Journal of Veterinary Medical Science最新文献

Noma horses are native Japanese horses. Health checkups revealed that many Noma horses developed dermatitis during summer, which subsided in winter. Seasonal development and signs of itching, suggestive of allergic dermatitis, were observed. In this study, allergen-specific IgE was measured using blood samples collected from 15 Noma horses in summer and winter to identify allergens highly associated with dermatitis. The presence of dermatitis in the subject individuals was recorded during blood sample collection. White blood cell and eosinophil counts, serum total IgE concentration, and serum allergen-specific IgE units (ARUs) were measured. White blood cell and eosinophil counts were significantly higher in horses with dermatitis in summer compared to winter. On the other hand, there was no significant difference in serum total IgE concentration regardless of the presence of dermatitis or the season. Horses with dermatitis in summer showed higher ARUs derived from red ants, horseflies, biting midges, cockroaches, deerflies, and mosquitoes than those in winter. These ARUs were positively correlated with white blood cell and eosinophil counts. The factor analysis results suggested that sensitization to some insects, such as mosquitoes and deerflies, may be a cause of dermatitis. In conclusion, insect-derived allergens could be associated with the onset of dermatitis in Noma horses.

Strangles is a globally widespread, commonly diagnosed and important infectious disease of equids caused by Streptococcus equi subsp. equi. We performed whole genome sequencing of 19 S. equi isolates collected from imported horses at the Japanese border. Of these isolates, 15 isolates were obtained from clinical cases and 4 were from subclinical cases. The 19 isolates were grouped into 3 Bayesian analysis of population structure (BAPS) groups by the core genome single nucleotide polymorphism analysis corresponding to exporting country, SeM typing, or exporter of the horses. The 19 isolates possessed same pathogenic genes regardless of clinical status in imported horses and no antimicrobial resistance genes. The disease status of the horses may rather reflect the prior exposure of animals with sub-clinical infection to S. equi.

Sarcocystis spp. cause pigeon protozoan encephalitis, a neuronal disease. A female pigeon exhibiting torticollis had a necrotic area in the cerebral hemisphere surrounded by lesions with perivascular cuffing, gliosis, granulomatous foci, and meningitis. Non-necrotic lesions were also observed in the brainstem. Intact and degenerative schizonts were observed within the neuropils and neurons in the lesions. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was extracted from paraffin-embedded brain tissues and genetically analyzed after gel electrophoresis to determine Sarcocystis spp. using specific primer sets for 28S ribosomal ribonucleic acid and internal transcribed spacer region-1. DNA sequencing confirmed a significant homology with S. calchasi. This is the first report of meningoencephalitis with malacia caused by S. calchasi in a rock pigeon in Japan.

The present study is focused on evaluating acaricidal activity and chemical compositions of Erigeron acer root, which was identified as a promising candidate among fifteen Mongolian plant extracts tested for acaricidal activity. The acaricidal effect was evaluated against Haemaphysalis longicornis, assessed for toxicity to normal human skin fibroblast, and analyzed for its chemical constituents. The acetone extract of E. acer root showed significant activity against H. longicornis, with a lethal concentration (LC₅₀) of 5.31 mg/mL and low toxicity, evidenced by a cytotoxic concentration (CC₅₀) of 267.00 µg/mL. Using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and molecular networking, thirteen natural compounds were identified, including pyrrolidines, alkaloids, fatty acids, and flavonoids, highlighting the efficacy of E. acer root extract as an effective acaricide against H. longicornis and offering insights for developing new tick control solutions.

Left ventricular dysfunction in dogs after the administration of doxorubicin (DOX) has been extensively examined. However, the effects of DOX on right ventricular (RV) function remain unknown. Therefore, the present study investigated whether the chemotherapy treatment with DOX decreases RV function. Twelve dogs (five with multicentric lymphoma, four with hemangiosarcoma, two with thyroid cancer, and one with lung adenocarcinoma) that received at least two doses of DOX were prospectively enrolled. Echocardiography and the measurement of troponin I were performed prior to each administration of DOX and approximately one month after the last administration. Right ventricular function was assessed by the RV fractional area change and RV Tei index. Two (n=4), three (n=3), four (n=3), and five (n=2) doses of DOX were administered. While no significant differences were observed in the RV fractional area change, the RV Tei index was significantly impaired after two doses of DOX. Troponin I level significantly increased after four doses. Cumulative doses of DOX correlated with the RV Tei index (r=0.77, P<0.001). The present results demonstrated that the chemotherapy treatment with DOX decreased RV function in a dose-dependent manner in dogs.

