A case of nontraumatic gas gangrene in a common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus)

The common marmoset is widely used in neuroscience and regenerative medicine research. However, information concerning common marmoset disorders, particularly infectious diseases, is scarce. Here, we report a case of a female common marmoset that died suddenly due to gas gangrene. The animal presented with gaseous abdominal distention at postmortem, and Clostridium perfringens type A was isolated from several tissues. Vacuoles, a Gram-positive bacteremia and intravascular hemolysis were observed microscopically in the muscles, liver and lungs. On the basis of these findings, we diagnosed nontraumatic gas gangrene caused by Clostridium perfringens type A in this common marmoset.     

CR1aa-卵丘细胞共培养牛体外受精卵的卵裂率及囊胚率

牛卵母细胞用5％CS的TCM－199培养液体外成熟培养（IVM）22h；以BO液＋咖啡因作精子获能处理1.5h；BO液＋BSA的培养液体外受精（IVF）5h；受精卵（含卵丘细胞）用5％CS的CR1aa培养液在5％CO2、955空气、38.5℃、饱和湿度的培养环境中体外培养（IVC）7－8d，结果受精卵裂率为72.4%（56.3%－81.0%），囊胚率23.7%(12.5%-40.9%）。     

A cell preparation of Enterococcus faecalis strain EC-12 stimulates the luminal immunoglobulin A secretion in juvenile calves

The immune system in juvenile calves is immature, so calves are susceptible to several diarrheal and respiratory diseases. Oral administration of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) is known to improve the growth performance and prevent diarrheal and respiratory diseases by stimulating the immune system in juvenile calves. Most of the immunostimulation by LAB is achieved by their cell wall components, and therefore we evaluated the immunostimulation of the cell preparation of Enterococcus faecalis strain EC-12 (EC-12) in juvenile calves in a clinical field. Twenty-nine 1-week old calves were used. Fourteen calves were administered 0.2% (w/w) of an EC-12 preparation that supplemented a milk replacer, and other calves were not supplemented. Feces and serum was collected at day 0, 7 and 49 after the administration to measure the IgA and IgG concentration. The fecal IgA concentration was increased by EC-12 administration at day 49, and the serum IgA concentration was also increased at day 7. These results suggested that oral administration of EC-12 in juvenile calves might have an immunostimulatory effect and provide earlier recovery of IgA levels in mucosal immunity.     

Effects of fasting and refeeding on plasma concentrations of leptin, ghrelin, insulin, growth hormone and metabolites in swine

The effects of nutritional status, such as fasting and refeeding, on leptin and ghrelin secretion in swine were examined. The swine (n = 4) were fasted for 54 h and plasma hormone levels were measured before, during and after fasting. Plasma leptin and insulin concentrations began to decrease 12 and 6 h into the fasting period, respectively (P < 0.05), and maintained a low level for the remaining period of fasting. Plasma leptin and insulin returned to the pre‐fasting value 6 and 12 h after refeeding, respectively. Plasma ghrelin concentrations showed a nocturnal periodicity during the fasting period; it increased nocturnally at 36 and 42 h into the fasting period (P < 0.05). Plasma growth hormone levels did not show any remarkable changes during the fasting. Plasma glucose levels showed a modest fall during fasting and significantly decreased (P < 0.05) at 24 h into the fasting period, returning to pre‐fasting levels after refeeding. Plasma nonesterified fatty acid levels increased (P < 0.05) at 12 h into the fasting period and returned to the pre‐fasting level 6 h after refeeding. These results indicate that plasma leptin, insulin and ghrelin play an important role in maintaining energy homeostasis in swine. The plasma ghrelin did not continuously increase, but showed nocturnal periodicity during fasting. This may suggest that ghrelin is also involved in physiological processes other than energy homeostasis.     

