Apocrine adenocarcinoma in a golden hamster.

An apocrine adenocarcinoma was observed in the subcutis of the abdomen of golden hamster. Histologically, the tumor cells irregularly formed multiple layers of cysts and some detached cells were presented in the cystic space. PAS stain with alpha-amylase digestion revealed PAS-positive alpha-amylase-resistant granules in the cytoplasm. Immunohistochemically, cytokeratin was demonstrated in the tumor cells. By electron microscopy, the tumor cells had an oval nucleus with invagination, abundant cytoplasmic organelles and microvilli protruding into the intercellular spaces.     

Establishment of testicular and ovarian cell lines from Honmoroko (Gnathopogon caerulescens)

We succeeded to establish cell lines from endemic fish species Honmoroko Gnathopogon caerulescens, which inhabits Lake Biwa, the third oldest lake in the world. Two cell lines designated as RMT1 and RMO1 were established from testis and ovary of G. caerulescens, respectively. These cell lines were initially cultured in Leibovitz’s L-15 medium supplemented with fetal bovine serum (FBS), fish embryo extract, epidermal growth factor, and basic fibroblast growth factor. Further addition of forskolin and β-mercaptoethanol was required to establish and maintain these cell lines for more than 60 passages. RMT1 and RMO1 cells showed fibroblast- and epithelial-like morphology, respectively. From immunocytochemical staining and gene expression patterns, RMT1 cells showed a characteristic of testicular Sertoli cells and RMO1 cells did that of ovarian theca cells. Both RMT1 and RMO1 cells multiplied well in the medium supplemented with 10 % FBS at 28 °C and their minimum population doubling times were 24.4 and 28.8 h, respectively. At the 45th passage, most of the RMT1 and RMO1 cells had a hyperploid set of chromosomes (67.3 and 96.1 %, respectively). Cells with normal diploid chromosome set were not observed. RMT1 cells were transfected with an enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) expression vector and human elongation factor 1 α promoter worked efficiently to express EGFP. In addition, EGFP-expressing cell lines were also established, suggesting that the cell lines could be utilized as an in vitro monitor system (biosensor) for the evaluation of endocrine disruptors which might affect gonadal function.     

Commuting distances to local non‐farm workplaces and out‐migration: The case of Northeast Thailand

The relationship between commuting distances and where people work has been studied for urban contexts in both developed countries and developing countries. However, few studies have examined the situation in rural areas, and none look at commuting distances to non‐farm workplaces in rural areas of developing countries. This paper investigates how commuting distance, and thus accessibility, to local non‐farm work influences non‐farm employment and out‐migration from rural villages in Northeast Thailand. The main issues examined are: (i) the distance that rural residents travel to work in local non‐farm jobs; and (ii) the influence that local non‐farm employment has on the number of outmigrants from rural villages. The study finds: (i) distance between villages and non‐farm work sites impact the number of villagers who are employed in regular wage work; (ii) beyond 20 km villagers are less likely to travel to non‐farm employment using their own means of transportation; and (iii) employment in regular wage work decreases outmigration. The findings from this study contribute to the debates over the drivers of rural out‐migration, rural livelihood changes, and agrarian changes that are taking place in Southeast Asia.     

The effect of random and density‐dependent variation in sampling efficiency on variance of abundance estimates from fishery surveys

Abundance indices (AIs) provide information on population abundance and trends over time, while AI variance (AIV) provides information on reliability or quality of the AI. AIV is an important output from surveys and is commonly used in formal assessments of survey quality, in survey comparison studies, and in stock assessments. However, uncertainty in AIV estimates is poorly understood and studies on the precision and bias in survey AIV estimates are lacking. Typically, AIV estimates are “design based” and are derived from sampling theory under some aspect of randomized samples. Inference on population density in these cases can be confounded by unaccounted process errors such as those due to variable sampling efficiency (q). Here, we simulated fish distribution and surveys to assess the effect of q and variance in q on design‐based estimates of AIV. Simulation results show that the bias and precision of AIV depend on the mean q and variance in q. We conclude that to fully evaluate the reliability of AI, both observation error and variability in q must be accounted for when estimating AIV. A decrease in mean q and an increase in the variance in q results in increased bias and decreased precision in survey AIV estimates. These effects are likely small in surveys with mean q ≥ 1. However, for surveys where q ≤ 0.5, these effects can be large. Regardless of the survey type, AIV estimates can be improved with knowledge of q and variance in q.     

Ecology,physiology and genetics of a phycodnavirus infecting the noxious bloom-forming raphidophyte <Emphasis Type="Italic">Heterosigma akashiwo</Emphasis>

Abstract:   Heterosigma akashiwo virus (HaV) is a large icosahedral virus (∼0.2 μm) harboring a double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) genome (∼294 kbp). The virus is the only member of the genus Raphidovirus in the family Phycodnaviridae. Since its first discovery, a number of ecologic, physiologic and genetic studies about HaV have been conducted; especially, the relationship between H. akashiwo and HaV in nature was studied and viral infection is now regarded as a significant factor influencing the dynamics and termination of H. akashiwo blooms. HaV infection has considerable impacts on H. akashiwo populations in both aspects of fluctuation in biomass (quantity) and changes in clonal composition (quality). Partial sequencing of the HaV genome revealed that a number of genes showed considerable similarity to those of other protist-infecting viruses; still, the phylogenetic position of HaV suggested a number of enigmas in host–virus coevolution. Here are summarized the ecology, physiology and genetics of HaV especially from the viewpoint of the host–virus relationship.     

