Relationship between transportation stress and polymorphonuclear cell functions of bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus

Dolphins in a captive environment are exposed to various kinds of stresses. Handling and transportation are stressful events for terrestrial mammals, and such stress may affect immune system function and increase susceptibility to infectious diseases. The same phenomenon could occur in dolphins, however, few studies have reported this in dolphins. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between stress and polymorphonuclear (PMN) cell function of dolphins during transportation. Four bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) were transported for 6 hr by truck. Serum cortisol levels, leukograms, phagocytosis, and superoxide production of PMN cells were evaluated during handling and transportation compared to resting values. The mean serum cortisol level was significantly increased during handling and transportation (p<0.05) when compared with the resting values. White blood cell (WBC) counts, eosinophil counts, phagocytosis, and superoxide production of PMN cells during handling and transportation stages decreased significantly in comparison with the resting stage (p<0.05). The concentration of serum cortisol was significantly correlated with the results of the WBC counts, eosinophil counts, superoxide production, and phagocytosis (p<0.01, p<0.05, p<0.05, and p<0.001, respectively). The present results indicate that handling and transportation are stressful events for dolphins and could affect their PMN cell functions, thereby leading to the impairment of the immune system.     

Evaluation of an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using recombinant toxin for detection of antibodies against Pasteurella multocida toxin

To facilitate the control of progressive atrophic rhinitis (PAR) of swine caused by toxigenic Pasteurella multocida, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and a serum neutralization test (NT) have recently been developed to detect antibodies against the P. multocida dermonecrotic toxin (PmDNT). However, the NT is a cumbersome and time-consuming technique. To overcome these drawbacks, we developed an indirect ELISA, using recombinant PmDNT expressed in Escherichia coli, for the detection of antibodies to PmDNT in serum samples from pigs. The practical usefulness of this ELISA was compared with the NT using serum samples obtained from experimentally infected and naturally infected pigs. In the pigs experimentally inoculated with vaccine including PmDNT toxoid, the ELISA and neutralization antibodies were detected at almost the same time, and a good correlation was demonstrated between both tests (P<0.01, R(2)=0.807). Therefore, the ELISA can be used to evaluate the immune reaction of pigs after vaccination with P. multocida toxoid. In a survey conducted on a field herd with a history of clinical AR, the seropositivity by ELISA in pigs of age 4.5-6 months was increased even though the NT was negative, and the correlation was low between the results obtained with the two tests (P<0.01, R(2)=0.38). Therefore, the results indicated that this ELISA might be a useful alternative to the NT currently used to detect the antibody to PmDNT after vaccination or infection with P. multocida.     

Vulnerability of feline T-lymphocytes to charged particles

An analysis of ionizing radiation-induced damage in peripheral lymphocytes has been employed to predict the prognosis of radiotherapy in terms of toxicity in normal tissues. Therefore, understanding the sensitivity of lymphocytes to high linear energy transfer (LET)-charged particles would be indispensable for utilizing charged particle therapy in veterinary medicine. However, the availability of such information is very limited. This study aimed to compare the radiosensitivity of feline T lymphocytes to gamma-rays (0.2 keV/microm) and 4 different types of charged particles with LET values ranging from 2.8 to 114 keV/microm. It was observed that the relative biological effectiveness, inactivation cross-section, and isodose-induced apoptosis increased in an LET-dependent manner. On the other hand, no difference in apoptosis frequency was observed in the cells exposed to an isosurvival dose of all the radiation types tested. This is the first study that demonstrates the LET dependence of cell killing and apoptosis induction in feline T lymphocytes. Our results suggest that lymphocytes can be effectively used to predict the prognosis of charged-particle therapy in cat patients.     

Risk assessment of nitrate pollution in groundwater based on the environmental nitrogen-assimilation capacity of agricultural lands in Hokkaido

(pp. 17–24)
A trial calculation was performed of the environmental nitrogen-assimilation capacity and the amount of nitrogen input based on various statistical data, which were compiled from each city, town and village in Hokkaido prefecture. The relationship between the excess quantity of nitrogen, after nitrogen input, and the environmental nitrogen-assimilation capacity and the nitrate-nitrogen concentration of the groundwater was considered.
Environmental nitrogen-assimilation capacity = nitrogen output by the crops + acceptable level of residual nitrate in the soil profile.*
^*It is calculated by the amount of nitrate precipitation evapotranspiration ×10 mg L⁻¹.

• 1) 

  The average value of the environmental nitrogen-assimilation capacity in Hokkaido Prefecture was observed to be 183 kg ha⁻¹. The maximum and minimum values of the environmental nitrogen-assimilation capacity were 308 kg ha⁻¹ and 94 kg ha⁻¹, respectively. When the average value of the environmental nitrogen-assimilation capacity with respect to main agricultural land use was compared across municipalities, it was largely in the following order · grassland (218 kg ha⁻¹), upland (169 kg ha⁻¹), and paddy land (157 kg ha⁻¹).

