body weight and ≥116 cm body height at 300 days of age. The age at the first AI was 0.35 month later for 7 L × 40 days than the other groups (p < .01). However, age at calving did not differ among treatments (22.1 months). The interval from the first AI to pregnancy tended to be ~2 months longer for the 9 L × 60 days than the other groups (p = .07). Our results showed that feeding high volumes of milk replacer may reduce the age at calving via an improved rate of growth. In addition, we propose that feeding a maximum of 7 L milk replacer for 40 days may be the most appropriate rearing regime because the success of pregnancy per AI may be reduced in calves fed a maximum of 9 L for 41 and 60 days.     

Experimental infection of dogs with a feline endogenous retrovirus RD-114

Background

The feline endogenous retrovirus RD114 is contained in the genome of cats. The virus may contaminate live canine vaccines based on cultured feline cells. The in vivo infectivity, acute and subacute pathogenicity, and viral proliferation of the RD114 virus were evaluated by experimental infection of dogs.

Methods

Nine specific pathogen free dogs were divided into three groups, with each group consisting of one female and two male dogs. Dogs were subcutaneously inoculated in the neck with either 1 ml RD114 stock virus (group A), inactivated RD114 virus suspension (group B), or cell culture medium (group C) as a negative control. To assess blood cell counts and biochemical properties, blood samples from each group were collected 5 days before inoculation, just prior to inoculation, and 1, 3, 7 and 10 days post-inoculation.

Result

During the experimental period of 51 days, none of the dogs inoculated with RD114 virus showed any clinical signs, significant increases in rectal temperature or abnormal blood biochemical characteristics including C-reactive protein when compared with the negative controls. We were not able to re-isolate the RD114 virus from buffy coat cells of group A dogs. Additionally, we could not detect RD114 provirus in the genomic DNA isolated from peripheral blood leukocytes, lymph node, spleen and sternal bone marrow cells.

Conclusions

Signs of RD114 virus proliferation were not found after subcutaneous infection of dogs. Although the potential risk caused by infection with RD114 virus in dogs could not be assessed in this study, we suspect that RD114 virus has little or no virulence in dogs.     

Ammonium uptake capacity and response of cytosolic glutamine synthetase 1;2 to ammonium supply are key factors for the adaptation of ammonium nutrition in Arabidopsis thaliana

Plant requires nitrogen for the growth, and it use nitrate and ammonium from the environment. Plant suffers from the toxicity when excess ammonium is supplied as a sole nitrogen, although it could be a good nitrogen source for plant growth. We hypothesized that the different responses of ecotypes to ammonium nutrient could partly account for the adaptation of Arabidopsis to an ammonium environment. The purpose of this study is to understand the different responses of ecotypes in ammonium environment. The growth of Arabidopsis thaliana ecotypes, Columbia was compared to those of Arabidopsis thaliana ecotypes, Landsberg erecta in ammonium nutrient. The ratio of shoot dry weight to root dry weight was compared to evaluate the adaptation of two ecotypes. The shoot:root ratio of Landsberg was significantly higher than that of Columbia. T-DNA insertion in cytosolic glutamine synthetase 1;2, one of the essential ammonium assimilatory enzymes, led a decrease of shoot:root ratio. We also measured the isotope-labeled ammonium uptake and the expression levels of ammonium transporter genes, and also the expression of ammonium assimilatory genes, glutamine synthetase genes and glutamate synthase genes, in roots after ammonium re-supply using real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis. We found that (1) ammonium uptake of Landsberg erecta was higher than that of Columbia, when ammonium was supplied at higher concentration, and (2) cytosolic glutamine synthetase 1;2 was highly increased by ammonium supply in the root of Landsberg erecta. The present study suggested the importance of these two factors for adaptation of Arabidopsis to an ammonium-rich environment.     

Enzymatic hydrolysis of wood with alkaline treatment

Pulverized samples of wood, cedar and eucalyptus were treated with 5 N NaOH solutions at 25–150 °C. Hemicellulose and lignin content in the samples decreased with increasing treatment temperatures, while the recovery of glucose was maintained at nearly 90 %. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the content of the original cellulose I structure in the samples decreased with increasing temperature, and most of the cellulose in the sample treated at 150 °C was converted to cellulose II by mercerization. Enzymatic hydrolysis of the alkaline-treated samples was carried out at 37 °C using solutions comprising a mixture of cellulase and β-glucosidase. The samples treated at higher temperatures showed better enzymatic degradability. Treatment with an alkaline solution of lower concentration (1 N NaOH) at 150 °C was also used. Despite significant quantities of hemicellulose and lignin being removed, mercerization was not induced. The enzymatic degradability was much lower than that of the sample treated with a 5 N NaOH solution at 150 °C. Thus, treatment with concentrated alkaline solution at high temperature led to not only the removal of hemicellulose and lignin, but also to modification of the cellulose structure, which resulted in high efficiency of enzymatic saccharification of the wood samples.     

Ray florets color and shape mutants induced by C ion beam irradiation in chrysanthemum

Ion beam irradiation is attracting attention in floriculture as a means of inducing mutations. We investigated the effect of ion beam irradiation on induction of ray florets color/shape mutants from two strains of chrysanthemum to create new flower cultivars. The ray florets and leaf explants of chrysanthemum cultivars, ‘Shiroyamate’ and ‘H13’, respectively, cultured on MS medium were irradiated with ¹²C⁵⁺ ion beam at doses of 1, 2, 4 and 8Gy. The frequency of shoot primordia formation on ray florets explants of ‘Shiroyamate’ and shoot bud formation on leaf explants of ‘H13’ was decreased by 8Gy and 4Gy irradiation, respectively. The effective dose of ion beam was less than 4Gy in ‘Shiroyamate’ and less than 2Gy in ‘H13’. After exposure to an effective dose of ion beam, regenerated plants were grown in a green-house and the field. Yellow ray florets mutants from ‘Shiroyamate’, and various ray florets color mutants (dark-red, light red, pink, pink spray) and a flower shape mutant (double-ray florets) from ‘H13’ were induced by ion beam irradiation. Furthermore, a white mutant was obtained from a chimeric mutant. These results suggest that the combination of ion beam irradiation and tissue culture would be an effective means of generation mutants at a high efficiency.     

Population model of Rana japonica crossing agricultural concrete canals: evaluating population conservation by improving the migration routes of frogs

Agricultural canals with deep concrete walls are commonly installed in paddy field areas following land consolidation projects in Japan. Such canals create a critical migration barrier for frogs, as escape is not possible after falling in. Hence, countermeasures that allow migrating frogs to cross agricultural canals, such as lid structures to prevent frogs from falling in or the creation of partial slopes to allow escape, have been developed to conserve endangered frog populations. The objective of this study was to design a method for evaluating the population viability of the endangered Japanese Brown Frog, Rana japonica, following the implementation of countermeasures. Two types of model simulations were examined: (1) a ??basic model,?? based on an age-structured model and (2) a ??crossing model,?? to evaluate migrating frogs crossing canals. Parameters, such as survival rate and fecundity, were estimated from field observation data of age-dependent population fluctuations. Comparison of a basic model simulation with the field observation data suggests model validation. The crossing model simulation, which had an initial population of 1,000 individuals, showed that a crossing proportion of greater than 30?C40% would achieve 95% population viability after 5?years. The simulation also showed that a crossing proportion of over 80% would also achieve 95% population viability after 40?years. These results indicate that frog survival during the migration period is insured, as long as no additional countermeasures are necessary after installation.