Horizontal transmission and host-virulence attenuation of totivirus in violet root rot fungus Helicobasidium mompa

Monokaryotic strains of Helicobasidium mompa were used as vectors of a mycovirus between various H. mompa isolates to examine the transmissibility of one of the mycoviruses, totivirus (HmTV1–17 virus) in the hypovirulent isolate V17 of H. mompa. The isolates that acquired HmTV1–17 virus were also examined for any alteration in the virulence. Twelve dikaryotic isolates of H. mompa, belonging to 11 mycelial compatibility groups (MCGs) and being mycelially incompatible with isolate V17, were used as recipients of HmTV1–17 virus. Two monokaryotic isolates that were mycelially incompatible with isolate V17 and all of the recipients were also used as vectors of HmTV1-17 virus between isolate V17 and the recipients. When isolate V17 and recipients were directly paired on plate media, HmTV1-17 virus was transmitted from isolate V17 into 2 of the 12 recipients (i.e., 2 of the 11 MCGs). Two monokaryotic strains were paired with isolate V17, and the monokaryotic strains that acquired HmTV1-17 virus were then used as new virus donors. When the monokaryotic strains containing HmTV1-17 virus were paired with the 12 recipients, HmTV1-17 virus was transmitted into 7 of the 12 recipients from the monokaryotic strains (i.e., 7 of 11 MCGs). Based on these results, we concluded that monokaryotic strains could act as vectors to transmit HmTV1-17 virus into H. mompa isolates. When four of the H. mompa isolates that acquired HmTV1-17 virus were used to inoculate apple rootstock Malus prunifolia, the virulence of all of the isolates was attenuated from that of their parental isolates. Moreover, because the DNA fingerprints of the fungal isolates that acquired HmTV1-17 virus were the same as those of their parental isolates, the infection with HmTV1-17 virus is considered the cause of virulence attenuation of H. mompa.     

Simple diagnosis using ethanol immersion of strawberry plants with latent infection by Colletotrichum acutatum, Dendrophoma obscurans, and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. fragariae

Simple diagnosis by ethanol immersion (SDEI) to detect Glomerella cingulata was used to detect three other fungi that also cause latent infection of strawberry plants. Signs on strawberry leaves with asymptomatic latent infection by Colletotrichum acutatum became visible using SDEI. Salmon-pink conidial masses were produced in the acervuli on the treated leaves 5 days after incubation at 28°C. In the case of Dendrophoma obscurans, pycnidia with amber conidial masses formed 5 days after incubation at 28°C. The pycnidia were observed mainly on the ribs, and conidial masses exuded from the ostiole. These macroscopic conidial masses were similar to those of G. cingulata and C. acutatum. When water was dripped onto a lesion caused by D. obscurans, the pycnidia exuded white filamentous conidial masses, making the distinction of D. obscurans from G. cingulata or C. acutatum. On petioles with latent infection by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. fragariae, white aerial hyphae grew out from the vascular tissues on the cut surface 3 days after incubation at 28°C and were easily observed by eye or with a loupe. Thus, SDEI was also useful for diagnosing latent infection of strawberry plants by C. acutatum, D. obscurans, and F. oxysporum f. sp. fragariae.     

Effects of a high milk intake during the pre‐weaning period on nutrient metabolism and growth rate in Japanese Black cattle

This study aimed to determine the effects of feeding an increased volume of high‐fat milk during the early post‐natal life on metabolite concentrations in the blood, the expression of key genes regulating intermediary metabolism in the skeletal muscles, and the rate of growth of Japanese Black cattle. All calves were fed a high‐fat milk replacer (crude protein, 26%; crude fat, 25.5%; total dissolved nitrogen, 116%). Control calves (n = 4) were nursed with 500 g milk replacer until 3 months of age, whereas calves in the experimental group (n = 4) were nursed with 1800 g milk replacer until 3 months, and then the volume was gradually reduced until 5 months. Body weight was significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group at 7 months. Plasma glucose concentrations were significantly lower in the experimental group. Expression of glucose‐transporter‐4 messenger RNA (mRNA) was lower, whereas that of glucose transporter 1, cluster of differentiation 36, and carnitine palmitoyltransferase‐1b mRNA was significantly higher in the Longissimus thoracis of the experimental group. Nutritional status during early post‐natal life appears to strongly influence the growth rate and glucose and lipid metabolism in Japanese Black cattle.     