       

Study of the Structure–Activity Relationship of an Anti-Dormant Mycobacterial Substance 3-(Phenethylamino)Demethyl(oxy)aaptamine to Create a Probe Molecule for Detecting Its Target Protein

The current tuberculosis treatment regimen is long and complex, and its failure leads to relapse and emergence of drug resistance. One of the major reasons underlying the extended chemotherapeutic regimen is the ability of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to attain a dormant state. Therefore, the identification of new lead compounds with chemical structures different from those of conventional anti-tuberculosis drugs is essential. The compound 3-(phenethylamino)demethyl(oxy)aaptamine (PDOA, 1), isolated from marine sponge of Aaptos sp., is known as an anti-dormant mycobacterial substance, and has been reported to be effective against the drug resistant strains of M. tuberculosis. However, its target protein still remains unclear. This study aims to clarify the structure–activity relationship of 1 using 15 synthetic analogues, in order to prepare a probe molecule for detecting the target protein of 1. We succeeded in creating the compound 15 with a photoaffinity group that retained antimicrobial activity, which proved to be a suitable probe molecule for identifying the target protein of 1.     

Effect of dietary protein:energy ratio on intake, growth and metabolism of juvenile green abalone Haliotis fulgens

Juvenile green abalone Haliotis rufescens were grown under laboratory conditions at 21±1 °C and fed formulated diets consisting of different protein:energy ratios (mg protein/kcal), 62, 74, 85, 100, 108, for 60 days. The level of crude protein ranged from approximately 26% to 44% while the energy content remained constant at about 4.1 kcal g⁻¹. Growth ranged from 3.63 to 12.33 mg day⁻¹. The growth of abalone fed the 100 and 108 diets was significantly greater than that of each of the other diets. Protein efficiency ratio increased as the dietary protein content increased except for the T108 diet (44% crude protein). Abalone apparently consume food to satisfy an energy requirement. Caloric expenditure due to metabolism was estimated for abalone fed diets with protein ratios of 62, 85, 100. Energy loss due to respiration did not vary appreciably among abalone fed the different diets. The proportional distribution of dietary energy into fecal, digestible, growth, and metabolic energy was estimated for abalone fed these diets. Apparent dry matter digestibility was among the lowest for abalone fed the 100 P:E diet, but growth of abalone fed this diet was significantly higher than that of each of the other treatments except the 108 diet. Unexplained energy loss to achieve balance ranged from 7% to 28.5%, some of which is probably due to differential mucus and ammonia production. Results suggest a potential for the reduction of both dietary protein and lipid without causing any adverse effects on the growth response.     

Long-term case study of myelodysplastic syndrome in a dog

A 10-year-old, female shih tzu was diagnosed as having myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) based on the presence of a nonregenerative anemia, dysplastic changes in the three hematopoietic cell lines, a normal to hypercellular bone marrow, and less than 30% blast cells of all nucleated cells in the bone marrow. Low-dose aclarubicin, a differentiation-induction therapy for MDS and atypical leukemias in humans, was administered. Hematological improvement was observed, and the dog lived for 809 days after the first presentation.     

Oligodendroglial vacuolar degeneration in the bilateral motor cortices and astrocytosis in epileptic beagle dogs

We performed a pathologic examination of the brains of three dogs in an epileptic beagle colony. Histologically, all the cases had diffuse astrocytosis in the cerebral cortex and basal ganglia as well as the hippocampus, whereas they showed acute nerve cell change in the hippocampus and some other areas of the cerebrum. One of these animals showed laminar myelin pallor associated with the presence of many vacuoles in the IV to VI layers of the bilateral motor cortices. Most of the vacuoles contained fine granules stained with luxol-fast-blue stain. Ultrastructural examination revealed that some oligodendrocytes and perineuronal satellite oligodendrocytes in the bilateral cerebral motor cortices of the two affected dogs had many vacuoles surrounded by myelin-like lamellar structures. These findings suggest a possibility that astrocytosis in the cerebrum and vacuolar degeneration of oligodendrocytes in the cerebral motor cortex may be, at least in part, related to the occurrence or development of seizures.     

耐热优质黄瓜新品种夏盛的选育

利用耐热、抗病的雌性系ＧＥ作母本，优质的绿宝选１作父本配制而成的一代杂种——夏盛，夏季栽培从播种到始收３３天，一般６６７ｍ２产２５００ｋｇ，高产的可达３５００ｋｇ，耐热性强，抗病毒病（ＣＭＶ）和中抗疫病。果实圆筒形，长２１．５ｃｍ，横径４．７ｃｍ，肉厚２．８ｃｍ，质脆，皮色深绿有光泽，适于华南地区夏秋露地栽培