Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine
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Evaluation of grid performance for thoracic radiography in calves using a portable x-ray unit
Get PDFapplication/pdfThoracic radiography provides diagnostic assistance in assessing the severity of lung lesions in bovine respiratory diseases. We investigated the effects of grid use on overall image quality for portable thoracic radiography in calves. Thoracic radiographs of the dorsocaudal region were made for 30 calves of various sizes, using three acquisition techniques (digital radiography with no grid, with a 3: 1 grid, and with an 8: 1 grid). Overall image quality was graded independently by five veterinarians using a 5-point scale based on the visibility of the thoracic vertebral bodies, thoracic spinous processes, scapulae, proximal third of the ribs, caudal lobar pulmonary vessels, and aortic arch; and on the level of image noise. The results were evaluated using Visual Grading Characteristics analysis. The 3: 1 grid significantly improved overall image quality, regardless of body size. The 8: 1 grid improved image quality only for calves smaller than 30 cm in thickness. The results of this study support the value of a 3: 1 grid for portable thoracic radiography in calves. © 2018, Hokkaido University. All rights reserved.journal articl
Human milk oligosaccharides as essential tools for basic and application studies on galectins
Get PDFapplication/pdfIt is now recognized that human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) can function both as prebiotics and as decoy receptors that inhibit the attachment of pathogenic microorganisms to the colonic mucosa. They can also act as immune modulators and as colonic maturation stimulators in breast-fed infants. These functions could be mediated by biological interaction between a variety of HMOs and lectins including galectins, selectins and siglecs. There are more than 100 HMOs; they have structural units such as H type 1: Fucα1-2Galβ1-3GlcNAc, Lewis a: Galβ1-3(Fucα1-4)GlcNAc, Lewis b: Fucα1-2Galβ1-3(Fucα1-4)GlcNAc, Lewis x: Galβ1-4(Fuc α1-3)GlcNAc, sialyl Lewis a: Neu5Acα2-3Galβ1-3(Fucα1-4)GlcNAc, and sialyl Lewis x: Neu5Acα2-3Galβ1-4(Fucα1-3)GlcNAc. It can be expected that these units may be utilized as tools for studies on the sugar-binding specificities of lectins including galectins, monoclonal antibodies, virus capsid proteins and bacterial toxins. This mini-review presents the dataset of comprehensive HMO structures, including recently clarified ones, in tabular form, for its utilization in such studies, including those of carbohydrate-binding specificity of galectins. In addition, this review introduces recent in vivo and clinical studies, which may be relevant to the biological functions and future utilization of HMOs. © 2018 FCCA (Forum: Carbohydrates Coming of Age).journal articl
Serosurvey of Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina in cattle in Mongolia
Get PDFapplication/pdfMongolia is an agriculturally rich country with large livestock populations that contribute significantly to its national economy. However, the export market for live animals and livestock products is often constrained for various reasons including infectious diseases. Babesia bovis and B. bigemina, which are bovine hemoprotozoan parasites, cause severe forms of clinical babesiosis, in cattle. However, a country-wide survey to determine the exposure rates in various provinces in Mongolia was not conducted to determine the risk for infections with these parasite species. Therefore, we investigated the frequency of antibodies to B. bovis and B. bigemina in cattle reared throughout Mongolia. B. bovis-and B. bigemina-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were used to screen the serum samples sourced from 1946 cattle in 19 of 21 provinces and a provincial municipality (Ulaanbaatar) in Mongolia. We found 351 (18.0%) samples positive for B. bovis and 435 (22.4%) samples positive for B. bigemina infections. The B. bovis- and B. bigemina-positive rates ranged from 0.8 to 61.5% and 4.0 to 50.6%, respectively, among the surveyed provinces. The positive rates of B. bovis and B. bigemina infections were relatively higher in the provinces located in northernmost, northern, eastern, southeastern, and southern Mongolia. Additionally, the B. bovis- and B. bigemina-positive rates were not significantly different between females (18.2 and 22.2%, respectively) and males (17.2 and 18.8%, respectively) or between the 1–3-year-old (16.2 and 19.4%, respectively) and >3-year-old (17.1 and 20.9%, respectively) age groups. The differential seropositivity for B. bovis and B. bigemina infections among the provinces may reflect the variations in the risk of cattle being infected with these parasite species. The findings of the present study highlight the need for country-wide control measures, including tick control programs, to minimize the rates of B. bovis and B. bigemina infections in Mongolian cattle. © 2018 Elsevier B.V.journal articl
Feeding Adaptation of Alimentary Tract Length in Arboreal Squirrels
Get PDFapplication/pdfThe Jarman-Bell Principle among ungulates explains that larger species feeding on high-fiber foods have developed fermentation chamber such as rumen than smaller species feeding on low-fiber foods. Among arboreal squirrels, it seems that larger Petaurista species feed on high-fiber leaves and smaller species feed on low-fiber fruits and seeds. Therefore, relative length of the cecum may be positively correlated with body mass which is associated with tendency of folivory. To test this hypothesis, we examined body mass, head-body length, and the alimentary tract lengths (small intestine, cecum, colon, large intestine, and total intestine) of 13 arboreal squirrel species (n = 19) from six genera. Spearman rank correlation analysis showed that larger folivorous Petaurista had a longer fermentation chamber. Smaller granivorous squirrels might have longer small intestine. These differences in alimentary tract morphology of arboreal squirrels could reflect feeding adaptation. © The Mammal Society of Japan.journal articl
