Effect of kraft pulp inclusion in calf starter on performance, health, and plasma concentration of glucagon-like peptide 2 in calves

Kraft pulp (KP), an intermediate product obtained when wood chips are converted to paper, contains highly digestible fiber. This study evaluated the effect of KP inclusion in calf starters on growth performance, health, and plasma glucagon-like peptide 2 (GLP-2) concentration in calves. Twenty-five Holstein heifer calves were raised on a high plane of nutrition program using milk replacer containing 29% crude protein and 18% fat until 49 d after birth, and were fed calf starters containing KP at 0 (CON; n = 14) or 12% (KPS; n = 11) on a dry matter basis. All calves were fed the treatment calf starters and timothy hay ad libitum. Blood was collected at 4, 14, 21, 35, 49, 70, and 91 d after birth. Dry matter intake (DMI) of milk replacer and hay was not affected by treatment, whereas calf starter DMI was lower for KPS (0.93 kg/d) than for CON (1.03 kg/d). Higher neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content in KPS (31.7%) than in the CON starter (22.1%) resulted in higher NDF intake for KPS (0.55 kg/d) than for CON (0.47 kg/d). However, the consumption of starch was lower for KPS (0.29 kg/d) than for CON (0.33 kg/d). Despite the lower starter intake for KPS, body weight and average daily gain did not differ between treatments. No significant difference was observed in the plasma concentrations of metabolites, except for β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB); BHB concentration was lower for KPS (216 μmol/L) than for CON (257 μmol/L). The area under the curve for plasma GLP-2 concentration was higher for KPS (54.1 ng/mL × d) than for CON (36.0 ng/mL × d). Additionally, the fecal score postweaning (1.19 and 1.48 for KPS and CON, respectively) and the number of days that calves developed diarrhea throughout the experimental period (2.50 d and 8.10 d for KPS and CON, respectively) were lower for KPS than for CON. These results indicate that feeding KP reduces the severity and frequency of diarrhea without adversely affecting growth performance. This could be attributed to the increased plasma GLP-2 concentration induced by higher NDF intake.

Enhancing Removal of Pollutants by Combining Photocatalysis and Photo-Fenton Using Co, Fe-Doped Titanate Nanowires

Aiming to improve their photocatalytic performance, titanate nanowires (TNW) were modified by Fe and Co (co)-doping, FeTNW, CoTNW and CoFeTNW samples, using a hydrothermal methodology. XRD characterization agrees with the existence of Fe and Co in the lattice structure.and the existence of Co²⁺ together with the presence of Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ in the structure was confirmed by XPS. The optical characterization of the modified powders shows the impact of the d-d transitions of both metals in the absorption properties of TNW, mainly in the creation of additional 3d energetic levels within the prohibited zone. The effect of the doping metal(s) in the recombination rate of photo-generated charge carriers suggests a higher impact of Fe presence when compared to Co. The photocatalytic characterization of the prepared samples was evaluated via the removal of acetaminophen. Furthermore, a mixture containing both acetaminophen and caffeine, a well-known commercial combination, was also tested. CoFeTNW sample was the best photocatalyst for the degradation of acetaminophen in both situations. A mechanism for the photo-activation of the modified semiconductor is discussed and a model proposed. It was concluded that both Co and Fe are essential, within the TNW structure, for the successful removal of acetaminophen and caffeine.

Electro-optic Bdot probe measurement of magnetic fluctuations in plasma

We propose a combined use of a Pockels electro-optic sensor with a pickup loop coil (Bdot probe) for the measurement of magnetic fluctuations in plasmas. In this method, induced fluctuating voltage on the coil loop is converted into an optical signal by a compact electro-optic sensor in the vicinity of the measurement point and is transferred across optical fiber that is unaffected by electric noise or capacitive load issues. Compared with conventional Bdot probes, the electro-optic Bdot probe (1) is electrically isolated and free from noise pickup caused by the metallic transmission line and (2) can be operated at a higher-frequency range because of the smaller capacitance of the operation circuit, both of which are suitable for many plasma experiments. Conversely, the sensitivity of the current electro-optic Bdot probe arrangement is still significantly lower than that of conventional Bdot probes. A preliminary measurement result with the electro-optic Bdot probe showed the detection of a magnetic fluctuation signal around the cyclotron frequency range in the RT-1 magnetospheric plasma experiment.

