Genetic variation of mitochondrial DNA in Phalacrocorax carbo in Japan.

A Japanese resident bird, Phalacrocorax carbo hanedae (Japanese name: Kawa-u), was threatened with extinction due to deterioration of its habitat in the 1970s, but the population has since recovered thanks to environmental protection measures. This study analyzed the genetic diversity of 18 Kawa-u individuals living in the basins of the Abe and Warashina rivers in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. We obtained seven haplotypes of mitochondrial D-loop sequences and compared them with 49 European P.

Sequence-Based Characterization of Listeria monocytogenes Strains Isolated from Domestic Retail Meat in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area of Japan.

The level of Listeria monocytogenes contamination of domestic retail meat in Tokyo, Japan, was assessed by comparison of isolates from 2004 to 2007 with those isolated before 2003. The overall prevalence of L. monocytogenes among these samples significantly diminished over time (1998-2003, 28.

Sequential transition of the injury phenotype, temperature-dependent survival and transcriptional response in Listeria monocytogenes following lethal HO exposure.

The food-borne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes is present persistently in food processing environments, where this bacterium is exposed to various stress factors, including oxidative stress. This study aimed to elucidate the temperature-dependent response of L. monocytogenes to HO exposure and the phenotypic changes in colony formation by HO-treated bacteria.

Tissue toxicokinetics of perfluoro compounds with single and chronic low doses in male rats.

To examine the kinetics of low doses of perfluoro compounds (PFCs), we administered perfluorohexanoic acid (C6A), perfluorooctanoic acid (C8A), perfluorononanoic acid (C9A) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (C8S) with a single oral dose (50-100 μg/kg BW), and in drinking water at 1, 5, and 25 μg/L for one and three months to male rats; and examined the distribution in the brain, heart, liver, spleen, kidney, whole blood and serum. C6A was very rapidly absorbed, distributed and eliminated from the tissues with nearly the same tissue t of 2-3 hr. Considering serum Vd, and the tissue delivery, C6A was mainly in the serum with the lowest delivery to the brain; and no tissue accumulation was observed in the chronic studies as estimated from the single dose study.

Genetic subtyping of Listeria monocytogenes via multiple-locus sequence typing using iap, sigB and actA.

Pulse field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) is widely used for listeriosis surveillance. Although this technique is effective for epidemiology, the data among laboratories are inconsistent. We previously reported a method for Listeria monocytogenes subtyping combined with sequence analysis of partial iap and whole genome restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) using XbaI, ClaI (BanIII) and PstI.

The concentration of iodine in horse serum and its relationship with thyroxin concentration by geological difference.

In this study, iodine and thyroxin (T4) concentrations in the serum of 69 horses were investigated. Higher iodine concentrations were obtained from the horses housed in Chiba Prefecture. In contrast, T4 concentrations of horses at Shizuoka Prefecture were higher than those of horses at Chiba Prefecture.

Genetic classification of Listeria monocytogenes serotype 4b strains, including epidemic clones, isolated from retail meat in the Tokyo metropolitan area.

A food-borne pathogen, Listeria monocytogenes serotype 4b, has been frequently isolated from patients with listeriosis, and numerous outbreaks of listeriosis are associated with this serotype. In the present study, we performed subtyping of L. monocytogenes serotype 4b strains on the basis of genetic analyses.

Biofilm formation under different temperature conditions by a single genotype of persistent Listeria monocytogenes strains.

Some Listeria monocytogenes strains, termed persistent strains, originate from the same processing plant and have the ability to survive and grow over extended periods of time at contamination sources. In order to evaluate biofilm formation by such persistent strains, we isolated the pathogen from chicken samples collected from the same retail shop in repeated visits over 6 months. Strains that were of serotype 1/2b and were assigned to the same genotype by multi-virulence-locus sequence typing analysis were isolated on repeated occasions from December 1997 to June 1998 and thus were defined as persistent strains.

The silicon concentration in cat urine and its relationship with other elements.

To understand the effects of silicon (Si) in the urine with respect to the formation of urinary stones, the distribution of Si in urine was observed. Urine samples from cats with urolithiasis (n=10) and healthy cats (n=15) were used. The concentration of Si in the cats with urolithiasis was significantly higher (P<0.

Semiquantitative multi-analysis of plasma obtained from Romney lambs (Ovis aries) by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and the classification according to feed type.

The establishment of a classification system for domestic animals on consumed feed stuff is thought to be important from both a hygiene and market point of view. We collected plasma samples of Romney lambs (Ovis aries) which were fed one of the following: a herb-clover mix (n=10) which included chicory, red clover, white clover and plantain; a plant-grass mix (n=10) which included plantain, ryegrass and white clover; or a grass mix (n=10) which included ryegrass and white clover. A total of 20 elements in plasma samples obtained from the lambs were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

Contents of various elements in the organs of seabirds killed by an oil spill around Tsushima Island, Japan.