Changes in the myocardial performance index during dobutamine administration in anesthetized cats

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between myocardial performance index (MPI; also known as the Tei index) and cardiac function in anesthetized cats administered dobutamine. ANIMALS: 6 adult cats. PROCEDURES: Cats were anesthetized by administration of propofol (6 mg/kg, IV), and anesthesia was maintained by administration of isoflurane. Heart rate and systolic arterial pressure (SAP) were monitored. Stroke volume, cardiac output, and aortic blood flow (ABF) were measured by use of transesophageal ultrasonography. Left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS), mitral E-wave velocity-to-A-wave velocity (E:A) ratio, and ejection time were measured by use of transthoracic echocardiography. Dobutamine was administrated via a cephalic vein at rates of 2.5, 5.0, and 10 microg/kg/min. RESULTS: Heart rate, SAP, cardiac output, and ABF increased with dobutamine administration, whereas stroke volume significantly decreased. The LVFS significantly increased, and the E:A ratio significantly decreased. Total isovolumic time and the MPI significantly decreased. The MPI was negatively correlated (r=-0.63) with LVFS. Conversely, the MPI was positively correlated with the E:A ratio (r=0.47), stroke volume (r=0.66), and total isovolumic time (r=0.95). However, the MPI was not significantly correlated with heart rate, SAP, cardiac output, or ABF. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Analysis suggested that the MPI provides a sensitive clinical assessment of cardiac response to medication in cats, which may be similar to the usefulness of the MPI reported in humans.     

断奶后多系统衰竭综合征病猪中存在沙门氏菌和猪繁殖与呼吸系统综合征病毒共感染

调查了曾经暴发沙门氏菌病的四个猪场的14头病猪,发现在这些猪的肿胀淋巴结中出现带有淋巴细胞排空的肉芽肿性炎症。应用免疫标记和PCR方法在病变部位检测到猪圆环病毒2(PCV2)抗原和PCV2DNA。此外,在这些病猪的肺脏中检测出猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒(PRRSV),分离到猪霍乱沙门氏菌。在9头沙门氏菌感染猪中,有5头为沙门氏菌、PMWS与PRRSV并发感染,其数量(55.6%)远远高于沙门氏菌与PMWS感染猪(22.2%)或沙门氏菌与PRRSV感染猪(22.2%)。     

Quality aspect of fish sauce prepared from underutilized fatty Japanese anchovy and rabbit fish

ABSTRACT:   To explore the potential utility of underutilized fish in the fish sauce industry, fish sauces were prepared from both raw and heat-induced meat of Japanese anchovy Engraulis japonica and rabbit fish Siganus fuscescens using wheat malt, and their quality aspects and sensory properties were assessed. Proximate composition of the fish meat represents protein as the major component (16.0–17.8%), other than moisture. Analyses of free amino acids, peptides including oligopeptides, and organic acids contents in fish sauces revealed suitability of both raw and heat-induced meat of the selected species in commercial fish sauce production. The variations in taste of raw meat fish sauces were species-specific, but the taste of fish sauces from heat-induced meat were similar.     

Utilization of monounsaturated fatty acid (18:1n-9, oleic acid) by freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man) juveniles

The utilization of oleic acid as an energy source and the effects of oleic acid levels and/or dietary soy bean lecithin (SBL) on oleic acid utilization, growth and survival, and lipid class and fatty acid compositions of freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man), juveniles were determined.
Increase in levels of dietary oleic acid from 10 to 80 g kg⁻¹ significantly ( P ≤ 0.05) reduced growth, survival and feed conversion efficiency of M. rosenbergii juveniles during the 40-day feeding period. Inclusion of 20 g kg⁻¹ SBL had no significant effect ( P ≥ 0.05) on growth and survival, nor was there any interactive effect between dietary SBL and oleic acid levels.
Body fatty acid profile of prawns reflected dietary fatty acid quantity. The fatty acid composition of prawns fed diets containing 80 g kg⁻¹ oleic acid had tremendously high proportions of oleic acid. Polar lipids, mostly phosphatidylcholine (PC), constituted the bulk of the extracted total lipids. Prawns fed with SBL had significantly ( P ≥ 0.05) higher PC content.
Oleic acid was metabolized for energy by M. rosenbergii juveniles at the same rate regardless of dietary level of SBL and/or oleic acid. Expired ¹⁴CO₂ accounted for half of the ingested radioactivity 48 h after feeding with labelled diets. No significant difference in the amount of ¹⁴CO₂ expired by prawns fed the labelled test diets was found. Per cent radioactivity ingested and absorbed into the body was also not significantly different in prawns of the different dietary treatments.