Bilateral renal dysplasia with systemic fibrous osteodystrophy in a four-toed hedgehog (Atelerixalbiventris).

A 4-month-old female four-toed hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris) presented with lethargy, anorexia, dyspnoea and weight loss. Following death, post-mortem computed tomography (CT) and an autopsy were performed. CT revealed that the external surfaces of bones, including the cranial bones and vertebrae, were rough and osteolytic lesions were present multifocally in the ribs and some appendicular bones.

Clinical course and pathologic study of retrobulbar histiocytic sarcoma in a central bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps).

A central bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps) presented with periorbital swelling and exophthalmos. A retrobulbar mass was detected, and enucleation with the mass was performed. Histologically, the mass was composed of a dense sheet and interlacing bundles of round to polygonal to short spindle-shaped cells with occasional bizarre mononuclear and multinucleated giant cells.

Association between Helicobacter pylori infection and platelet count in mice.

Strong evidence for an association between idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) and Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection has been reported in humans. Chronic ITP is known to be improved by the eradication of HP. The purpose of this study was to reproduce these events by the experimental infection of several strains of mice with HP.

Evaluation of mouse red blood cell and platelet counting with an automated hematology analyzer.

An evaluation of mouse red blood cell (RBC) and platelet (PLT) counting with an automated hematology analyzer was performed with three strains of mice, C57BL/6 (B6), BALB/c (BALB) and DBA/2 (D2). There were no significant differences in RBC and PLT counts between manual and automated optical methods in any of the samples, except for D2 mice. For D2, RBC counts obtained using the manual method were significantly lower than those obtained using the automated optical method (P<0.

Effect of hypochlorous acid solution on the eradication and prevention of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection, serum biochemical variables, and cecum microbiota in rats.

In this study, hypochlorous acid solution, a weak acid, provided as drinking water to rats, was evaluated for its ability to eradicate and prevent Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection, while monitoring its simultaneous effect on serum biochemical variables and microbiota in the rat cecum. The results suggest that the solution could not eliminate the bacteria in the experimentally infected rats; however, the administration of a 10-parts-per-million (ppm) hypochlorous acid solution as drinking water was effective in inhibiting horizontal spread of P. aeruginosa infection among cage mates.

In vitro susceptibility of dermatomycoses agents to six antifungal drugs and evaluation by fractional inhibitory concentration index of combined effects of amorolfine and itraconazole in dermatophytes.

To investigate the antifungal drug susceptibility of fungi responsible for dermatomycoses, minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) tests were performed in 44 strains of dermatophytes, including Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton verrucosum, Trichophyton tonsurans, Microsporum canis, Microsporum gypseum and Epidermophyton floccosum, with six antifungal drugs (amorolfine, terbinafine, butenafine, ketoconazole, itraconazole and bifonazole) by broth microdilution assay according to Clinical Laboratory Standard Institute protocols. Six possible dermatomycosis-causing non-dermatophytic fungi were also tested. The two major causes of tinea, T.

Rapid identification of Mycoplasma pulmonis isolated from laboratory mice and rats using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

Mycoplasma species identification is based on biochemical, immunological, and molecular methods that require several days for accurate identification. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) is a novel method for identification of bacteria and has recently been introduced into the clinical microbiology laboratory as a rapid and accurate technique. This method allows a characteristic mass spectral fingerprint to be obtained from whole inactivated mycoplasmal cells.

Simultaneous detection of antibodies to mouse hepatitis virus recombinant structural proteins by a microsphere-based multiplex fluorescence immunoassay.

We describe a new microsphere-based multiplex fluorescent immunoassay (MFI) using recombinant mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) proteins to detect antibodies to coronaviruses in mouse and rat sera. All the recombinant proteins, including nucleocapsid (N) and 3 subunits of spike protein, S1, S2, and Smid, showed positive reactivity in MFI with mouse antisera to 4 MHV strains (MHV-S, -A59, -JHM, and -Nu67) and rat antiserum to a strain of sialodacryoadenitis virus (SDAV-681). The MFI was evaluated for its diagnostic power, with panels of mouse sera classified as positive or negative for anti-MHV antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using MHV virion antigen and indirect fluorescent antibody assay.

Clinical and histopathological evaluation of Dermatophagoides farinae-induced dermatitis in NC/Nga mice orally administered Bacillus subtilis.

