Histological and immunohistochemical features of cutaneous mast cell tumor in six captive four-toed hedgehogs (Atelerix albiventris)

This report described the histopathological and immunohistochemical features of cutaneous mast cell tumor (MCT) in six hedgehogs. The hedgehogs presented single cutaneous mass with ulcer and crusting. Histologically, the neoplastic lesions were characterized by the proliferation of well-differentiated mast cells (3 cases), and atypical mast cells (3 cases) with one atypical histiocytic morphology. Immunohistochemically, tumor cells were positive for KIT and mast cell tryptase, and were negative for Iba-1. In well-differentiated MCT, all patients were clinically improved and survived more than 365 days after surgical excision, whereas an atypical histiocytic MCT showed aggressive behavior with re-recurrence, and the animal died 115 days after surgery. These findings suggest that, compatible with other animals, well-differentiated MCT has a better prognosis in hedgehogs.     

Microbiota of 'airag', 'tarag' and other kinds of fermented dairy products from nomad in Mongolia

The traditional fermented dairy products were collected from three nomadic families in Donto‐Govi prefecture in Mongolia (central Mongolia), and those microbiota were analyzed. These samples consist three of ‘airag’, two of ‘tarag’, two of ‘isgelen tarag’ and ‘qoormog’, and some cheeses. In airag, Lactobacillus (L.) helveticus, L. kefiri, and Saccharomyces (S.) dairensis were common, and L. paracasei, L. plantarum, L. farciminis, S. cerevisiae, Issachenkia (I.) orientalis, Kluyveromyces (K.) wickerhamii were also found. In tarag, isgelen tarag and qoormog, L. helveticus, L. kefiri, L. fermentum, L. paracasei and L. acetotolerance were found. L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus was also found in one tarag and one qoormog samples. Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis showed that there were diversity in each L. helveticus family and products, and there were common strains found in airag and tarag in the same family.     

Microbiota analysis of Caspian Sea yogurt, a ropy fermented milk circulated in Japan

We analyzed the microbiota of domestic ropy fermented milk, Caspian Sea yogurt (or 'kasupikai yohguruto' in Japanese), circulated in Japan. We collected six varieties from five localities. Lactococcus ( L) lactis ssp. cremoris was isolated from all samples as the dominant strain at levels of 10⁸−10⁹ CFU/g. We show this strain produces an extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) that causes the unique characteristic viscosity of the product. From analysis of the RAPD pattern of 60 bacterial isolates from the six samples, we found that 59 strains from a total of 60 isolates were identical and produced this viscosity. Furthermore, PFGE analysis of representative strains from each sample indicated that the isolates could be classified into four subgroups. This suggests these L. lactis ssp. cremoris strains found in Caspian Sea yogurt may have been slightly mutated during subculture in Japan. In addition, Lactobacillus (L.) sakei ssp. sakei were isolated from three samples; L. plantarum , Gluconoacetobacter sacchari and Acetobacter aceti were isolated from two samples; and L. paracasei , L. kefiri , Leuconostoc ( Leu. ) mesenteroides were isolated from one sample.     

Use of parasites as biological tags for separating stocks of the starspotted dogfish Mustelus manazo in Japan and Taiwan

ABSTRACT:   The parasite fauna of Mustelus manazo from seven localitiesin Japan and Taiwan was assessed for the feasibility of using parasitesas biological tags for the identification of different host stocks.Examination of 1038 host specimens resulted in 13 parasite speciesrecorded: one nematode, two myxosporeans, two copepods and eightcestodes. Although relatively low overall prevalence of the firstfive species at different localities showed some significant differences,the samples collected in Tokyo Bay bore the lowest similarity (19.2%).These results support previous studies, which suggested the existenceof a unique host stock in Tokyo Bay. Accordingly, combinations ofprevalence data may provide useful information on stock identification.Cestodes probably have the greatest potential for use as biologicaltags. Detailed examination of 25 specimens of M .  manazo fromAomori and Tokyo Bay disclosed eight species of intestinal cestodes.A canonical discriminant analysis based on these species separatedthe two localities clearly.