Electro-optic probe measurements of electric fields in plasmas

The direct measurements of high-frequency electric fields in a plasma bring about significant advances in the physics and engineering of various waves. We have developed an electro-optic sensor system based on the Pockels effect. Since the signal is transmitted through an optical fiber, the system has high tolerance for electromagnetic noises. To demonstrate its applicability to plasma experiments, we report the first result of measurement of the ion-cyclotron wave excited in the RT-1 magnetosphere device. This study compares the results of experimental field measurements with simulation results of electric fields in plasmas.

Cytomegalovirus Infection in Patients with Sepsis Due to Bloodstream Infections: Lower Risk and Better Outcomes in New versus Already Hospitalised Intensive Care Unit Admissions

Few studies have examined cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation exclusively in immunocompetent patients with sepsis due to bloodstream infections. In a cohort of CMV-seropositive critically ill otherwise non-immunosuppressed patients with sepsis due to bloodstream infection, weekly testing for CMV viraemia was performed. Outcomes were assessed at 30 days or until death/discharge from the intensive care unit (ICU). CMV viraemia developed in 20% (20/100) of the patients. Age ( P=0.044) and blood transfusions ( P=0.022) were significantly associated with CMV viraemia. There was no difference in the primary endpoint (mortality and/or multi-organ failure) between patients with and without CMV viraemia ( P=0.49). However, CMV viraemia was associated with significantly fewer ICU-free days ( P=0.023) and fewer ventilator-free days ( P=0.031). Patients hospitalised in the ICU for more than 48 hours prior to the onset of bloodstream infection were more likely to develop CMV viraemia ( P=0.006), have high-grade viraemia ( P=0.010), and fewer ICU-free days ( P=0.018) and ventilator-free days ( P=0.029) than those admitted within 48 hours of bloodstream infection. Thus, CMV reactivation was associated with fewer ICU- and ventilator-free days, however overall mortality was not affected. Patients already in the ICU at the onset of sepsis had higher risk of CMV reactivation and worse outcomes than new ICU-bound patients suggesting that a targeted approach for interventions for CMV could conceivably be directed towards those with a more protracted course of illness.

Loss of multidrug and toxin extrusion 1 (MATE1) is associated with metformin-induced lactic acidosis

BACKGROUNDS AND PURPOSE

Lactic acidosis is a fatal adverse effect of metformin, but the risk factor remains unclear. Multidrug and toxin extrusion 1 (MATE1) is expressed in the luminal membrane of the kidney and liver. MATE1 was revealed to be responsible for the tubular and biliary secretion of metformin. Therefore, some MATE polymorphisms, that cause it to function abnormally, are hypothesized to induce lactic acidosis. The purpose of this study is to clarify the association between MATE dysfunction and metformin-induced lactic acidosis.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

Blood lactate, pH and bicarbonate ion (HCO(3) (-) ) levels were evaluated during continuous administration of 3 mg·mL(-1) metformin in drinking water using Mate1 knockout (-/-), heterozygous (+/-) and wild-type (+/+) mice. To determine the tissue accumulation of metformin, mice were given 400 mg·kg(-1) metformin orally. Furthermore, blood lactate data were obtained from diabetic patients given metformin.

KEY RESULTS

Seven days after metformin administration in drinking water, significantly higher blood lactate, lower pH and HCO(3) (-) levels were observed in Mate1(-/-) mice, but not in Mate1(+/-) mice. The blood lactate levels were not affected in patients with the heterozygous MATE variant (MATE1-L125F, MATE1-G64D, MATE2-K-G211V). Sixty minutes after metformin administration (400 mg·kg(-1) , p.o.) the hepatic concentration of metformin was markedly higher in Mate1(-/-) mice than in Mate1(+/+) mice.

CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS

MATE1 dysfunction caused a marked elevation in the metformin concentration in the liver and led to lactic acidosis, suggesting that the homozygous MATE1 variant could be one of the risk factors for metformin-induced lactic acidosis.

Primary cutaneous CD30+ anaplastic large-cell lymphoma with generalized skin involvement and involvement of one peripheral lymph node, successfully treated with low-dose oral etoposide

Primary cutaneous CD30+ anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (PCALCL) in adults is rare, and the prognosis is generally excellent. Multifocal PCALCL tends to relapse after multiagent chemotherapy and is generally considered more prone to progress to extracutaneous involvement than is the localized disease. We report a 43-year-old woman with PCALCL who had generalized skin involvement accompanied by involvement of one peripheral draining lymph-node region. Although the disease relapsed after multiagent chemotherapy regimens, the disease was successfully treated with low-dose etoposide. We reviewed the previously reported cases of PCALCL treated with low-dose etoposide. We suggest that oral etoposide might be a useful effective treatment for treatment of relapsed multifocal PCALCL.

