Sward characteristics,nutritive value and choice by cattle of conterminous monocultures of centipedegrass (Eremochloa ophiuroides) and bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum)

In south‐western Japan, centipedegrass (Eremochloa ophiuroides; CG) offers a novel option for a warm‐season perennial for grazing use in areas where bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum; BG) can be grown. However, the potential of CG as a forage has not been fully explored because of the short history as a forage crop. We conducted four experiments to evaluate CG (cv. TifBlair) in comparison with BG (cv. Pensacola) in terms of sward characteristics, nutritive value and choice by animals. In each experiment, four Japanese Black cows (Bos taurus) were individually allowed to graze conterminous monocultures of CG and BG (5 × 10 m each) for 30 min. Irrespective of regrowth durations and fertilizer rates, CG was consistently shorter, leafier and denser, contained lower acid detergent fiber and cellulose, and was preferred or equally selected by cows, as compared with BG. Furthermore, CG maintained sufficient levels of crude protein (80–89 g/kg DM) to ensure voluntary intake of ruminant animals under extended regrowth^? and without fertilizer, whereas BG failed to do so (65 g/kg DM). CG provided higher digestible dry matter than BG when crude protein concentration exceeded 86 g/kg DM. The results indicate advantages of CG as a forage.     

Improvement of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for equine herpesvirus type 4 by using a synthetic-peptide 24-mer repeat sequence of glycoprotein G as an antigen

To increase the sensitivity of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for equine herpesvirus type 4 (EHV-4) that uses a 12-mer peptide of glycoprotein G (gG4-12-mer: MKNNPIYSEGSL) [4], we used a longer peptide consisting of a 24-mer repeat sequence (gG4-24-mer: MKNNPIYSEGSLMLNVQHDDSIHT) as an antigen. Sera of horses experimentally infected with EHV-4 reacted much more strongly to the gG4-24-mer peptide than to the gG4-12-mer peptide. We used peptide ELISAs to test paired sera from horses naturally infected with EHV-4 (n=40). gG4-24-mer ELISA detected 37 positive samples (92.5%), whereas gG4-12-mer ELISA detected only 28 (70.0%). gG4-24-mer ELISA was much more sensitive than gG4-12-mer ELISA.     

Expression dynamics of bovine MX genes in the endometrium and placenta during early to mid pregnancy

MX belongs to a family of type I interferon (IFN)-stimulated genes, and the MX protein has antiviral activity. MX has at least two isoforms, known as MX1 and MX2, in mammals. Moreover, bovine MX1 has been found to have alternative splice variants—namely, MX1-a and MX1B. In ruminants, IFN-τ—a type I IFN—is temporarily produced from the conceptus before implantation and induces MX expression in the endometrium. However, the expression dynamics of MX after implantation are not clear. In the present study, we investigated the expression of MX1-a, MX1B and MX2 in the endometrium and placenta before and after implantation along with the expression of IFN-α, type I receptors (IFNAR1 and IFNAR2) and interferon regulatory factors (IRF3 and IRF9). Pregnant uterine samples were divided into five groups according to pregnancy days 14–18, 25–40, 50–70, 80–100, and 130–150. Tissue samples were collected from the intercaruncular endometrium (IC), caruncular endometrium (C) and fetal placenta (P). Although all the MX expressions were significantly higher in the IC and C at days 14–18, presumably caused by embryo-secreted IFN-τ stimulation, their expressions were also detectable in the IC, C and P after implantation. Furthermore, IFN-α expression was significantly higher in the IC. RT-PCR indicated IFNAR1, IFNAR2, IRF3 and IRF9 mRNA in all the tissues during pregnancy. These results suggest that all the MX genes are affected by the type I IFN pathway during pregnancy and are involved in an immune response to protect the mother and fetus.     

Severe nonpurulent encephalitis with mortality and feather lesions in call ducks (Anas platyrhyncha var. domestica) inoculated intravenously with H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus

One-day-old, 2-wk-old, and 4-wk-old call ducks (Anas platyrhyncha var. domestica) inoculated intravenously with the H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus A/chicken/Yamaguchi/7/2004 isolate (Ck/Yama/7/04) were examined clinically, pathologically, and virologically. Clinically, the birds exhibited mild-to-severe neurologic signs and corneal opacity. All birds in the 1-day-old group and one bird in the 4-wk-old group died within 4 days after the virus inoculation. Histologic changes were characterized by severe nonpurulent encephalitis and necrotic lesions of feather epithelium on day 3 postinoculation (PI) or later. Focal necrosis of myocardial cells, pancreatic acinar cells, skeletal myocytes, and corneal epithelial cells was observed. Viral antigens were detected in association with necrotic changes. Viruses were isolated from all examined organs including the skin with many feathers. Serum antibody against the virus was detected in all surviving birds on day 10 PI by hemagglutination-inhibition tests. These results suggest that Ck/Yama/7/04 has a pathogenicity that causes neurologic sign, nonpurulent encephalitis with mortality, and feather lesions for call ducks. Feather lesions with viral antigens and the virus isolation from the skin suggest that Ck/Yama/ 7/04 has a predilection for feathers in call ducks.     

Effects of atelocollagen gel containing bone marrow-derived stromal cells on repair of osteochondral defect in a dog

To clarify the contribution of autologous transplantation of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), an atelocollagen gel containing or not containing fluorescently-labeled canine MSCs was transplanted into an osteochondral defect which did not repair spontaneously and the histological repair of the defect was compared. Although an early repair of the cartilage was not observed in either defect, the reproduction of subchondral bone was remarkable in the MSCs-implanted defect. Moreover, in 2 weeks after operation, the implanted MSCs were located in the deeper regions of the defect, suggesting the differentiation of osteoblasts. There was a possibility that the movement of the implanted MSCs was due to an increase in intra-articular pressure from postoperative inflammation.     

Isolation and chemiluminescent properties of ferret (Mustela putorius furo) polymorphonuclear cells

Ferret polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were separated from whole blood by density gradient centrifugation. Using a 50% Percoll solution (density=1.066), PMNs and PBMCs were successfully isolated after centrifugation; the purities of the PMNs and PBMCs were 94.2% and 95.6%, respectively. To evaluate the function of isolated ferret PMNs, we measured the superoxide generation with a MCLA-dependent chemiluminescence assay. The isolated ferret PMNs responded to phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) with kinetics similar to that of human PMNs. The ferret PMNs did not respond to N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (fMLF), unlike human PMNs, which rapidly responded. Thus, authors established a method for the rapid separation of highly purified populations of functional PMNs from the whole blood of ferrets.     

Phylogenetic characterization of rabies virus isolates from Carnivora in Brazil

The incidence of canine rabies has been widely reported in Brazil, and new rabies virus (RV) variants, genetically similar to canine RV, have recently been isolated from foxes. In order to derive the epidemiological characteristics of Brazilian Carnivora RV, Brazilian RVs isolated from dogs, cats, and foxes were genetically analyzed. Brazilian Carnivora RV isolates were divided into 2 main lineages. The predominant lineage was found in dogs and cats, which included the Argentinean and Bolivian Carnivora RV isolates, and was extensively distributed throughout Brazil and surrounding countries. The other lineage consisted of three sublineages containing Brazilian dog and fox RV isolates, with the dog sublineages located on an internal branch of 2 fox sublineages, suggesting that RV transmission events might have occurred between foxes and dogs in the past. These results suggest that contact between dogs and wildlife has the potential to generate new rabies variants and that it is important to control RV infection cycles in both dogs and wildlife to prevent spread of rabies infection.