Central estrogen action sites involved in prepubertal restraint of pulsatile luteinizing hormone release in female rats

The present study aimed to determine estrogen feedback action sites to mediate prepubertal restraint of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)/luteinizing hormone (LH) release in female rats. Wistar-Imamichi strain rats were ovariectomized (OVX) and received a local estradiol-17β (estradiol) or cholesterol microimplant in several brain areas, such as the medial preoptic area (mPOA), paraventricular nucleus, ventromedial nucleus and arcuate nucleus (ARC), at 20 or 35 days of age. Six days after receiving the estradiol microimplant, animals were bled to detect LH pulses at 26 or 41 days of age, representing the pre- or postpubertal period, respectively. Estradiol microimplants in the mPOA or ARC, but not in other brain regions, suppressed LH pulses in prepubertal OVX rats. Apparent LH pulses were found in the postpubertal period in all animals bearing estradiol or cholesterol implants. It is unlikely that pubertal changes in responsiveness to estrogen are due to a change in estrogen receptor (ER) expression, because the number of ERα-immunoreactive cells and mRNA levels of Esr1, Esr2 and Gpr30 in the mPOA and ARC were comparable between the pre- and postpubertal periods. In addition, kisspeptin or GnRH injection overrode estradiol-dependent prepubertal LH suppression, suggesting that estrogen inhibits the kisspeptin-GnRH cascade during the prepubertal period. Thus, estrogen-responsive neurons located in the mPOA and ARC may play key roles in estrogen-dependent prepubertal restraint of GnRH/LH secretion in female rats.     

Association between breed,gender and age in relation to cardiovascular disorders in insured dogs in Japan

The association between breed, gender and age and cardiovascular disorders in the insured dog population in Japan was investigated, using multiple logistic regression analysis and data from 299,555 dogs insured between April 2010 and March 2011. The overall annual prevalence of cardiovascular disorder diagnosis was 2.1%. Using the Miniature Dachshund as the reference breed, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel had the highest odds of cardiovascular disorder with a ratio of 16.2 (95% confidence interval: 14.4–18.2), followed by Maltese, Pomeranian, Chihuahua and Shih Tzu. Male dogs had increased odds of 1.2 (1.1–1.3). The dogs had increased odds of having cardiovascular disorder by 1.5 times as their age increased by one year.     

Decrease in stearic acid proportions in adipose tissues and liver lipids in fatty liver of dairy cows

Samples of liver and perirenal, mesenteric and subcutaneous fat were collected from 16 sick necropsied dairy cows to evaluate the fatty acid profiles in the hepatic and adipose tissues associated with advanced fatty liver or hepatic lipidosis. Hepatic triglyceride and eight fatty acids were measured in the hepatic and adipose tissues. Six cows had more than 3% triglyceride on fresh weight in their livers and were classified as having fatty liver. Stearic and linoleic acid proportions in the liver decreased markedly with increased hepatic triglyceride levels, while the proportion of palmitic and oleic acids increased. The most striking fluctuations in hepatic lipidosis were manifested as decreased stearic acid in the adipose tissues including subcutaneous fat with the trend of decreasing stearic acid. Palmitic acid was elevated in hepatic and perirenal fat in fatty liver cows. In instances of advanced hepatic lipidosis, palmitoleic acid increased in only subcutaneous fat and not in perirenal or mesenteric fat. In addition to the proportions of hepatic fatty acids in fatty liver, this study also clarified the fluctuations observed in the profiles of fatty acids of the adipose tissues in cows with advanced hepatic lipidosis, particularly the decline in the proportions of stearic acid.     

Survival and Fluctuation in Density of Myrothecium roridum in Mulberry Field Soil

The density of Myrothecium roridum increased in field soil from June to October and decreased from February to April in 1996–1998. The fluctuation in density of M. roridum in the surface soil was affected by the average temperature. In the greenhouse, mulberry leaves were infected by conidia that splashed from soil artificially infested with conidia of M. roridum at 10³ or more conidia/g soil. Disease incidence on mulberry increased when soil was amended with the fallen leaves and when mulberries were planted densely in soil artificially infested with a high conidial density of M. roridum. Received 9 December 1999/ Accepted in revised form 21 July 2000     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas syringae </Emphasis>Strains Are Classified into Five Groups by Comparing DMA Homology at the <Emphasis Type="Italic">hrp </Emphasis>Neighboring Regions

Previously, we classified Pseudomonas syringae strains into at least three groups (I, II and U) by comparing DNA homology at the hrp cluster and its neighboring regions (Inoue and Takikawa 1999). However, heterogeneous strains remained in the undetermined group (group U). We further classify group U, using pvs. syringae and coronafaciens as references. Comparison of restriction sites for regions of each pathovar revealed distinct differences. By using probes from the two pathovars, comparisons of DNA homology at the regions separated two additional distinct groups (III and IV) from group U. Therefore, P. syringae strains are classified into at least five groups. Received 4 November 1999/ Accepted in revised form 27 January 2000