Twenty nine oil-soaked birds were collected from around the Coast of Tsushima Island. The contents of eight elements in the livers and kidneys of the birds were investigated. Statistically higher concentrations of vanadium and thallium in the liver and of titanium in the kidney were found in the birds that were found dead compared with those that died after rescued.

Investigation of cadmium contamination using hair of the Japanese macaque, Macaca fuscata, from Shimokita Peninsula, Aomori Prefecture in Japan.

The cadmium (Cd) contents in hair of macaques (n = 45, Macaca fuscata) living on the Shimokita Peninsula were investigated. The mean Cd contents in the hair of Japanese (n = 34, 5.01 μg/g) and macaques (3.

The distribution of several elements in cat urine and the relation between the content of elements and urolithiasis.

The concentrations of elements in urine obtained from cats with urolithiasis were compared with those of healthy cats. The concentration of several elements, such as sodium (Na), phosphorus (P), sulfur (S), and potassium (K), in urine obtained from cats with urolithiasis was significantly higher than that of healthy cats. A significant correlation (p<0.

Prevalence of Listeria monocytogenes in retailed meat in the Tokyo metropolitan area.

This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of Listeria monocytogenes in retailed meats, comprising beef, chicken, and pork, in the Tokyo metropolitan area. A total of 379 samples of retailed meat were collected from 1998 to 2003, most of which were obtained by simultaneously purchasing the three classes of meat from a shop and then making another simultaneous purchase of meat from the same shop a few weeks later. The prevalence of L.

A basic study on the biological monitoring for vanadium-effects of vanadium on Vero cells and the evaluation of intracellular vanadium contents.

A high concentration of vanadium (V) has toxic effects on human and animals and is one of environmental pollutants. In the present study, we have conducted a fundamental study using cultured Vero cells from monkey kidney for the future environmental monitoring. Orthovanadate (VAN), one of V compounds, of 10(-10) and 10(-8) M did not affect the cell growth although the higher concentration of above 10(-6) M VAN inhibited the cell growth accompanied with the decrease in cell numbers and morphological changes.

Discrimination of antibody to herpes B virus from antibody to herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 in human and macaque sera.

The antigenic cross-reactive characteristics of herpes B virus and herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 (HSV-1) and HSV-2 are responsible for false-positive diagnoses by serological assays in humans and macaques. In the present study, we developed a fluorometric indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with recombinant herpes B virus glycoprotein D (gD) and HSV-1 and HSV-2 gG (gG-1 and gG-2, respectively) to discriminate between the three primate herpesvirus infections. The secreted form of gD, gDdTM, was used to detect antibody to herpes B virus gD.

A new index for evaluation of cadmium pollution in birds and mammals.

The degree of cadmium (Cd) contamination in wildlife is often used as an indicator in the environmental monitoring of Cd poisoning. However, previous studies have not clarified the correlation between levels in wildlife and levels in the environment by comparing levels among different species of animals; therefore, assessing the level of pollution in this manner is not considered a reliably accurate indicator of levels in the environment. The aim of this study was to establish a new indicator for the non-polluted warm-blooded animals, one that is not species-dependent, which will facilitate using different species for Cd monitoring.

Characteristics of Listeria monocytogenes isolated from imported meat in Japan.

The genomic structure of the iap region in Listeria monocytogenes (serovar 4b), isolated from chicken imported into Japan, was compared with those from Japanese strains. The isolate was similar to the Japanese strains in a comparatively new, rare group. Such strains might be imported from foreign countries.

Inhibitory mechanism of monensin on high K+-induced contraction in guniea-pig urinary bladder.

In this study, we examined the inhibitory mechanism of monensin on high K+-induced contraction in guinea-pig urinary bladder. The relaxant effect of monensin (0.001 - 10 microM) was more potent than those of NaCN (100 microM - 1 mM) and forskolin (3 - 10 microM).

Invasion assay of Listeria monocytogenes using Vero and Caco-2 cells.

The invasion ability of Listeria monocytogenes into cultured cells has been used to evaluate its pathogenicity. In this study, invasive ability was investigated using Vero and Caco-2 cell lines. The form of invasion showed no morphological differences between both cell lines inoculated with L.

[Infectious disease of simian herpes B virus].

The epidemiology and the method of diagnosis were elucidated for simian herpes B virus (SHBV) infection. It is important that usefulness was demonstrated for the methods of DNA diagnosis having high sensitivity and specificity for SHBV and HSV-1, 2 types, and of detectable serological diagnosis for each specific antibody. The methods allowed the final diagnosis of the human infection due to the reactivation of latent SHBV and the HSV infection from human to monkey.