Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) was isolated from a wild-caught Tsushima cat (Felis bengalensis euptilura), an endangered Japanese nondomestic subspecies of leopard cat (F. bengalensis). Phylogenetic analysis of the env gene sequences indicated that the FIV from the Tsushima cat belonged to a cluster of subtype D FIVs from domestic cats. FIVs from both the Tsushima cat and the domestic cat showed similar levels of replication and cytopathicity in lymphoid cell lines derived from these two species. The results indicated the occurrence of interspecies transmission of FIV from the domestic cat to the Tsushima cat in the wild.

Abstract:The difference between genders in the composition of mouse fecal flora was examined. A polymerase chain reaction followed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE)

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The applicability of a commercial human rotavirus detection kit for the detection of lapine rotavirus in laboratory rabbits was examined. Rotavirus antigen positive samples determined by the kit were shown to include lapine rotavirus by reverse transcriptional polymerase chain reaction and restriction endonuclease analysis. The kit was confirmed to be adequate for the detection of lapine rotavirus by these results. The kit is suggested to be useful for the management of laboratory rabbits because of its ability to detect rotavirus antigen excretion which occurs in the early stage of the infection.It will contribute to minimizing the loss of rabbits in the event of an outbreak.

SUMMARYThe following percentages of house dogs in 6 regions of Japan had sera reacting positively to the leptospira antibody: Hokkaido 25.8%, Shizuoka Prefecture 40.0%, Toyama Prefecture 8.9%, Hyogo Prefecture 10.0%, Okayama Prefecture 15.0%, and Okinawa Prefecture 29.0%. Antibodies to 6 serovars usually found in Japan (L. autumnalis, L. hebdomadis, L. australis, L. icterohaemorrhagiae, L. canicola, and L. pyrogenes) were detected in these districts, whereas antibodies against 2 serovars with high pathogenicity to farm animals elsewhere but unconfirmed in Japan (L. Pomona and L. hardjo) were not detected. All antibody-positive dogs were clinically normal and free of clinical signs or suggestions of leptospirosis.Their serum glucose, BUN, GOT, GPT, alkaline phosphatase, total cholesterol, and total bilirubin were within normal ranges.-