The Genetic Diversity and Population Genetic Structure of the Red Panda, , in Zoos in China.

In China, red pandas () have been raised in zoos for 60 years. It is very important to understand the genetic diversity and population genetic structure of the captive red pandas. Based on 19 microsatellite loci, we investigated genetic diversity and population genetic structure of 116 captive red pandas, with samples taken from 11 captive populations in China.

Mutation in cyl operon alters hemolytic phenotypes of Streptococcus agalactiae.

Streptococcus agalactiae infects numerous fish species, causing considerable economic losses during fish cultivation. This study compared the phenotypic differences among S. agalactiae hemolytic variant isolates and investigated the genetic composition of their hemolysin genes.

Molecular characteristics of clinical methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius harboring arginine catabolic mobile element (ACME) from dogs and cats.

This study aimed to investigate the presence of arginine catabolic mobile element (ACME) and its associated molecular characteristics in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP). Among the 72 S. pseudintermedius recovered from various infection sites of dogs and cats, 52 (72.

Class 1 Integrons and the Antiseptic Resistance Gene (qacEΔ1) in Municipal and Swine Slaughterhouse Wastewater Treatment Plants and Wastewater-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Class 1 integrons are mobile gene elements (MGEs) containing qacEΔ1 that are resistant to quaternary ammonium compound (QAC) disinfectants. This study compared the abundances of class 1 integrons and antiseptic resistance genes in municipal (M) and swine slaughterhouse (S) wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and investigated the presence of class 1 integrons and antiseptic resistance genes in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolated from wastewater samples. The abundances of intI1 and qacEΔ1 genes in 96 wastewater samples were quantified using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (real-time qPCR), and 113 MRSA isolates recovered from the wastewater samples were detected class 1 integrons and linked antiseptic resistance genes (qacEΔ1), and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for QAC antiseptics.

Acrylamide inhibits cellular differentiation of human neuroblastoma and glioblastoma cells.

This study explores human neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) and human glioblastoma (U-1240 MG) cellular differentiation changes under exposure to acrylamide (ACR). Differentiation of SH-SY5Y and U-1240 MG cells were induced by retinoic acid (RA) and butyric acid (BA), respectively. Morphological observations and MTT assay showed that the induced cellular differentiation and cell proliferation were inhibited by ACR in a time- and dose-dependent manner.

Spreading of β-lactam resistance gene (mecA) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus through municipal and swine slaughterhouse wastewaters.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a potential zoonotic agent. Municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) can be reservoirs for MRSA dissemination. It is unclear, however, whether MRSA and its β-lactam resistance gene (mecA) can be spread from WWTPs that treat the wastewater of swine auction markets.

Acrylamide-induced apoptosis in rat primary astrocytes and human astrocytoma cell lines.

This study aimed to evaluate the acrylamide (ACR)-induced apoptotic effects on rat primary astrocytes and three human astrocytoma-derived cell lines (U-1240 MG, U-87 MG, and U-251 MG). As determined through the MTT assay, treatment with 1 and 2 mM ACR for 24-72 h resulted in decreased cell viability in all cells. Decreases in cell viability could be blocked in all cells with the exception of U-251 MG cells by Z-DEVD FMK.

Population deviation of piggery-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus based on mec-associated direct repeat unit analysis.

Piggery-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a potential zoonotic pathogen. We constructed the population structure and dynamics of staphylococcal chromosome cassette mec (SCCmec) in MRSA ST9 isolates from different geographical areas of Taiwan. A total of 140 MRSA (135 piggery and 5 human clinical) isolates from three populations located in western Taiwan (n=96 including the 5 clinical isolates), central eastern Taiwan (n=22), and Penghu Island (n=22) were collected and characterized by analysis of the mec-associated direct repeat unit (dru).

Acrylamide-induced mitochondria collapse and apoptosis in human astrocytoma cells.

Acrylamide (ACR) can be produced during food processing and has neurotoxic effects in humans. This study aims to determine ACR induced apoptotic responses in human astrocytoma U-1240 MG cells to realize the incurred toxic mechanisms. Under 1 and 2mM ACR exposure, cell viability decreased as time increased.

Characteristics and virulence factors of livestock associated ST9 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus with a novel recombinant staphylocoagulase type.

Livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA) sequence type 9 (ST9) is a potential source of zoonotic infection for humans. In this study, we investigated and compared the virulence profiles of MRSA ST9 isolates from healthy swine and human clinical origins. A total of 152 MRSA ST9 isolates, including 147 LA-MRSA isolates and 5 human clinical isolates, were studied for the accessory gene regulator (agr) and 20 enterotoxin genes (se), exfoliatoxin gene, and tst gene.

Molecular characterization and clonal genetic diversity of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus of pig origin in Taiwan.

Livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA) is an emerging public health threat. The aims of this study were to identify nasal carriage of MRSA in finishing pigs from different geographical areas of Taiwan and to compare the genetic features of LA-MRSA with other countries. A total of 299 swine nasal samples were collected from 11 counties in western Taiwan with 220 identified MRSA isolates characterized by spa, SCCmec, MLST, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), antibiogram, and Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) toxin genes.