Radiotherapy for extramammary Paget's disease: histopathological findings after radiotherapy

Several reports have suggested the efficacy of radiotherapy for treating extramammary Paget's disease (EMPD); however, these reports comprised only clinical observations, without in-depth histopathological observations. We report our experience of genital EMPD treated by radiotherapy in two elderly women, and the marked efficacy of radiotherapy, confirmed both by clinical observation and by detailed histopathological investigations. Our cases agree with the notion that radiotherapy is useful as an alternative therapy for EMPD, and should be considered particularly in elderly patients who may not tolerate surgery well.

Rapid detection of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans using a loop-mediated isothermal amplification method

INTRODUCTION

Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans has been implicated in the etiology of aggressive periodontitis. In this study, we applied a novel nucleic acid amplification method, called loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), which amplifies DNA with high specificity, efficiency and rapidity under isothermal conditions, allowing the rapid detection of A. actinomycetemcomitans.

METHODS

We designed the primers for detecting A. actinomycetemcomitans and evaluated the specificity and sensitivity of the assay.

RESULTS

The LAMP primers used in this study successfully amplified serotypes a-e of A. actinomycetemcomitans, while other oral bacteria were not amplified. By measuring the precipitation of magnesium pyrophosphate, we could quantify the chromosomal DNA of A. actinomycetemcomitans. The detection limits using the real-time turbidimetry analysis were 5.8 x 10(2)-5.8 x 10(7) copies of A. actinomycetemcomitans template DNA per reaction tube. In addition, the LAMP assay was used for the rapid detection of A. actinomycetemcomitans in clinical specimens from eight individuals. The results with the LAMP method were similar to those using conventional polymerase chain reaction.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that the LAMP-based assay is very useful for the rapid detection of A. actinomycetemcomitans.

Bullous pemphigoid associated with dermatomyositis and colon carcinoma

It has been suggested that both bullous pemphigoid (BP) and dermatomyositis are associated with internal malignancies. However, there are no reports of the coexistence of these three conditions in one patient. We report the first case, to our knowledge. of coexistent BP, dermatomyositis and colon carcinoma. An 81-year-old Japanese woman was diagnosed with dermatomyositis based on muscular weakness and tenderness of the extremities, increased levels of circulating muscle enzymes and histological inflammatory changes in skeletal muscle and skin. Carcinoma of the sigmoid colon was detected during screening for internal malignancy; she was therefore surgically treated. Ten days after the operation, several large bullous eruptions appeared on her extremities. From the histopathological, immunofluorescence microscopy and BP180 ELISA study findings, we diagnosed the bullous eruptions as BP. Coexistence of BP with dermatomyositis or colon carcinoma is rare. Although the reason why our case exhibited these three disorders is not understood, it is suggested that these conditions may be associated with epitope spreading.

[Effect of probucol on the concentration of cyclosporin A in patients with nephrotic syndrome]

The first choice of therapy for nephrotic syndrome is steroid, and cyclosporin A(CyA) or other immunosuppressants are selected for steroid resistant or recurrent cases. Nephrotic syndrome accompanies hyperlipidemia for which HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors are mainly used. On the other hand, probucol is used in cases showing inadequate effects or some adverse reactions under treatment with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. Recently, we experienced several cases whose blood levels of CyA were decreased to about half that before the combined use of probucol, and concomitant administrations were discontinued. Based on these cases, we considered that the use of probucol should be prescribed in patients with nephrotic syndrome accompanying hyperlipidemia giving preference to CyA treatment. In cases of unavoidable usage of probucol, CyA dose adjustments are required on the basis of frequent CyA blood level monitoring.

Isolation of tannin-degrading lactobacilli from humans and fermented foods

Lactobacilli with tannase activity were isolated from human feces and fermented foods. A PCR-based taxonomic assay revealed that the isolates belong to Lactobacillus plantarum, L. paraplantarum, and L. pentosus. Additional studies on a range of Lactobacillus species from established culture collections confirmed that this enzymatic activity is a phenotypic property common to these three species.

Characteristics of Streptococcus pyogenes serotype M1 and M3 isolates from patients in Japan from 1981 to 1997

Streptococcus pyogenes isolates obtained in 1981 to 1997 from patients and healthy subjects were characterized by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns, biotyping, and the presence of spe genes encoding streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxins. Changes in the profiles were shown in the serotype M1/T1 isolates from pharyngitis over this period, but not in serotype M3/T3 isolates. The characteristics of isolates from patients with toxic shock-like syndrome (TSLS) were comparable to those of the other isolates, including those from healthy subjects. This finding suggests that further phenotypic and molecular characterization, such as investigating the genomic difference represented by the pathogenicity island, of isolates with apparently the same profiles would be necessary to determine the etiology of diseases caused by S. pyogenes, including TSLS.

