Termiticidal activity of wood vinegar, its components and their homologues

The termiticidal activity of wood vinegar, its components, and their homologues have been studied. Three kinds of wood vinegar made from the mixed chips ofCryptomeria japonlca andPseudotsga menziesii (wood vinegar A),Quercus serrata (wood vinegar B), andPinus densiflora (wood vinegar C) exhibited high termiticidal activities againstReticulitermes speratus. Acetic acid, which is the largest content of wood vinegar, exhibited high termiticidal acitivity. The contents of organic fraction of wood vinegars and acetic acid might be responsible for the differences in termiticidal activities among these wood vinegars. The structure and termiticidal activity relations of phenols were studied. Phenol with some substituents revealed higher termiticidal activity than benzene derivatives, which have no hydroxyl group; an ortho substituent of phenol plays an important role in termiticidal activity. It has become apparent that high termiticidal activity cannot be obtained by a phenolic hydroxyl group alone; it can be obtained, however, by some substituents, especially an ortho substituent in addition to a phenolic hydroxyl group. The bulkiness of the substituent at the ortho position participates in termiticidal activity; activity decreases as the size of an ortho substituent increases. It is thought that the interaction at the receptor site of termites is affected by the increased size of the ortho substituent.     

Molecular phylogenetic analysis of Theileria species detected from Japanese serows (Capricornis crispus) in Iwate Prefecture, Japan

In the present study, we tried to detect DNA for ribosomal RNA genes of piroplasma parasites from the liver or blood of 43 Japanese serows (Capricornis crispus) in Iwate Prefecture of Japan by polymerase chain reaction. Approximately 500-bp amplicons were obtained in 35 (81.4%) of the 43 samples by amplification for V4 hyper-variable regions of the 18S rRNA gene, and the amplicons were considered to be DNA of Theileria species. The complete nucleotide sequences (1,700 or 1709 bp) of the 18S rRNA gene were determined in 20 samples and were divided into 5 genotypes that were phylogenetically separated into two different lineages showing a polyphyletic relation. The Theileria DNAs of the two different lineages were considered to be those of distinct species.     

Development of spermatogenic function in the sex maturation process in male cats

The spermatogenic function and plasma testosterone (T) level in the sex maturation process were investigated as to 180 mixed breed cats ranging from 4 months to 2 years in age to be castrated. Testis/epididymis weights reached a peak at 10 and 8 to 9 months of age, respectively. In the testis, sperm appeared at 5 months of age. At 7 months of age, sperm were observed in 96.2% of the cats. In the tail of the epididymis, sperm appeared in 46.9% of the cats at 6 months of age and in all cats at 8 or more months of age. Furthermore, the mean plasma T level rapidly increased at 8 months of age, and reached a peak (2.64 +/- 0.68 (SE) ng/ml) at 10 months of age. Three of 180 cats (1.67%) had unilateral cryptorchidism. These results suggest that the spermatogenic function in male cats becomes mature at 8 to 10 months of age.