Prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant staphylococci in nares and affected sites of pet dogs with superficial pyoderma

Currently, antimicrobial-resistant staphylococci, particularly methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP), are frequently isolated from canine superficial pyoderma in Japan. However, little is known regarding the nasal prevalence of MRSP in pet dogs. Here, we determined the prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant staphylococci in nares and affected sites of pet dogs with superficial pyoderma. Of the 125 nares and 108 affected sites of pet dogs with superficial pyoderma, 107 (13 species) and 110 (eight species) staphylococci strains, respectively, were isolated. The isolation rate of S. pseudintermedius from pyoderma sites (82/110 strains, 74.5%) was significantly higher than that from nares (57/107 strains, 53.3%) (P<0.01). Notably, the prevalence of MRSP (18/57 strains, 31.6%) in nares was equivalent to that in pyoderma sites (28/82 strains, 34.1%). Furthermore, the phenotypes and genotypes of antimicrobial resistance in MRSP strains from nares were similar to those from pyoderma sites. Our findings revealed that the prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant staphylococci in the nares of pet dogs with superficial pyoderma is the same level as that in affected sites. Therefore, considerable attention should be paid to the antimicrobial resistance of commensal staphylococci in companion animals.     

Comparison of cholesterol levels among lipoprotein fractions separated by anion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography in periparturient Holstein–Friesian dairy cows

Changes in lipoprotein profiles occur in dairy cows during the periparturient period and in cows with transition cow disease. Here, the lipoprotein profiles of Holstein–Friesian dairy cows during the periparturient period were obtained by anion-exchange, high-performance liquid chromatography to evaluate the usefulness of lipoprotein profile evaluation during the periparturient period and in cows with fatty liver and milk fever. Lipoprotein levels (including total and high- (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) cholesterol) in 10 healthy cows were low 4 weeks prepartum, with the lowest values at calving or within 1 week of calving; the values increased at 8 weeks postpartum. The lipoprotein levels were measured in 16 cows diagnosed with fatty liver (n=10) or milk fever (n=6) and compared to 10 healthy dairy cows. A significant difference was observed in HDL-C between healthy cows (at calving and 1 week postpartum), and the fatty liver and milk fever cows. Cows with fatty liver and milk fever had a lower mean HDL-C than the 10 healthy dairy cows at calving and 1 week postpartum. HDL-C might be a good indicator of energy balance for differentiating healthy cows from those with transition cow disease.     

EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE AND SOIL DRYING ON THE TRANSFORMATION OF (14C) GLUCOSE IN SOIL

Two different soils, either fresh, or dried and remoistened, were incubated with 1% labelled glucose for 28 days at about 20° or 5 °C and the transformation of the glucose to other sugars measured. Xylose formed a much greater proportion of the sugars synthesized at low temperature in pre-dried soil than in fresh soil, or at 20 °C in pre-dried or fresh soil. Numbers of bacteria, fungi (including actinomycetes) and yeasts were determined for each type of incubation. Because the combination of conditions leading to xylose synthesis by yeasts in predried soil are unlikely in the natural state it is concluded that most soil xylose originates in the residues of plants.     

Decomposition kinetics of straw saccharides and synthesis of microbial saccharides under field conditions

The decomposition of rice and barley straw saccharides under field conditions was well represented by the first-order kinetics model of Y_t=C₁e^?k1t+C₂e^?k2t, where Y_t is the remaining amount at time t, k₁ and k₂ are the decomposition rate constants (time^?1) for the labile fraction (C₁) and the non-labile fraction (C₂), respectively. About 82% of the total saccharide content of the rice straw was in the labile fraction with a rate constant 0.64–0.81, the values for the barley straw being 70–92% and 0.50–0.61, respectively. The non-labile fraction appeared to persist for a long time, with a half-value period of 9–59 months. Barley straw and its saccharides decomposed at a slower rate than rice straw. Much more favourable initial decomposition was observed in a paddy field than in an upland field. Mannose, fucose, rhamnose and ribose were synthesized in parallel with the flush of decomposition of straw saccharides.     

Alfalfa, rice by-products and their incorporation for weed control in rice

Two alfalfa varieties, namely Rasen and Yuba , and rice by-products of Koshihikari ( Oryza sativa L. cv. Japonica ), including hull and bran were used for weed control in rice. Rasen and Yuba were sequentially evaluated to have the strongest allelopathic potential among eight common alfalfa varieties in Japan. Rasen , Yuba and rice by-products in a laboratory experiment exhibited suppression of emergence of lettuce ( Lactuca sativa L.), barnyardgrass ( Echinochloa oryzicola Vasing.), and monochoria ( Monochoria vaginalis Presl var. plantaginea Solms-Laub.). In a paddy field experiment, at 15 days after application, a dose of 1 ton ha⁻¹ of alfalfa, rice by-products and the incorporated alfalfa-rice by-products significantly inhibited weed growth and reduced weed species, except for rice bran. However, at 40 days after application, the greatest weed control was sequentially recorded with Yuba (95.2%), Rasen (90.5%) and the incorporated Rasen -hull (88.3%). Rice hull exhibited stronger (51.7%) weed control than the negligible weed control of rice bran (25.1%). Inhibition of both Rasen and Yuba on weed emergence after application became more vigorous, whereas those of rice by-products were gradually devitalized. Rasen had a maximum increase of rice yield (80.6%) compared to the control and it was slightly higher (9.6%) than the herbicide treatment. Findings showed that Rasen was the most promising material for weed control among those studied. Results denoted that weed control capability of allelopathic materials had an impetuous effect on rice growth and yield.     

Novel polymorphism of the canine dopamine receptor D4 gene intron II region

Various dog breeds are remarkably different from each other not only in their sizes and shapes but also in behavioral traits, suggesting that some of these characteristics are under genetic control. However, little is known about genes related to behavioral traits in canine species. In humans, it has been reported that the dopamine receptor D4 gene (DRD4) includes polymorphism at several regions that relate to personality or psychiatric disorders. In an earlier study by the authors of the present study, the polymorphisms in canine DRD4 exon III and exon I regions were reported. In the present study, a novel polymorphism in canine DRD4 intron II was found based on a 17 base pair insertion/deletion, and the two alleles detected were named P (shorter allele) and Q (longer allele). The allelic distribution in 28 breeds of dog, including a total of 1114 unrelated individuals, were then investigated. Both P and Q alleles were detected in most of the breeds investigated; however, the frequencies of P and Q differed greatly between breeds. With respect to classification based on breed origin, P and Q alleles were frequent in Occidental and Oriental breeds, respectively. Furthermore, two subspecies of wolves, the ancestors of dogs, were analyzed for the comparison of allele frequencies with dogs, and the P allele was predominant in both European and Chinese wolves.