[A comparison of sensitivity between direct plate culture, immunomagnetic separation and polymerase chain reaction for the isolation of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157]

Sensitivities of direct plate culture (DPC) method, immunomagnetic separation (IMS) method, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for successful detection Escherichia coli O157 in the food samples were compared. Three lots of minced beef and three lots of radish sprout, both of which were commercially retailed, were enriched with non-selective broth media at 36 degrees C for 6 h. After enrichment, the cultures of the minced beef and those of the radish sprout were found to have background microflora at ca.10(5)-10(7) CFU/ml and ca.10(8) CFU/ml, respectively. The cultures were then experimentally inoculated with E. coli O157 strains at various final concentrations ranging from ca.10 to 10(7) CFU/ml. The samples thus prepared were subjected to the above three methods to evaluate their detection limits. For the samples of minced beef, the detection limits of the DPC method was 10(2) CFU/ml whilst that of the IMS method was ca.10 CFU/ml. For the samples of radish sprout, the detection limits of the DPC method, the IMS method, and the PCR assay were ca.10(4) CFU/ml, ca.10(2) CFU/ml, and ca.10(6) CFU/ml, respectively. There results strongly suggest that the IMS method is most sensitive method for the detection of O157 from food samples among the methods currently available.

Growth of starved Escherichia coli O157 cells in selective and non-selective media

Escherichia coli O157 strains starved in sterile deionized water (SDW) and filter-sterilized natural river water (SRW) were investigated with specific reference to their culturability in selective and non-selective media. Growth of the strains starved in both SDW and SRW were markedly suppressed with time in selective liquid media such as modified trypticase soy broth supplemented with novobiocin (mTSB+n) and modified E. coli broth supplemented with novobiocin (mEC+n). This suppression was more pronounced when incubated at 42 C than at 37 C, especially with mEC+n. By contrast, such growth suppression was seldom observed when cultured at 37 C in non-selective liquid media such as trypticase soy broth (TSB) and buffered peptone water. In mEC+n at 42 C, the non-starved cells from overnight cultures with an initial density of less than 10(3) colony-forming units (CFU)/ml grew to the density of over 10(7) CFU/ml after 24 hr incubation, whereas those starved for 6 weeks in SRW were only to maintain their initial density or died off after 24 hr incubation under the same culturing conditions. These results indicated that the isolation of starved cells of E. coli O157 from water samples would be most difficult with selective enrichment or direct plating on the selective plate media. It is thus highly recommended that a "resuscitation" of the cells with non-selective enrichment should be performed as a routine practice for maximum recovery of E. coli O157 from water systems.

[Isolation of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 from processed salmon roe associated with the outbreaks in Japan, 1998, and a molecular typing of the isolates by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis]

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coil (STEC) O157 were isolated from processed salmon roe which had been a suspected food item in sporadic infections which occurred in Japan in 1998. A total of 45 samples of the processed salmon roe were pre-enriched in trypticase soy broth (TSB) at 36 degrees C for 6 h and novobiocin-supplemented modified EC broth (mEC-NB) at 42 degrees C for 18 h. After the pre-enrichments, the cultures were examined for possible occurrence of STEC O157, using an immunomagnetic separation (IMS) method. From the examination, a total of 84 strains of STEC O157:H7 that were positive for both stx 1 and stx 2 genes were isolated. By applying the most-probable-number technique, it was estimated that the number of STEC O157 was in the range of 0.73-1.5 per 10 g of the processed salmon roe. Subsequent analysis of the isolates by a pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) revealed a pattern commonly seen in 82 isolates and another pattern in two isolates. Clinical isolates from 7 patients also showed an identical pattern to those of the 82 isolates and one isolate from a patient showed the other pattern identical to those of the two isolates. The isolates were found to belong to the phage type 14.

The tannin-degrading species Streptococcus gallolyticus and Streptococcus caprinus are subjective synonyms

The tannin-degrading species Streptococcus gallolyticus and Streptococcus caprinus have been shown to be subjective synonyms on the basis of their levels of 16S rRNA sequence similarity (98.3%) and DNA-DNA homology (> 70%) and the phenotypes of their type strains. S. gallolyticus has nomenclatural priority according to Rule 24b(2) of the International Code of Nomenclature of Bacteria.