Eastern little tuna,Euthynnus affinis (Cantor, 1849) mature and reproduce within 1 year of rearing in land‐based tanks

Eastern little tuna (ELT, Euthynnus affinis) is expected to see use as a novel aquaculture species due to its rapid growth and high economic value. In this study, closing of the complete life cycle of ELT in land‐based tanks was successfully carried out. Seed production of a first generation (F1) derived from wild‐caught ELT broodstock was conducted in 2010, 2011 and 2012. Survival percentages of F1 ELT at 365 days post hatching for the 2010, 2011 and 2012 year classes were 0.9%, 0.4% and 6.3% respectively. On average, F1 ELT were approximately 40 cm in total length and weighed 1500 g by the time they reached 1 year of age. Successful artificial induction of spawning was achieved in 1‐year‐old F1 ELT using a gonadotropin‐releasing hormone analogue (GnRHa). Induction of spawning was successful at the first administration of GnRHa in the 2010, 2011 and 2012 year classes. First spawning was observed at 4 or 5 days post implantation, which indicated that oogenesis and spermatogenesis progressed within 1 year of rearing in land‐based tanks. During spawning periods, the average number of fertilized eggs and the average number of hatched larvae per spawning event in the 2010, 2011 and 2012 year classes were 20,480 eggs day^?1 and 177 larvae day^?1, 39,423 eggs day^?1 and 9347 larvae day^?1, and 819,555 eggs day^?1 and 674,445 larvae day^?1 respectively. Therefore, it was concluded that both male and female ELT reared in land‐based tanks were capable of reproduction at 1 year of age.     

Cerebral high-grade astrocytoma (glioblastoma) in a cat

A cerebral tumour was found in the right frontal lobe of a 7-year-old female mongrel cat. The mass showed infiltrative growth and caused deformation of the corpus callosum. Histopathologically, the tumour cells showed anaplasia, pleomorphism and mitotic figures. Necrosis and vascular proliferation were prominent. The neoplastic cells surrounded areas of necrosis, but as an indistinct pseudopalisade formation. Immunohistochemically, low numbers of tumour cells labelled positively for anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein and anti-S100 protein. Electron microscopically, the majority of tumour cells had no filaments and cytoplasmic processes, but the differentiated cells presented cytoplasmic filaments and glycogen granules. Based on these findings, the tumour was diagnosed as cerebral high-grade astrocytoma, glioblastoma.     

Effects of chlorine, iodine, and quaternary ammonium compound disinfectants on several exotic disease viruses

The effects of three representative disinfectants, chlorine (sodium hypochlorite), iodine (potassium tetraglicine triiodide), and quaternary ammonium compound (didecyldimethylammonium chloride), on several exotic disease viruses were examined. The viruses used were four enveloped viruses (vesicular stomatitis virus, African swine fever virus, equine viral arteritis virus, and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus) and two non-enveloped viruses (swine vesicular disease virus (SVDV) and African horse sickness virus (AHSV)). Chlorine was effective against all viruses except SVDV at concentrations of 0.03% to 0.0075%, and a dose response was observed. Iodine was very effective against all viruses at concentrations of 0.015% to 0.0075%, but a dose response was not observed. Quaternary ammonium compound was very effective in low concentration of 0.003% against four enveloped viruses and AHSV, but it was only effective against SVDV with 0.05% NaOH. Electron microscopic observation revealed the probable mechanism of each disinfectant. Chlorine caused complete degeneration of the viral particles and also destroyed the nucleic acid of the viruses. Iodine destroyed mainly the inner components including nucleic acid of the viruses. Quaternary ammonium compound induced detachment of the envelope of the enveloped viruses and formation of micelle in non-enveloped viruses. According to these results, chlorine and iodine disinfectants were quite effective against most of the viruses used at adequately high concentration. The effective concentration of quaternary ammonium compound was the lowest among the disinfectants examined.     

Gene constitution of South-East Asian native chickens, commercial chickens and jungle fowl using polymorphisms of four calpain genes

The gene constitution of polymorphisms of the four calpain genes (µ‐calpain, m‐calpain, p94, and µ/m‐calpain) were analyzed in South‐East Asian native chickens, White Leghorn and Broiler commercial chickens, and Red and Green jungle fowl. Polymorphisms were detected at all loci in chickens and Red jungle fowl, but only for CAPN1 (µ‐calpain gene) in Green jungle fowl. CAPN2 and CAPN1.5 are linked on chicken chromosome 3, and the genotype for these loci were treated as haplotype. Some combinations of calpain loci were tested using principal component analysis, and the best combination (CAPN1, CAPN3, and CAPN1.5) was determined. The proportion of polymorphic loci (P_poly) and heterozygosity (H?) were 1.00 and 0.316–0.465 in domestic chickens and red jungle fowl, and 0.33 and 0.137 in Green jungle fowl, respectively. G_ST values suggested that the degree of subdivision among native chickens was relatively low except for Thailand, which was highest. Pair‐wise F_ST testing, dendrogram and principal component analysis from the results of calpain loci showed that the four South‐East Asian native and commercial chicken populations were close genetically.