Immune protection in carp, Cyprinus carpio L., after immunization with Aeromonas hydrophila crude lipopolysaccharide

Abstract. Vaccination with crude lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced better protection against infection with Aeromonas hydrophila in carp than vaccination with formalin killed vaccine. Dipping fish in vaccine for 2 h at 25°C was more effective than intraperitoneal injection of the vaccine in procedural simplicity, lower stress loading and the degree of protection acquired. In carp immunized with crude LPS by the dip method, antibodies were not detected by bacteriai agglutination, passive haemagglutination and the agar diffusion tests. The results indicate that the protection against A. hydrophila infection in carp is not dependent on humoral immunity.     

Influence of transgenic corn (CBH 351, named Starlink) on health condition of dairy cows and transfer of Cry9C protein and cry9C gene to milk, blood, liver and muscle

The influence of transgenic event CBH 351 (Starlink)-derived hybrid corn (SL) on the health condition, physiological function and lactational performance of dairy cows as well as the transfer of the cry9C gene and Cry9C protein present in SL to milk, blood, liver and muscles was examined, and compared with a diet containing non-transgenic (isogenic) control corn (non-SL). After adapting to a diet containing non-SL for 2 weeks, four Holstein cows were assigned to each of the non-SL and SL groups and were fed diets containing non-SL or SL, respectively, for 5 weeks. There were no significant influences on the physiological condition, milk yield or serum biochemical and hematological values after feeding with SL. There was also no influence on pH value, cell density of protozoa, or volatile fatty acid concentration and composition of rumen fluids. In addition, no significant differences were observed on histopathological examination of the major organs and tissues between the SL and non-SL groups. Moreover, the cry9C gene and Cry9C protein were not detected by the polymerase chain reaction method and ELISA in the milk, blood, liver and muscles of the cows at the end of the experiment.     

Life cycles of individual roots in fine root system of Chamaecyparis obtusa Sieb. et Zucc.

Recent studies have remarked on differences in the life cycles of individual fine roots. However, the dynamics of individual roots with different life cycles, such as ephemeral and perennial, during root system development are still unknown. We examined individual roots during fine root system development in a mature stand of Chamaecyparis obtusa Sieb. et Zucc. (Cupressaceae) using the sequential ingrowth core method and an anatomical method. The visual classification, i.e., orange, red, brown, intact dead, and fragmented dead, of fine roots corresponded well with the anatomical classification. Orange and red roots contained passage cells, and brown roots contained cork cambium. The proportions of protoxylem groups differed among visual classes. Brown secondary roots were mainly triarch (43%) and tetrarch (40%) and rarely diarch (12%), whereas fragmented dead roots, which constituted more than 95% of the dead roots, were mainly diarch (67%). These results imply that triarch and tetrarch roots tend to form secondary roots, whereas diarch roots tend to become dead roots without secondary growth. Using the numbers of root tips and clusters, root system development could be classified into three stages: colonization, branching within the root system, and maintenance. During the colonization stage, mainly triarch and tetrarch roots, which tend to be secondary growth, invaded ingrowth cores. During the branching stage, primarily diarch roots, which tend to be ephemeral, emerged. Fine root system development involved the recruitment of different individual roots during the life cycle depending on the growth stage.     

Seasonal changes in digestibility, passage rate and rumen fermentation of alfalfa hay in sika deer (Cervus nippon) under restricted feeding

To investigate seasonal variations in the digestive functions of sika deer, five female sika deer were provided with an amount of alfalfa hay cubes equivalent to voluntary food intake during winter. We measured the rate at which the food passed through the digestive tract, digestibility and rumen fermentation during the summer (August), autumn (November), winter (February) and spring (May). Total mean retention time in the digestive tract during summer and autumn was numerically longer than that in winter and spring, but the difference did not reach significance. Organic matter and fiber were less digestible in summer and autumn than in winter and spring (P < 0.05), whereas the digestibility of the dry matter tended to vary with the seasons (P < 0.1). Ruminal pH values seasonally changed (P < 0.01), and were the lowest in autumn. The concentration of ruminal ammonia‐nitrogen differed significantly among the seasons (P < 0.05), increasing in winter and decreasing during spring and summer. The numbers of protozoa changed significantly among the seasons (P < 0.05), being higher in autumn than in winter and spring, and intermediate in summer. The concentration of total volatile fatty acids was not seasonally affected, but the molar percentages of propionic acid and butyric acid significantly changed according to season (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively), and the ratio of acetic to propionic acid tended to change with the seasons (P < 0.1). The results of this study suggested that the digestive functions in sika deer, fed a commercial diet at a restricted level, differed notably among the seasons and these variations might partially be due to environmental effects.     