Urea hydrolysis and suppressed production of thermostable direct hemolysin (TDH) by Vibrio parahaemolyticus associated with presence of TDH-related hemolysin genes

A total of 18 strains of V. parahaemolyticus isolated from patients of past food poisoning cases occurring in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, were assayed for presence of the thermostable direct hemolysin (TDH) gene and the TDH-related hemolysin (TRH) genes (trh 1 and trh 2) with specific reference to their ability to hydrolyze urea and TDH production. A polymerase chain reaction assay revealed that all urea-hydrolyzing strains (9 strains) carried either trh 1 gene or trh 2 gene. The strains carrying the trh genes as well as the tdh gene produced TDH less by a factor of 4 to 16 than those carrying only the tdh gene, suggesting the expression of the tdh gene was suppressed by the presence of trh gene through a mechanism yet to be defined.

Digestion of staphylococcal enterotoxin by Bacillus natto

Cooked rice contaminated with staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) was mixed with 'natto', a Bacillus natto fermented soybean food, and the mixture was incubated at 37 degrees C for 1 h. Reversed passive latex agglutination (RPLA) tests performed on the mixture revealed that the RPLA titer against SEA was significantly reduced after incubation. Subsequent analytical tests showed that the SEA protein molecule was fragmented to small peptides by an extracellular protease, subtilisin, produced by B. natto. The proteolytic activity of B. natto was also found to be effective against other types of staphylococcal enterotoxins.

Rapid screening method for identification of cholera toxin-producing Vibrio cholerae O1 and O139

A novel method of identifying cholera enterotoxin (CT)-producing Vibrio cholerae serogroups O1 and O139 was developed. The method uses degradation of NAD as a specific biochemical marker for the CT-producing strains. The substrate NAD at a concentration of 100 mumol/liter was markedly degraded when it was incubated at 37 degrees C for 2 h with the CT-producing stains at a final cell density equivalent to that of a twofold dilution of a McFarland no. 1 standard. NAD degradation was monitored by an enzyme-amplified color development assay. Subsequent tests conducted with a total of 119 strains of V. cholerae, including both clinical and environmental isolates, confirmed a significant correlation between NAD degradation and CT production for all V. cholerae strains belonging to serogroups O1 and O139. Since 2 of 11 non-O1, non-O139 V. cholerae strains not carrying the CT gene degraded NAD, serotyping of the strains prior to the test is recommended.

[Isolation of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (O157:H7) by an immunomagnetic separation method]

Three sporadic cases of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157 infection which occurred in Kanagawa in 1996 were investigated. In an attempt to determine sources of the infection, a novel method of immunomagnetic separation (IMS) was employed to isolate the bacterium from feces, foods, and other associated items. In the first case, strains of EHEC O157:H7 producing Vero toxin (VT) 2 were isolated from both feces of the patient and suspected food (cattle liver) kept at a restaurant, and the strains were found to be genotypically identical through an analysis of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Subsequent investigation in the meat processing store, from which the above cattle liver had been retailed to the restaurants revealed that the store was contaminated with EHEC O157:H7 producing both VT1 and VT2. In the second case, a strain isolated from the patient was EHEC O157:H7 producing both VT1 and VT2 while strains isolated from the patient's family (without apparent symptom) and the suspected facility were O137:NM producing VT2. PFGE analysis indicated that the latter two strains were genotypically identical, suggesting that the facility thus contaminated with EHEC O157 caused the infection in question. In the third case, EHEC O157:NM producing VT2 was isolated from 4 out of 7 family members including the patient, and these strains were found to be genotypically identical by subsequent PFGE analysis. Source of the infection was, however, not determined due to lack of suspected food items. In this context, four slaughterhouses in Kanagawa Prefecture were investigated for presence of EHEC O157. As a result, strains of EHEC O157:H7 producing VT1 and VT2 were isolated from the contents of cattle's distal colon and surface of the skinned carcasses. Additional attempt was also made to determine a possibility of river water being contaminated with EHEC O157. The bacterium was, however, not isolated from water samples collected from 4 major rivers in the prefecture (at 10 collecting sites). Experiments were undertaken in order to evaluate the use of IMS in isolation of EHEC O157 from food items, with different pre-enrichment media and conditions. The results indicated that pre-enrichment by trypticase soy broth at 36 degrees C for 6 h followed by inoculating onto sorbitol MacConkey agar plate containing cefixime and tellurite was most appropriate to isolate EHEC O157 strains.

