Publications by authors named "Takayoshi Natsume"
A tetanus outbreak occurred during 2014-2015 in the rhesus macaques reared in an open enclosure in our facility. As the soil of the facility was suspected to be contaminated with Clostridium tetani spores, there was a risk of further tetanus occurring among the macaques. To protect them from tetanus, a tetanus toxoid vaccination was recommended; however, the vaccinated elderly animals might not be effectively protected due to insufficient humoral immune responses.
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- A rhesus macaque with the highest cholesterol levels identified 22 years ago led to the study of seven offspring with gene mutations linked to high cholesterol.
- The study measured LDLR activity, plasma cholesterol levels, and mRNA expression before and after dietary cholesterol administration.
- Findings revealed that specific genetic mutations in LDLR and MBTPS2 significantly contributed to hypercholesterolemia, impacting cholesterol levels even with a low cholesterol diet.
Within the gastrointestinal tract, the physiochemical microenvironments are highly diversified among the different stages of food digestion. Accordingly, gut microbiome composition and function vary at different gut sites. In this study, we examine and compare the compositional and functional potential between the stomach and colonic microbiome of wild Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata yakui) living in the evergreen forest of Yakushima Island.
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- The study investigates the effects of different anaesthetic combinations on common marmosets, focusing on alfaxalone alone and in combination with ketamine and butorphanol-medetomidine.
- Seven female marmosets were treated with four different anaesthetic protocols, with varying durations of unresponsiveness observed after administration.
- The results indicate that the combination treatment (AMB) caused a more significant decrease in heart rate and oxygen levels, suggesting the need for careful monitoring and oxygen support when using this protocol.
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- Animals in seasonal environments, like the Japanese macaque, must adjust their behavior and metabolism to cope with changing temperatures for better thermoregulation.
- Research showed that M. fuscata had lower overall activity in winter, but temperatures didn't impact daytime activity; instead, nighttime inactivity and longer sleep increased during colder months.
- The study found that residual energy expenditure was higher in winter due to less fat storage and lower energy needs for thermoregulation, highlighting the adaptive strategies of this primate species to seasonal climates.