Tomato metabolism and porphyrin-catalyzed oxidation of pyriproxyfen

Investigation of the metabolism of [(14)C]pyriproxyfen [4-phenoxyphenyl (R,S)-2-(2-pyridyloxy)propyl ether] in tomato fruits (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. Ponterosa) was conducted by topical application of acetonitrile solution or emulsifiable concentration formulation three times at 35, 21, and 7 days before harvest. Most of the radioactivity remained on the fruit surface or in the plant tissues as intact pyriproxyfen with minor metabolites formed via hydroxylation at the 4'-position of the phenoxy ring or cleavage of ether linkages. The biomimic chemical oxidation model using iron porphyrin as a catalyst and hydrogen peroxide was found to well reproduce the primary metabolites detected in the metabolism study. The electrophilic reaction indices obtained by AM1 molecular orbital calculations supposing involvement of cytochrome P-450 were successfully applied to evaluate the potentially higher reactive sites in pyriproxyfen.     

Identification and phylogenetic analysis of Babesia parasites in domestic dogs in Nigeria

The present study examined the presence of Babesia parasites in 104 domestic dogs in Nigeria. Sequentially, Babesia parasites infecting domestic dogs underwent genetic and phylogenetic analyses. The results of nested PCR based on the Piroplasmida 18S rRNA gene illustrated that 13.5% (14/104) of the samples were positive. The obtained positive samples determined the nucleotide sequences of the 18S rRNA genes. In the genetic and phylogenetic analyses, four of five nucleotide sequences were similar to Babesia canis rossi, and one sample exhibited a close similarity to a Babesia sp. isolated from a raccoon in Hokkaido, Japan. The present study revealed the widespread presence of B. canis rossi among domestic dogs in Nigeria.     

Protectivity conferred by immunization with intranasal recombinant outer membrane protein H from Pasteurella multocida serovar A:1 in chickens

Recombinant outer membrane protein H (rOmpH) is a potential fowl cholera vaccine candidate. The present study was aimed at developing rOmpH formulations for intranasal administration. The rOmpH was purified and formulated with either Escherichia coli enterotoxin B (LTB) or CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) as an adjuvant. Antibody responses in chickens intranasally immunized with rOmpH in combination with 2 different adjuvants were significantly increased (P<0.05) post immunization. Chicken survival rates showed that rOmpH formulated with ODN and LTB elicited 90% and 70% protection, respectively. Our findings indicated that rOmpH formulated with ODN elicited protection better than that formulated with LTB. Therefore, the vaccines formulations in the present study can be considered new intranasal vaccine formulations for fowl cholera in chickens.     

Experimental Final Hosts of Metagonimus Hakubaensis (Trematoda: Heterophyidae) and Their Suitability to the Fluke

Seven laboratory mammal and bird species were orally inoculated with 200–1,000 encysted Metagonimus hakubaensis metacercariae that had been isolated from naturally infected lampreys (Lethenteron reissneri) captured in Aomori Prefecture. At 8 and 15 days post-infection, adult flukes were recovered from all of the laboratory animals tested, and therefore, hamster, rat, mouse, dog, cat, chicken and quail were considered as final hosts of M. hakubaensis. Recovery rates of the fluke were higher in dogs and hamsters than in cats, rats, mice, chickens and quails. The flukes recovered from dogs and hamsters showed increased body length and higher fecundity than those recovered from the other hosts. These results indicate that the suitability of dogs and hamsters for M. hakubaensis infection is higher than that of the other laboratory animals.