Zearalenone contamination and the causative fungi in sorghum.

Natural contamination by zearalenone, a toxic metabolite of Fusarium fungi, was surveyed in 160 samples of sorghum imported from 2001 to 2006 into Japan for feed. Of these 160 samples, 84 (52.5%) were contaminated with zearalenone, ranging in concentration from 60 to 7.

Evaluation of modified PCR quantitation of genetically modified maize and soybean using reference molecules: interlaboratory study.

Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based quantitative methods were previously developed and validated for genetically modified (GM) maize or soy. In this study, the quantification step of the validated methods was modified, and an interlaboratory study was conducted. The modification included the introduction of the PCR system SSIIb 3 instead of SSIIb 1 for the detection of the taxon-specific sequence of maize, as well as the adoption of colE1 as a carrier included in a reference plasmid solution as a replacement for salmon testis.

Updated prediction for the BSE epidemic in dairy cattle in Japan.

Following the detection of the first case of Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in Japan in September 2001, nine million cattle were tested for BSE up to the end of 2008. As a result, a further 28 cases were detected in dairy cattle. Using the mathematical model previously developed and surveillance data up to the end of 2008, we estimated the prevalence of BSE-infected animals within each birth cohort for the years 1995-2001.

Risk of introduction of BSE into Japan by the historical importation of live cattle from the United Kingdom.

All cattle imported from the United Kingdom to Japan since 1980 and slaughtered before 2002 were traced (n=33), and the number of cattle that were possibly infected with BSE and entered the animal feed chain was calculated. Because there was no effective system to avoid recycling of the BSE agent via animal feed until the early 1990s, of the 33 cattle imported from the UK into Japan, most probably 7 or 8 were infected and entered the animal feed chain, 2 of which entered the animal feed chain in each of 1992 and 1993. In terms of infectivity, 400-550 cattle oral ID(50) of the BSE agent entered the feed chain in each of these years.

Developing PCR primers using a new computer program for detection of multiple animal-derived materials in feed.

To reduce the risk of the bovine spongiform encephalopathy agent being recycled to cattle through animal feed, in October 2001 Japan introduced a feed ban prohibiting the use of animal proteins in feed. PCR identification of feed ingredients is part of the audit program to ensure the proper implementation of the feed ban. For efficient analysis, screening of feed products for materials from multiple species is essential.

[Determination of gossypol in feeds by HPLC].

An HPLC method for determination of goosypol in feed was developed. Gossypol in food was extracted with acetic acid-water-phosphoric acid (85 : 15 : 1) for 20 min in a water bath at 100 degrees C. The extract was diluted with acetone-water (1 : 1), and injected into the HPLC.

Estimation of discrimination errors in the technique for determining the geographic origin of onions by mineral composition: interlaboratory study.

Techniques to determine the geographic origin of foods have been developed for various agricultural and fishery products, and they have used various principles. Some of these techniques are already in use for checking the authenticity of the labeling. Many are based on multielement analysis and chemometrics.

A comparison of the risk of bovine spongiform encephalopathy infectivity in beef from cattle younger than 21 months in Japan with that in beef from the United States as assessed by the carcass maturity score.

After the detection of the first case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in the United States in December 2003, the Japanese government halted all imports of U.S. beef.

Current supply and demand of veterinarians in Japan.

Since 1966, approximately 1 000 veterinarians graduate each year from 16 veterinary schools in Japan. According to reports submitted by veterinarians to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in January 2007, there were over 35 818 veterinarians in Japan at the end of 2006. Of this total, 13 202 (36.

Simulating the BSE epidemic and multiplication factor in dairy herds in Japan.

With the objective of evaluating the effectiveness of an administrative guidance on the use of ruminant meat-and-bone meal in ruminant feed, effective from April 1996 to September 2001, we developed a model to simulate the evolution of the BSE epidemic and to estimate the BSE multiplication factor (K) in the Japanese dairy population. The output that provided the best fit to the number of BSE cases both observed and predicted to date suggest that the probability that bovine MBM was fed back to cattle was 14.2-75.

Estimating the prevalence of BSE in dairy birth cohorts and predicting the incidence of BSE cases in Japan.

Following the detection of the first case of BSE in Japan in September 2001, four million cattle were subjected to a rapid test for BSE up to the end of 2004. A further 10 cases were detected in the dairy cattle population and two cases in Holstein steers. We focused on the dairy population and estimated the prevalence of BSE infected animals within each birth cohort for the years 1992-2001 using Bayesian inference.