Production of thermostable direct hemolysin by Vibrio parahaemolyticus enhanced by conjugated bile acids

The effects of conjugated bile acids, glycocholic acid, and taurocholic acid (TC) on production of thermostable direct hemolysin (TDH) by Vibrio parahaemolyticus were determined by a reversed passive latex agglutination assay against TDH. The amount of TDH excreted in growth medium containing either glycocholic acid or taurocholic acid (5 mM/liter) was, on a per-cell basis, 4- to 16-fold greater than that excreted in medium without the bile acids. The amounts of TDH released from lysed cells grown with the bile acids (5 mM/liter) were 4- to 32-fold greater than those from lysed cells grown without, suggesting that the bile acids enhanced synthesis of TDH within bacterial cells. These data imply that the conjugated bile acids play a key role in the pathogenicity of V. parahaemolyticus.

Occurrence of urease-positive Vibrio parahaemolyticus in Kanagawa, Japan, with specific reference to presence of thermostable direct hemolysin (TDH) and the TDH-related-hemolysin genes

A total of 132 strains of V. parahaemolyticus isolated from patients and from the suspected causal food items of past food poisoning cases occurring in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, were examined for the ability to hydrolyze urea, with specific reference to the presence of the thermostable direct hemolysin gene (tdh) and the gene for thermostable direct hemolysin-related hemolysin (trh). Ten strains belonging to five different O-antigen serotypes were positive for urea hydrolysis (UH+), and four of these strains did not carry tdh. A total of 106 strains carried tdh, but less than 6% of them were UH+, whereas all trh-carrying strains were UH+. The evidence suggests that urea hydrolysis is not a reliable marker for identifying tdh-carrying V. parahaemolyticus strains in Japan (the Pacific Northeast) but may be a marker for trh-carrying strains.

An investigation of gram-negative tannin-protein complex degrading bacteria in fecal flora of various mammals

Gram-negative tannin-protein complex degrading bacteria (T-PCDB) were first isolated from animals except for the koala. The occurrence of T-PCDB in feces of 15 species of mammals with different feeding habits was investigated. T-PCDB occurred in 7 of 54 horses but they could not be isolated from other mammals tested. These T-PCDB comprised less than 0.1% of the facultative anaerobic microflora in horse feces and it was much less than that previously reported in koala feces ( > 60%). A total of 7 T-PCDB fecal isolates showed a range of phenotypic diversities. They were all Gram-negative rods of various sizes and shapes including coccoidal rod. Although all produced tannase, no strain showed to have gallate decarboxylase. A total of 23 representative strains belonging to the family Pasteurellaceae were also tested for tannase production. Two strains, Haemophilus actinomycetemcomitans NIAH-10202T and Haemophilus segnis NIAH-10183T which were isolated from human oral cavity were detected positive for tannase.

Biochemical and antigenical characterization of tannin-protein complex degrading enterobacteria isolated from koalas, Phascolarctos cinereus

Biochemical and antigenical characteristics of tannin-protein complex degrading enterobacteria (T-PCDE) isolated from Koalas, Phascolarctos cinereus, were investigated. T-PCDE had a specific profile of characteristics, and T-PCDE was distinguished from those of 12 type strains of Enterobacteriaceae used.

Effects of different acidulants on growth of 'Streptococcus milleri group' strains isolated from various sites of the human body

Growth of human clinical isolates of Streptococcus constellatus, Strep. intermedius and Strep. anginosus in HCl-, acetate and lactate acidified media was investigated. Under aerobic conditions, Strep. constellatus and Strep. anginosus were significantly more tolerant to all the acidulants than was Strep. intermedius. Under anaerobic conditions, Strep. anginosus and Strep. intermedius were significantly more tolerant to acetic acid (pH < 4.5) than Strep. constellatus.

Differences related to the production of arachidonic acid between collagen- and thrombin-stimulated human platelets

The effects of collagen and thrombin on the liberation of free arachidonic acid were investigated in human platelets by fluorometric high-performance liquid chromatography. Collagen induced a concentration-dependent increase in the extent of platelet aggregation, as well as an accumulation of arachidonic acid in human platelets. By contrast, thrombin effectively provoked a potent aggregation at relatively low concentration without any accumulation of free arachidonic acid, although the accumulation of arachidonic acid was detected at a high concentration of thrombin (> 0.1 U/ml) that induced full aggregation. The selective liberation of arachidonic acid was found in thrombin-stimulated platelets. Non-selective liberation of fatty acids occurred in platelets that had been stimulated with a high concentration of collagen (10 micrograms/ml), as well as in platelets stimulated with A23187. The net amount of free arachidonic acid in collagen-stimulated platelets was estimated by use of eicosatetraenoic acid (ETYA), which is an inhibitor of both cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase. ETYA markedly potentiated the accumulation of free arachidonic acid in collagen-stimulated platelets without changing the amounts of other fatty acids in the cell.