Modeling exotic highly pathogenic avian influenza virus entrance risk through air passenger violations.

The highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) is able to survive in poultry products and could be carried into a country by air travelers. An assessment model was constructed to estimate the probability of the exotic viable HPAIV entering Taiwan from two neighboring areas through poultry products carried illegally by air passengers at Taiwan's main airports. The entrance risk was evaluated based on HPAIV-related factors (the prevalence and the incubation period of HPAIV; the manufacturing process of poultry products; and the distribution-storage-transportation factor event) and the passenger event.

Proliferation inhibition, DNA damage, and cell-cycle arrest of human astrocytoma cells after acrylamide exposure.

Acrylamide (ACR) has been recognized as a neurological and reproductive toxin in humans and laboratory animals. This study aimed to determine the effects of ACR-induced DNA damage on cell cycle regulation in human astrocytoma cell lines. Treatment of U-1240 MG cells with 2 mM ACR for 48 h resulted in a significant inhibition of cell proliferation as evaluated by Ki-67 protein expression and MTT assay.

Acrylamide-induced astrogliotic and apoptotic responses in human astrocytoma cells.

This study was to clarify whether acrylamide (ACR) will induce apoptosis and astrogliosis in an astrocytic cell line in vitro. Different time- and dose-dependent cytotoxic studies were conducted upon neuronal (SH-SY5Y) and glial cell lines (U-1240 MG) under exposure to ACR up to 72h. We showed that SH-SY5Y cells were more sensitive in cytotoxic assays than U-1240 MG cells, and significantly decreased cell viability was observed at concentrations higher than 1mM with increased lactate dehydrogenase leakage observed only at 5 and 10mM in U-1240 MG cells.

Foot-and-mouth disease entrance assessment model through air passenger violations.

This article aims to construct a risk model for the prediction of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) entrance caused by passengers who illegally carry meat products of cloven-hoofed animals through international airports into a country. The risk that meat contaminated with the FMD virus is formulated as the probabilities of FMD factor events (the prevalence of FMD), the commodity factor event (the transportation, storage, and distribution (TSD) factor event), and the passenger event. Data used for analysis were records of illegal meat product carriers from areas A and B intercepted at an international airport in Taiwan.

Phylogenetic analysis of livestock oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

The aim of this study was to characterize oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (ORSA) isolates from livestock environments and meat market workers by molecular epidemiological analysis. Staphylococcal enterotoxin reversed passive latex agglutination (RPLA) and multiplex polymerase chain reactions (PCR) were used to detect enterotoxin-producing S. aureus.

Cryopreservation of a marine microalga, Nannochloropsis oculata (Eustigmatophyceae).

The cryopreservation of algae could prevent genetic drift and minimize labor costs compared to the current method of maintenance and subculturing. Clear, simple protocols for cryopreservation of marine microalga, Nannochloropsis oculata were developed and cryoprotectant choice and concentration optimized. The viability of the microalga was assessed directly after thawing, and algal concentration was measured after 2-30 days of growth.

Analysis of oxidative DNA damage 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine as a biomarker of exposures to persistent pollutants for marine mammals.

An oxidative DNA biomarker, 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), was determined in the livers and kidneys of stranded or by-caught cetaceans along the Taiwan coast through isotope-dilution liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) to evaluate the feasibility of analyzing the DNA adduct in marine mammals and then to study the association between 8-OHdG and levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) in the blubbers of the cetaceans. The mean values of the 8-OHdG from the liver and kidney samples were 19.83+/-10.

Bovine ephemeral fever in Taiwan (2001-2002).

Bovine ephemeral fever (BEF), a vector-borne disease of cattle, is caused by the Ephemerovirus of the family Rhabdoviridae. In the past 40 years, Taiwan has had seven BEF epizootics, and we have previously reported the first five. This study summarizes the 2001 and 2002 epizootics; conducted case-control serologic studies on 10 herds involved in the 2001 epizootic; determined whether the recent BEF viruses have varied significantly; and discusses the relationship between epizootic patterns and possible variant BEF viruses.

Monte Carlo simulation of animal-product violations incurred by air passengers at an international airport in Taiwan.

Our aim was to evaluate the inspection of arriving passengers for the illegal transport of animal products through the international airport into Taiwan. Passenger-violation data were retrieved from the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine (BAPHIQ) in Taiwan. Monte Carlo simulations with 5000 iterations were applied to estimate the predicted violation numbers considering factors such as passenger's nationality/ethnicity, sex, and monthly statistics of violations.

Antimicrobial susceptibility and plasmid analysis of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae isolated in Taiwan.

Sixty Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (App) strains from pigs in Taiwan were examined. Serotyping revealed that these belonged to serovars 1 (n=53), 2 (n=3), and 5 (n=4). Agar disk diffusion susceptibility testing of the isolates showed 55 (92%) were resistant to three or more antimicrobial agents.