Association of tumor-associated antigen on the proliferation of bovine leukemia virus-infected lymphoblastoid B-cell lines.

The association of tumor-associated antigen (TAA) on the proliferation of BLV-infected lymphoblastoid B-cell lines (BL2M3 and BL312) was investigated. Flow cytometric analysis of the expression of TAA with monoclonal antibody (mAb) c143 showed high expression of TAA on the surfaces of BL2M3 and BL312 cells. A large amount of TAA was found in the culture supernatant of BL2M3 and BL312 cells as well as in the lysates of BL2M3 and BL312 cells. Culture supernatant but not lysates of BL2M3 and BL312 cells promoted the growth of either BL2M3 cells or BL312 cells. Furthermore, this growth promoting activity in culture supernatants of BL2M3 and BL312 cells was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner when cultured with mAb c143. These results suggested that TAA may be involved in the growth factor-mediated cell growth of bovine B-lymphoblastoid cell lines expressing TAA on their cell surface.     

Anti-erythrocyte membrane antibodies detected in sera of dogs naturally infected with Babesia gibsoni.

Due to the potential for anti-erythrocyte membrane antibodies as possible enhancers of erythrocyte destruction, the presence of serum anti-erythrocyte membrane antibodies in 31 dogs with Babesia gibsoni infection admitted to a veterinary hospital was investigated by an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunoblotting analyses. This infection resulted in an increase of anti-erythrocyte membrane antibodies in 84% (IgG) and 74% (IgM) of 31 infected dogs, respectively. This was confirmed by the similarity in the protein profiles of the erythrocyte membrane antigens immunoblotted with rabbit antiserum to dog erythrocyte membrane antigens and infected dog serum. These results suggest the production of anti-erythrocyte membrane antibodies was induced by B. gibsoni infection.     

Identification of a resistant protein from scallop shell extract and its bile acid-binding activity

In this study, we showed that feeding rats the organic extract of scallop shells (scallop shell extract) caused a decrease in the weights of white adipose tissues in rats fed a high-fat diet. In addition, the cholesterol concentration in the serum of rats that received a diet containing scallop shell extract was significantly lower than that in the serum of rats on the control diet. Feeding this scallop shell extract to rats increased the fecal weight as well as the fecal excretion of bile acids. The amino acid composition of the feces from rats fed the scallop shell extract was different from that of feces from rats fed the control diet, and treatment of the extract with pepsin and pancreatin identified a protein with a molecular weight of 90 kDa (90-kDa protein) as one of the indigestible proteins. Interestingly the 90-kDa protein was found to be identical to a free radical-scavenging protein we previously identified and showed the ability to bind bile acids. These results suggest that indigestible proteins (resistant proteins) in the scallop shell extract, including the 90-kDa protein, inhibit the absorption of bile acid by binding to it and cause increased excretion of fecal bile acid, which subsequently may decrease the serum cholesterol level.     

Free radical scavenging ability and structure of a 90-kDa protein from the scallop shell

We have previously reported that the scallop shell extract possesses free radical scavenging activity. In this study, we isolated a glycoprotein with a molecular weight of approximately 90 kDa (named 90-kDa protein) which showed 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and superoxide anion radical scavenging, reducing, and ferrous ion-chelating activities. Amino acid composition analysis showed that the 90-kDa protein was rich in Asx (Asp or Asn), Ser and Gly residues. A BLAST search of partial amino acid sequences determined by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometry revealed that the 90-kDa protein is a novel protein. The 90-kDa protein is a yellow protein that contains fluorescent substances. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a radical scavenging protein from the scallop shell.     

Distribution of inclusion bodies in tissues from 100 dogs infected with canine distemper virus

One hundred dogs that were positive for canine distemper virus antigen and inclusion bodies in the tonsils were examined for the distribution of inclusion bodies in various tissues. Inclusion bodies were found in the lungs (70 dogs), brains (20 dogs), urinary bladders (73 dogs), stomachs (78 dogs), spleens (77 dogs), and lymph nodes (81 dogs) of the dogs. Based on these results, the tonsils may be the most suitable tissue for detection of inclusion bodies in canine distemper.     

A canine case of skull base meningioma treated with hydroxyurea

An 11-year-old female miniature schnauzer was tentatively diagnosed with the skull base meningioma, based on several examinations. Because surgical treatment was difficult, and outpatient radiation therapy was not available in the local area, chemotherapy with hydroxyurea combined with dexamethasone was selected. The patient's clinical symptoms improved after one week of treatment, and the tumor size was obviously reduced on MRI performed 37 days after treatment began. The patient received hydroxyurea for 7 months, with symptoms remaining stable, and the tumor re-increased to almost the same size at 7 months as that at the initial examination. At that time, hydroxyurea was discontinued. The patient died from pulmonary edema 14 months after treatment began. Pathologically, the tumor was diagnosed as a meningioma.     

Electrocorticographic and histological findings in a Shetland sheepdog with intractable epilepsy

A Shetland sheepdog with epilepsy refractory to antiepileptic drugs was brought to the division of Veterinary Radiology at Nippon Veterinary and Animal Science University. Scalp electroencephalography and computed tomography was performed, but no abnormality was detected in either examination. To obtain detailed information, electrodes were implanted on the dura mater, and the electrocorticogram (ECoG) was recorded. In the ECoG, sporadic spikes were detected in the left parietal region, suggesting the presence of the epileptic focus in this region. After the dog's death, abnormalities of gyri were found in the region where spikes were detected in the ECoG. On histopathological examination, laminar malacia of the cingulate gyrus was observed. Furthermore, in the hippocampus, neuronal loss of pyramidal cells was observed.     

Uterine disorders diagnosed by ventrotomy in 47 rabbits

The type, ages of occurrence, primary complaints, clinical signs and mortality in forty-seven cases of uterine disorders diagnosed by ventrotomy in rabbits were analyzed retrospectively. Endometrial hyperplasia (29.8%) was most frequently observed, followed by uterine adenocarcinoma (21.3%). Tumorous lesions were seen in 46.8% of the cases. The age of occurrence ranged from two years and two months to seven years and six months, with a peak at four to five years of age. The most common primary complaint was bleeding (62.2%), followed by mammary gland abnormality (12.8%) and increased abdominal circumference (10.6%). Physical examinations revealed mammary gland disorders such as mammary cysts in 31.9% of the cases. Uterine disorders were detected by palpation in 15 out of 32 cases with a primary complaint of bleeding. Ultrasonography showed uterine disorders in 21 out of 24 cases, suggesting that ultrasonography could be useful in the diagnosis of uterine disorders. The outcome seemed to be influenced by physical status rather than malignancy of lesions. The mortality was higher in cases with symptoms such as anorexia, emaciation, severe anemia, and dehydration.     

In Vitro Activities of Antifungal Agents against Clinical Isolates of Dermatophytes from Animals

Although the susceptibility of dermatophytes to antifungal drugs is well documented in humans, the effectiveness in animals has not been previously investigated. The in vitro susceptibility of 54 clinical isolates from animal dermatophytoses to ketoconazole (KTZ), itaconazole (ITZ) and terbinafine (TFN) was measured using microdilution assay (CLSI M38-A2 test) and by the E-test (KTZ and ITZ). All 3 drugs showed antifungal activity, while KTZ displayed the broadest minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) range (0.125-16 μg/ml) against M. canis and M. gypseum. The MIC of KTZ and ITZ was almost the same for human and animal isolates of T. mentagrophytes and T. rubrum. The MIC of TFN was almost the same for dermatophytes isolated from humans and animals.