Visual Reading Method for Detection of Bacterial Tannase

Tannase activity of bacteria capable of degrading tannin-protein complexes was determined by a newly developed visual reading method. The method is based on two phenomena: (i) the ability of tannase to hydrolyze methyl gallate to release free gallic acid and (ii) the green to brown coloration of gallic acid after prolonged exposure to oxygen in an alkaline condition. The method has been successfully used to detect the presence of tannase in the cultures of bacteria capable of degrading tannin-protein complexes.

Microbiological Studies of the Intestinal Microflora of the Koala, Phascolarctos-Cinereus .1. Colonization of the Cecal Wall by Tannin-Protein-Complex-Degrading Enterobacteria

The tannin-protein-complex-degrading enterobacterium (T-PCDE), which specifically colonises the caecal wall of the koala, was investigated immunohistologically. Polyclonal antisera were raised against three strains of T-PCDE. Tissue from six koalas was subjected to immunogold staining using a pooled, absorbed antiserum. Numerous T-PCDE cells were observed in the bacterial layer attached to the caecal wall of five of the animals. The distribution pattern of T-PCDE varied: cells were either scattered throughout the bacterial layer or congregated in areas that apparently contained debris of digesta. The sixth animal, which had been treated with oxytetracycline and showed severe loss of body weight, did not have any bacterial layer attached to the caecal wall and did not stain positive for T-PCDE. The evidence suggests a symbiotic association between T-PCDE and the koala; the caecal wall and the wall of the proximal colon were 'strategically' colonised by the bacterium, which may facilitate access, although it is likely to be indirect, for the host animal to the nitrogen moiety liberated from breakdown of tannin-protein complexes.

Microbiological Studies of the Intestinal Microflora of the Koala, Phascolarctos-Cinereus .2. Pap, a Special Maternal Feces Consumed by Juvenile Koalas

Quantitative and qualitative studies on the microflora in the faeces of 10 female koalas, Phascolarctos cinereus, were conducted with specific reference to 'pap', a special maternal faeces consumed by the juvenile at about the time of first emergence from the pouch. This specific coprophagy, called 'pap feeding', occurred multiple times in all of the females examined. Pap was higher in water content (81.8%) and pH (7.0) than normal faeces produced by the females before and after pap feeding (54.6-56.4% and 5.5, respectively), suggesting that it is derived directly from the contents of the caecum. Pap had higher (23-41-fold) viable counts of tannin-protein-complex-degrading enterobacteria (T-PCDE) than the normal faeces; in four of the females examined, viable T-PCDE were found in pap but never in the normal faeces. The evidence indicates that pap feeding is an essential physiological activity for the juvenile koala to prepare it for an imminent dietary transition from maternal milk to tannin-rich eucalypt leaves.

Dietary preference of koalas, Phascolarctos cinereus (Marsupialia: Phascolarctidae) for Eucalyptus spp. with a specific reference to their simple sugar contents

NA

Tannin-protein complex-degrading enterobacteria isolated from the alimentary tracts of koalas and a selective medium for their enumeration

Tannin-protein complex (T-PC)-degrading enterobacteria (T-PCDE) were isolated from the feces and from a layer of bacteria attached to the cecal wall of koalas. The T-PCDE were facultatively anaerobic, gram-negative, pleomorphic, nonmotile bacilli. The bacteria were also oxidase and catalase negative and resistant to vancomycin, reduced nitrates to nitrites, and grew on MacConkey agar. Growth on tannin-treated agar media showed a distinctive clear zone around the colony. From these observations, a selective agar plate medium (vancomycin- and tannin-treated Wilkins-Chalgren anaerobe agar) was developed to enumerate T-PCDE isolated from the feces of koalas. This medium was highly selective in the enumeration of the fecal T-PCDE and inhibited the growth of concomitant T-PC-degrading Streptococcus bovis. The T-PCDE were isolated from 10 of the 12 captive koalas studied; in 8 of these 10 koalas, the facultatively anaerobic bacterial flora was dominated (more than 60%) by T-PCDE. Viable numbers of T-PCDE were, in most of the animals, much larger (more than 100 times) than the numbers of T-PC-degrading S. bovis, suggesting that T-PCDE played a more active role in digesting T-PC in the alimentary tracts of koalas.