Probiotic strains have been reported to have the ability to control allergic and inflammatory diseases. In this study, we studied the inhibitory effect of Bacillus subtilis (natto) (BS) on atopic dermatitis. The effects of continuous oral administration of BS for 4 weeks on the development of atopic dermatitis induced by Dermatophagoides farinae body antigen (DF) in NC/Nga (NC) mice were evaluated using 4 groups of mice: group (Gp) DF, DF(+) with no administration of bacteria (n=3); Gp DF/BS, DF(+) and BS(+) (n=5); and Gp PBS, DF(-) with no administration of bacteria (n=3).

Molecular phylogeny of the subfamily Gerbillinae (Muridae, Rodentia) with emphasis on species living in the Xinjiang-Uygur Autonomous Region of China and based on the mitochondrial cytochrome b and cytochrome c oxidase subunit II genes.

Rodents belonging to the subfamily Gerbillinae and living in the Xinjiang-Uygur autonomous region of China were collected in field surveys between 2001 and 2003. We found four Meriones species, including M. chengi M.

Morphological and sequence analysis of Mycoplasma sp. isolated from the oral cavity of a house musk shrew (Suncus murinus).

Mycoplasma sp. strain EDS-4 was isolated from the oral cavity of EDS line of a house musk shrew (Suncus murinus) originated from Bangladesh, and was distinguished from all previously described mollicutes. It lacks a cell wall; ferments glucose; does not produce film and spots; and does not hydrolyse arginine and urea.

Molecular detection of murine norovirus from experimentally and spontaneously infected mice.

The RNA polymerase gene of murine norovirus (MNV) was isolated from feces and organ samples by the reverse transcription (RT)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR). For experimental infection, homogenate of cecum obtained from an MNV-infected mouse was gavaged to 3 C.B-17-Prkdc(scid) (scid) mice and 3 ICR mice at 6 weeks of age.

Isolation and identification procedure for Staphylococcus aureus in laboratory mice and rats by combined use of chromogenic X-SA agar and specific polymerase chain reaction.

Generally, a conventional culture-based examination procedure (detection by egg-yolk salt agar and subsequent identification by phenotypic tests) for confirmation of the presence of S. aureus (SA) in laboratory mice and rats requires approximately 4 days. To improve the culture-based examination procedure for SA in terms of rapidity and reliability, combined use of chromogenic X-SA agar (XSA) and PCR using newly designed specific primers for SA (XSA-PCR) that can shorten the examination time (25.

First trial in the developmental phase of the "performance evaluation program" based on the ICLAS animal quality network program: self-assessment of microbiological monitoring methods using test samples supplied by ICLAS.

The first trial in the developmental phase of the "Performance Evaluation Program" based on the new programs of the International Council for Laboratory Animal Science (ICLAS) was carried out. ICLAS supplied test samples to each diagnostic laboratory for self-assessment of microbiological monitoring methods. We found that 1 mouse serum sample was positive for mouse minute virus and another was positive for Mycoplasma pulmonis antibodies, and 1 rat serum sample was positive for Sendai virus antibody.

Study of a Bordetella hinzii isolate from a laboratory mouse.

Bordetella hinzii isolated from the trachea and lungs of a laboratory mouse with a respiratory infection was identified based on its phenotypic and genetic traits. The mouse showed sneezing with a chattering sound but without nasal discharge, and histopathologic examination revealed rhinitis, tracheitis, and bronchopneumonia. The isolate was a gram-negative, oxidase- and catalase-positive, short rod-shaped organism that produced alkali from malonate.

Isolation of Streptobacillus moniliformis from a pet rat.

We isolated Streptobacillus moniliformis, the causative agent of rat-bite fever in humans, from the salivary gland of a pet rat postmortem. The isolate was a Gram-negative pleomorphic coccobacillus, which produced acid from glucose and showed enzymatic activities for eight items in the API ZYM system. The results were consistent with those of the reference strain, ATCC 14647(T), except for acid production from dextrin.

Experimental infection studies of Pasteurella pneumotropica and V-factor dependent Pasteurellaceae for F344-rnu rats.

