Peaks of brainstem auditory evoked potentials in dogs

The effects of electrode configuration and click polarity on brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP) in dogs were investigated to clarify the inconsistent nomenclature for each peak. Four positive peaks (waves 1, 2, 3 and 4) before a deep negative trough and a fifth positive peak (wave 5) following the trough were the basic components of BAEP in dogs, which were easily identified regardless of recording conditions such as electrode configuration and click polarity. Additional peaks tended to be present when a noncephalic reference electrode and/or single-polarity (rarefaction or condensation) click stimuli were used. The Roman nomenclature for the individual positive peaks of BAEP in dogs is confused owing to variations in the observed waveforms among researchers, but click polarity and/or reference electrode position can explain all the previously reported variations in BAEP waveforms in dogs. When the criteria concerning wave V in the guidelines of BAEP in human beings are applied to avoid further confusion of Roman nomenclature in dogs, it is recommended that the basic five positive peaks (waves 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 as identified easily with Ai-Vertex configuration and alternating clicks) are designated as waves I, II, III, V and VI, respectively. Wave IV (wave 3b) occurs occasionally before wave V in dogs.Abbreviations BAEP brainstem auditory evoked potentials - dBHL dB hearing level - IPL interpeak latency - Ai the caudodorsal end of the zygomatic arch ipsilateral to the stimulated ear - Nape the neck over the spinous process of the fourth cervical vertebra     

甘肃东方蜜蜂的形态特征研究

通过测定甘肃2个不同样点的4群东方蜜蜂发现,甘肃蜜蜂种群内遗传变异丰富,种群中许多形态性状特征表现出较明显的地理变异性;蜜蜂个体增大、体色变深,具体是:前翅长、前翅宽、背板3,4宽;后腿长、蜡镜长、蜡镜宽、蜡镜间距、腹片3,6的长和宽逐渐增加;背板3,4、小盾片的色素度逐渐加深。这些均具有生态适应意义。     

Nationwide survey of hepatitis E virus infection among wildlife in Japan

In Japan, hepatitis E virus (HEV) causes hepatitis in humans through the consumption of raw or undercooked meat, including game meat. In the present study, nationwide surveillance of HEV infection among a total of 5,557 wild animals, including 15 species, was conducted in Japan. The prevalence of anti-HEV antibodies in wild boar was 12.4%, with higher positive rates in big boars (over 50 kg, 18.4%) than in small individuals (less than 30 kg, 5.3%). Furthermore, HEV RNA was more frequently detected in piglets than in older boars. Interestingly, the detection of HEV among wildlife by ELISA and RT-PCR suggested that HEV infection in Sika deer was a very rare event, and that there was no HEV infection among wild animals except for wild boar, Sika deer and Japanese monkeys. In conclusion, wild boar, especially piglets, are at high risk of HEV infection, while other wild animals showed less risk or no risk of HEV transmission.     

Utilization of Sake lees as Broiler Feedstuff and its Effects on Growth Performance and Intestinal Immunity

Increasing food loss and waste (FLW) is a global problem, and efforts are being made to use waste food as potential livestock feed material. The amount of self-supplied feed is lower in Japan than in other countries, and the government recommends FLW use for animal feed. Sake (Japanese rice wine) is a traditional alcoholic beverage. During the sake manufacturing process, large amounts of squeezed solids or “lees” (sake lees) are generated. Sake lees are nutritious and functional, but are prone to spoilage. In this study, we investigated whether sake lees should be mixed with animal feed immediately or after drying. To assess the usefulness of sake lees as a poultry feed ingredient and determine the effect of sake lees on intestinal immunity, we performed a feeding trial with three treatments: a raw sake lees (RSL) diet, dried sake lees (DSL) diet, and control diet. Three-week-old broilers were fed these diets (n=8 per group) for two weeks. We then calculated feed efficiency and performed RT-qPCR to assess the effects of diet on intestinal immunity. The growth performance in the RSL diet group was equivalent to that in the control diet group. The DSL diet became difficult for broilers to eat, resulting in decreased growth performance. In the ileum of RSL-diet broilers, the mRNA expression levels of TGF-β1 and avian β-defensin (AvBD)12 were significantly increased compared to those of control diet broilers (p<0.05), and a significant correlation was observed between the two genes (p<0.05). Our results indicated that sake lees should not be dried and should be mixed immediately with feed, and this sake lees when fed to chicken activates the intestinal immunity. However, sake lees have a lower fat content than corn, and it is thus important to combine sake lees with high-energy feed.     

Variation in cooking and eating quality traits in Japanese rice germplasm accessions

The eating quality of cooked rice is important and determines its market price and consumer acceptance. To comprehensively describe the variation of eating quality in 183 rice germplasm accessions, we evaluated 33 eating-quality traits including amylose and protein contents, pasting properties of rice flour, and texture of cooked rice grains. All eating-quality traits varied widely in the germplasm accessions. Principal-components analysis (PCA) revealed that allelic differences in the Wx gene explained the largest proportion of phenotypic variation of the eating-quality traits. In 146 accessions of non-glutinous temperate japonica rice, PCA revealed that protein content and surface texture of the cooked rice grains significantly explained phenotypic variations of the eating-quality traits. An allelic difference based on simple sequence repeats, which was located near a quantitative trait locus (QTL) on the short arm of chromosome 3, was associated with differences in the eating quality of non-glutinous temperate japonica rice. These results suggest that eating quality is controlled by genetic factors, including the Wx gene and the QTL on chromosome 3, in Japanese rice accessions. These genetic factors have been consciously selected for eating quality during rice breeding programs in Japan.