Microflora of the pouch of the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)

Microflora of the pouch epithelium of 17 female koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) were examined in relation to their current reproductive status and recent reproductive history. No microbial growth was observed in pouch swabs from 13 of 17 (76%) koalas, including four females without young, seven with pouch young and two with back young (i.e. permanently emerged from the pouch). Growth of bacteria or yeasts was observed in pouch swabs from four koalas, each of which had experienced mortality of its pouch young during the current breeding season. Seven species of microorganisms were isolated, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serratia marcescens and Enterococcus faecalis. Based on the absence of microflora in the majority of females examined, we propose that the pouch epithelium normally provides a hostile environment for microbial colonization.

A Comparative-Study of Macroscopic and Microscopic Dimensions of the Intestine in 5 Macropods (Marsupialia, Macropodidae) .2. Relationship With Feeding-Habits and Fiber Content of the Diet

A comparative study of macroscopic and microscopic dimensions of the intestines in five macropod species indicated that the grazing macropods (the red kangaroo, Macropus rufus, and the eastern grey kangaroo, Macropus giganteus) had significantly longer caeca and large intestines than those of the browsing macropods (the swamp wallaby, Wallabia bicolor, and the red-necked pademelon, Thylogale thetis). This trend was not observed in the small intestine. The arid-adapted M. rufus also had a significantly longer large intestine than M. giganteus, which may be a water-conservation feature. Intestinal villi were tall in T. thetis, which consumed a less fibrous diet, whereas the agile wallaby, Macropus agilis, on a highly fibrous diet, had short villi; other macropods, on diets of medium fibre content, had villi of intermediate height. Thus, the size of the hindgut (i.e. caecum and large intestine) may provide an index of the specific feeding habit of a species (browsing or grazing), whilst parameters of the villi of the small intestine may reflect the quality of the animals' current diet.

A comparative study of macroscopic and microscopic dimensions of the intensine in five macropods (Marsupialia: Macropodidae). I. Allometric relationships

Macroscopic and microscopic dimensions of the intestines in five macropod species (the red kangaroo, Macropus rufus; the eastern grey kangaroo, M. giganteus; the agile wallaby, M. agilis; the swamp wallaby, Wallabia bicolor; and the red-necked pademelon, Thylogale thetis) were investigated allometrically in relation to body mass. In general, the length of the small intestine changed in an area : volume (A:V) compensating manner, but the circumference showed negative allometry such that the overall change in surface areas, both ground and mucosal (including the contribution of villi), were isometric but also included the coefficient derived from 'Kleiber's Law' (0.75) in their 95 and 99% confidence limits, respectively. Villous height and width generally showed no significant correlations with body size, but villous density was lower in large individuals. The allometry coefficient for the length of the large intestine was generally near the A:V compensating value (0.5) in most intraspecific analyses but much higher in the interspecific analysis, suggesting that some factor other than body size might be important (possibly dietary fibre). Caecal length was significantly correlated with body size only in two largest species (M. rufus and M. giganteus) and the interspecific analysis gave a value near A:V compensation).

Serological assessment of chlamydial infection in the koala by a slide EIA technique

A rapid and simplified slide enzyme immunosorbent assay (EIA) was developed for the diagnosis of chlamydial infection in the koala. HeLa 229 cells infected with koala strain Chlamydia psittaci were fixed on the surface of multiwell slides and used as the antigen. The assay consisted of first reacting koala antiserum with the fixed C psittaci antigen, followed by reaction with biotinylated rabbit anti-koala IgG, ABC reagent and substrate. The chlamydial EIA antibody titres obtained were compared with those of a complement fixation (CF) test using koala strain C psittaci as antigen. Of 35 koala sera tested, 16 CF positive sera (greater than or equal to 1:8) also had a positive titre (greater than or equal to 1:200) in the slide EIA test (sensitivity 93.8%, 15/16). Nineteen CF negative sera were also negative in the slide EIA (specificity 100%, 19/19). Sixty-eight samples of koala blood were collected by ear-prick using a sampling paper method and were assayed by both tests. Sensitivity of the slide EIA was 100% (15/15) and specificity of the test was 96.2% (51/53). To simplify the slide EIA for use as a practical screening test, a 3-point serum dilution series (1:100, 1:200, 1:400) was used. This 3-point slide EIA was compared with the CF test using sheep strain chlamydial antigen. Thirty-nine sera were assayed by both tests. The sensitivity of the 3-point method was 85.7% (6/7) and the specificity was 71.9% (23/32) as compared with the sheep antigen CF test.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)