Reduction of transport stress of ayu by obligated schooling

We investigated stress responses of ayu Plecoglossus altivelis under the hypothesis that overcrowding during transport can be a stressor and the stress predisposes fish to disease by decline in immunocompetence. The extent of stress response was determined under different fish densities. As inferred from the serum concentration of cortisol 1 day after the treatment, the density at more than 23 kg/m³, which was within the range of normal transporting procedures, acutely evoked intense stress responses. To examine a possible way to reduce the stress response of fish under crowding conditions, we compared two fish groups established in water tanks with circulating (whirling) and turbulent currents at the same density. The cortisol levels 1 day after the treatment were 2.5-fold higher in turbulent current than in whirling current. Fish in whirling current formed a school, while those in turbulent current aggregated with each other. Schooling of fish induced by water flow may reduce their stress responses during transport. A transport system with a directional water flow should keep fish in good condition without reducing the number of fish contained.     

Prevalence,O-genotype and Shiga toxin (Stx) 2 subtype of Stx-producing Escherichia coli strains isolated from Argentinean beef cattle

The aims of this study were to investigate prevalence, O-genotype, and virulence gene profile including Shiga toxin (Stx) 2 gene-subtype of Stx-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in beef cattle from the Bahía Blanca in Argentina. Rectal swabs were collected from 283 beef cattle in 2012. stx genes were detected in 90 (32%) out of the 283 rectal swabs by stx gene-specific PCR assay. The positive cases were 13 with stx1, 58 with stx2, and 19 with both stx1 and stx2. Among 90 stx gene-positive samples, 45 STEC strains were isolated, which included 3 stx1, 34 stx2, and eight stx1 and stx2 genes positive isolates. O-genotyping grouped 45 STEC strains into 19 different O-genotypes such as Og8, Og145, Og171, Og185 (4 from each), Og22, Og153, Og157 (3 from each) and others. Various stx2 gene-subtypes were identified in 42 STEC strains: 13 positive cases for stx2a, 11 for stx2c, 3 for stx2g, 10 for stx2a and stx2d, 4 for stx2a and stx2c, and 1 for stx2b, stx2c and stx2g. efaI gene, generally prevalent in clinical strains, was detected in relatively high in the STEC strains. These data suggest that stx2a and stx2c were distributed not only in O145 and O157 but also in minor O-genotypes of STEC in Argentina.     

Genetic population structure of the deep-sea whelk Buccinum tsubai in the Japan Sea

ABSTRACT:   The purpose of the present paper was to examine the genetic population structure of Buccinum tsubai in the Japan Sea. Mitochondrial 16SrRNA gene sequence analysis was performed with specimens from various stations in the Japan Sea. Mitochondrial lineages were clearly patterned geographically in four separate areas: the Hokkaido area, the Yamagata–Toyama area, the Yamato Bank area, and the San'in area. The main distribution depth range of B. tsubai is between 200 m and 1000 m isodepths, and the horizontal distance between the 200 m and 1000 m isodepth lines represents the specific spatial scale of the habitat (SSSH). These four areas were separated either by the complete discontinuity of the SSSH area or by its narrow spatial extension. Genetic distances between the main haplotypes of each area were calculated as Jukes–Cantor distances, the value of which ranged between 0.012 and 0.017. This value seemed to be unrelated to the geographic distance. There was no tendency for clustering according to depth. In future, the morphological characters of the four lineages of B. tsubai should be compared in detail in order to elucidate significant genetic differences among them.     

The pain-relieving effects of lactoferrin on oxaliplatin-induced neuropathic pain

Oxaliplatin (OXL) therapy often causes side effects including chronic peripheral neuropathy. We investigated the pain-relieving effects of recombinant human lactoferrin (rhLf) as well as a long-acting IgG-Fc fused rhLf (rhLf-Fc) on OXL-induced neuropathic pain. We used the hLf in this study, because the homology between mouse Lf and hLf is higher than that of bovine Lf. In addition, rhLf-Fc is expected to enhance the analgesic effect due to the life extension effect in the body. We administered OXL (2 mg/kg, i.v.) to mice twice weekly for 4 weeks. Phosphate buffered saline (PBS), rhLf (100 mg/kg, i.p.) or rhLf-Fc (100 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered once a week from day 15 to 32. We also assessed the continuous infusion of same drugs (10 mg/kg/day) into the external jugular vein by using an osmotic pump. Both of rhLf and rhLf-Fc significantly reduced the hypersensitivity to mechanical stimulation when they were administered intraperitoneally. The continuous infusion of rhLf resulted in a more pronounced effect. Histopathological analysis of sciatic nerve showed that both rhLf and rhLf-Fc tended to reduce nerve fiber damage, but no significant difference was observed in nerve fiber cross-sectional area. Therefore, it was suggested that rhLf or rhLf-Fc injection could be an option for controlling neuropathic pain, which are side effects of OXL.     

Further epidemiological survey for atovaquone resistant related gene of Babesia gibsoni in Japan during 2015–2018

A single-nucleotide polymorphism causing the replacement of methionine with isoleucine (M121I) in cytochrome b of Babesia gibsoni has been reported to reduce the susceptibility to atovaquone (ATV) in B. gibsoni infection. In our previous study, B. gibsoni with M121I was suggested to exist in nature. Thus, further examinations were performed. In total, 105 genomic DNA samples from B. gibsoni-infected dogs were collected from western (98 samples from 15 prefectures) and eastern areas (7 samples from 4 prefectures) in Japan. The M121I variant population was identified using allele-specific real-time PCR: it was then detected in nine samples (8.57%), which was higher than that in the previous study (4.11%). Although there are unclear points, such as the history of ATV usage, careful attention should be given to emerging ATV resistance.     

Importance of AC-rich Element on Pea Phenylalanine Ammonia-Lyase Gene 1 Promoter for Expression Induced by Nonpathogenic Attack

Regulatory elements in the promoter of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase gene 1 of pea (PSPAL1) in response to nonpathogenic attack were identified by in vivo footprinting analysis. The footprints determined AC-rich sequences, Box-I and Box-II, that were conserved at similar positions in the phenylpropanoid gene promoters from several plants. To reveal the functions of the AC-rich sequence in nonpathogen-responsiveness, we constructed Box-I-deletion PSPAL1 promoter (dB-1) with GUS reporter gene and transformed it into tobacco plant. The dB-1 had reduced basal expression and a complete loss of nonpathogen-responsiveness. These results indicate the essentiality of Box-I for PSPAL1 activation induced by nonpathogenic attack. Received 27 October 1999/ Accepted in revised form 25 November 1999