To investigate the pathogenicities of P. pneumotropica (Pp) and V-factor dependent Pasteurellaceae (VFDP) in immunodeficient rats, experimental infections of F344-rnu rats were performed using 3 strains (ATCC 35149, CNP 160 and RPZ) of Pp and 4 strains (V6, V7, V8 and V9) of VFDP. Four animals per experimental group were inoculated twice on day 0 and post-inoculation day (PID) 14 with bacterial suspension intranasally.

Specific and quantitative detection of PCR products from Clostridium piliforme, Helicobacter bilis, H. hepaticus, and mouse hepatitis virus infected mouse samples using a newly developed electrochemical DNA chip.

We developed a microfabricated electrochemical DNA chip for detection of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products from 16S rRNA sequences of Clostridium piliforme (Cp), Helicobacter bilis (Hb) and Helicobacter hepaticus (Hh), and the nucleocapsid protein gene of mouse hepatitis virus (MHV). This chip does not require DNA labeling, and the hybridization signal can be detected as an anodic current. The average anodic currents of 9 (Cp), 5 (Hb), 8 (Hh) and 7 (MHV) PCR positive samples derived from feces of spontaneously infected mice (Cp, Hb and Hh) and MHV-contaminated tumor cells were 27.

Heterotopic pancreas in the stomach which caused obstructive stenosis in the duodenum.

The patient, a 43-year-old Japanese man suffering from duodenal ulcer and reflux esophagitis, was admitted to our hospital because of submucosal tumor in the antrum and obstructive stenosis of duodenum. Several imaging tests could not rule out the possibility of malignant disease. Therefore, the patient was surgically treated.

Current status of chromosomal abnormalities in mouse embryonic stem cell lines used in Japan.

We performed chromosomal analysis on 540 mouse embryonic stem (ES) cell lines obtained during 2001 to 2004 from 20 institutions in Japan. Overall, 66.5% of the ES cell lines showed normal chromosomal numbers, but 15.

Small eye phenotypes observed in a human tau gene transgenic rat.

We developed a rat line showing small eye from transgenic rats that were obtained by microinjection of a DNA segment containing the human (h)tau cDNA (GenBank: BC000558: 31-677,774-1180) expressed under control of CAG promoter, which is related to Alzheimer disease, into the pronuclei rat embryos. The rat line was established by selective brother-sister mating of rats showing small eyes. Of 11 offspring in the 11th generation, there were eight animals with microphthalmia and the transgene.

Microsatellite-directed selection of breeders for the next backcross generation by using a minimal number of loci.

To establish a minimal number of markers for direct selection of candidate mice used for the next mating to produce congenic mice, recombination frequencies of 53 microsatellite loci on chromosomes (chr.) 1 and 19 were examined using 41 N2 mice: the donor strain was BALB/c, and recipient strain was C57BL/6J (B6J) or C57BL/6N (B6N). These markers were spaced at 0.

Epidemiology of Helicobacter infection in wild rodents in the Xinjiang-Uygur autonomous region of China.

Helicobacter species were detected in the feces of wild rodents captured in Qiemo and Ruoqiang in the Xinjiang-Uygur autonomous region of China by polymerase chain reaction and 16S rRNA partial sequence analysis. Forty-four wild rodents, including one Przewalski's gerbil (Brachiones przewalskii), three Northern three-toed jerboas (Dipus sagitta), one long-eared jerboa (Euchoreutes naso), 34 midday gerbils (Meriones meridianus), two short-tailed bandicoot rats (Nesokia indica) and three great gerbils (Rhombomys opimus), were examined. Epidemiological studies indicated that Helicobacter spp.

Helicobacter pylori induces chronic active gastritis in p53-knockout mice.

Gastritis and peptic ulcers result from Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. To analyze the influence of Helicobacter on inflammatory responses and cell proliferation, we used an animal model of H.

Attachment and infection to MA104 cells of avian rotaviruses require the presence of sialic acid on the cell surface.

To determine the characters of receptors on target cells for avian rotaviruses, the receptors on MA104 cells for the pigeon rotavirus PO-13, the turkey rotaviruses Ty-1 and Ty-3, and the chicken rotavirus Ch-1 were analyzed. Pretreatment of MA104 cells with neuraminidase greatly reduced the infection by all of the four avian rotavirus strains. Binding of the cell-attachment protein, purified VP8 expressed in bacteria, of strain PO-13 to MA104 cells was also inhibited by pretreatment of cells with neuraminidase.