The African pygmy hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris) is known to have a high incidence of tumor. However, investigating the tumors of this species has been constrained by the limited availability of research materials such as cell lines and genome information. In this study, we successfully established a novel cell line from a histiocytic sarcoma (HS) of an African pygmy hedgehog, allowing us to conduct a drug screening. We investigated using FDA-approved drug library screening to determine which anticancer drug this tumor cell line is sensitive to, and as a result of apoptosis experiments, bortezomib among the three proteasome inhibitors was found to induce cell death of cancer cells by significantly increasing caspase-3 cleavage (P<0.01). Thus, we elucidated that the proteasome inhibitors, particularly bortezomib, exhibit anti-tumor effects on a cell line derived from an HS in an African pygmy hedgehog through a mechanism comparable to that described in human tumors. This study reports the first characterized cell line from the African pygmy hedgehog and also highlights the potential utility of bortezomib as an anti-tumor treatment for HS in this species.

Phytochemicals isolated from essential oils are effective alternatives for inhibiting microbial pathogens. Bovine protothecal mastitis is the cause of a reduction in milk production and the secretion of thin, watery milk with white flakes. In the present study, we performed in vitro susceptibility testing of the phytochemicals carvacrol, citral, and thymol in Prototheca strains isolated from cases of protothecosis in small animals and cow feces. The susceptibility of the algae to carvacrol, citral, and thymol was assessed using the modified CLSI M27-A3 broth microdilution method. The ranges of the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC%) of the phytochemicals in all isolates were 0.03% to 0.125% for carvacrol, 0.03% to 0.25% for citral, and 0.06% to 0.25% for thymol. Based on these results, carvacrol, citral, and thymol appear effective against Prototheca species at the tested concentrations, and may thus be useful for environmental disinfection in barns.

Cattle mange causes extreme itchiness, and the associated stress is an animal welfare concern that leads to economic losses due to decreased cattle productivity and deworming costs. This study investigated the reason why Chorioptic mites, C. bovis and C. texanus, preferentially infest the tail root region (rTR) and performed histological and biochemical analysis focusing on the volatile components of host odors that serve as the starting point for infestation of parasitic arthropods. Skin samples were taken from the rTR, lateral abdominal, and central masseteric, with the latter two designated as comparison sites. The two and three-dimensional histological analysis measured each sebaceous and sweat gland percentage per unit volume. The q-PCR analyzed the expression levels of ALDH1A1 and LOC785756, which are genes associated with volatile odoriferous compounds that serve as repellency and attractive messengers for ticks. Immunohistochemistry stained three sites with anti-androgen binding protein beta-like (ABPβ-like), encoded by LOC785756, antibody. The three-dimensional analysis showed that sebaceous glands in the rTR tend to be more continuous and existed in larger masses than in other regions. The expression level of LOC785756 was significantly higher in the rTR, and immunohistochemistry revealed the presence of ABPβ-like in the sebaceous gland with strong positive signals in the rTR. These results suggest that C. bovis/texanus selectively infests the rTR because that skin has well-developed sebaceous glands, including a large amount of ABPβ-like, which acts as a mite attractant.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is highly prevalent in domestic cats. This study aimed to compare urinary D-amino acid levels between control and CKD-afflicted cats as a novel noninvasive method for assessing CKD. Cats were divided into control and CKD stage II groups in accordance with the International Renal Interest Society guidelines. The urinary DL-amino acid levels of the cats were analyzed using chiral tandem liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, and their medical records were investigated. The CKD group had considerably lower urinary D-amino acid concentrations and enantiomeric ratios than the control group. The total urinary D-amino acid contents significantly correlated with blood parameters (creatinine and urea nitrogen). These findings may contribute towards the detection of CKD stage II in domestic cats.

Coltiviruses, belonging to the genus Coltivirus within the family Spinareoviridae, are predominantly tick-borne viruses. Some of these species have been implicated in human diseases; however, their diversity, geographical distribution, and evolutionary dynamics remain inadequately. Therefore, this study was undertaken to explore the phylogenetic evolution of coltiviruses and related viruses. Our results revealed the detection of novel coltivirus-related sequences in adult female Haemaphysalis megaspinosa ticks collected from Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. Molecular phylogenetic analysis revealed a close association between the sequences and the genome sequences of known coltivirus-related viruses, namely Qinghe tick reovirus and Fennes virus. The putative coltivirus-related virus was tentatively designated the Nakatsu tick virus. This study provides insights into the phylogenetic evolution of coltiviruses and related viruses.