{"title":"Tyramine is not essential for European foulbrood pathogenesis in a virulent Melissococcus plutonius strain.","authors":"Mariko Okamoto, Keiko Nakamura, Ryuichi Uegaki, Mariko Harada, Takahiro Inoue, Rana Okawaki, Daisuke Takamatsu","doi":"10.1292/jvms.26-0187","DOIUrl":"10.1292/jvms.26-0187","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>European foulbrood, caused by Melissococcus plutonius, is a major bacterial disease of honey bee brood. Although strains belonging to the genetically related group known as clonal complex 12 (CC12) are highly virulent, their virulence factors remain unclear. Since tyramine has been proposed as a putative virulence factor, we constructed a knockout mutant of the putative tyrosine decarboxylase gene (tdc) from a CC12 strain to assess its role in pathogenicity. The tdc knockout mutant lost the ability to produce tyramine, confirming that tdc is responsible for tyramine production. However, the mutant showed no attenuation in virulence toward honey bee brood. These results suggest that tyramine production is not essential for the pathogenicity of CC12 strains in European foulbrood.</p>","PeriodicalId":49959,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Medical Science","volume":" ","pages":"1300-1306"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13616606/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148431456","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yongjin Qiu, Martin C Simuunza, Masahiro Kajihara, Joseph Ndebe, Yoshiki Eto, Akina Mori-Kajihara, Edgar Simulundu, Walter Muleya, Hayato Harima, Katendi Changula, Ngonda Saasa, Penjaninge Kapila, Ladslav Moonga, Evans Mulenga, Andrew Nalishuwa Mukubesa, Bernard Mudenda Hang'ombe, Ayato Takada, Nariaki Nonaka, Hirofumi Sawa, Ryo Nakao
{"title":"Molecular diversity of tick-associated Rickettsia species in multiple provinces of Zambia.","authors":"Yongjin Qiu, Martin C Simuunza, Masahiro Kajihara, Joseph Ndebe, Yoshiki Eto, Akina Mori-Kajihara, Edgar Simulundu, Walter Muleya, Hayato Harima, Katendi Changula, Ngonda Saasa, Penjaninge Kapila, Ladslav Moonga, Evans Mulenga, Andrew Nalishuwa Mukubesa, Bernard Mudenda Hang'ombe, Ayato Takada, Nariaki Nonaka, Hirofumi Sawa, Ryo Nakao","doi":"10.1292/jvms.26-0235","DOIUrl":"10.1292/jvms.26-0235","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Ticks harbor diverse Rickettsia spp., including several spotted fever group rickettsiae of veterinary and public health importance. However, information on tick-associated Rickettsia spp. in Zambia remains geographically limited. In this retrospective molecular survey, we examined 1,587 individual ticks collected from vegetation and domestic animals in eight provinces of Zambia during 2016-2018. Ticks were identified morphologically and screened for Rickettsia spp. by PCR targeting the citrate synthase gene (gltA). Representative gltA positive samples were further characterized by sequencing of ompA, ompB, htrA, sca4, and the 16S rRNA gene. In total, 204 ticks (12.9%) were tested positive for gltA and detected in all eight provinces examined. Sequencing of gltA revealed 26 sequence variants, of which 25 clustered within the spotted fever group and one belonged to transitional group rickettsiae. Multilocus phylogenetic analysis identified sequence variants related to recognized or putative tick-borne rickettsiae, including R. africae, R. conorii, R. massiliae, R. aeschlimannii, Candidatus R. jingxinensis, Candidatus R. rhabdomydis, and R. hoogstraalii. These findings indicate that ticks in Zambia harbor genetically diverse Rickettsia lineages and provide a geographically broad molecular baseline for future surveillance, isolation attempts, and genomic characterization of tick-borne rickettsiae in the region.</p>","PeriodicalId":49959,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Medical Science","volume":" ","pages":"1352-1359"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13616601/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148297032","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Differences of immunoreactivity for luminal and myoepithelial cell markers and oxytocin receptor in canine normal mammary ducts and ductal tumors.","authors":"Yusuke Tanaka, Kenichi Watanabe, Yoshiyasu Kobayashi","doi":"10.1292/jvms.26-0143","DOIUrl":"10.1292/jvms.26-0143","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Ductal tumors of canine mammary glands can be difficult to distinguish from simple tumors on routine histology. Because oxytocin receptor (OXTR) expression in myoepithelial cells has been implicated in human breast tumorigenesis, we immunohistochemically evaluated 8 ductal adenomas and 5 ductal carcinomas, including OXTR expression. Luminal cells were positive for cytokeratin 19 and pan-cytokeratin. Suprabasal myoepithelial cells were strongly positive for p63, weakly and focally positive for vimentin, and negative for smooth muscle actin and calponin, therefore indicating that p63 is the most suitable marker for these cells in ductal tumors. Unlike humans, OXTR was expressed in luminal cells of normal canine mammary ducts and in both luminal and suprabasal myoepithelial cells in ductal tumors, suggesting a role in ductal tumor development.</p>","PeriodicalId":49959,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Medical Science","volume":" ","pages":"1347-1351"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13616599/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148413472","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Detection of anti-fesavirus 4 antibodies in plasma samples from cats in Japan.","authors":"Sheikhi Mohammad Jafar, Shwe Thiri Maung Maung Khin, Fumi Murakoshi, Yosuke Uematsu, Tomohiro Yamaguchi, Tetsuya Furuya","doi":"10.1292/jvms.26-0259","DOIUrl":"10.1292/jvms.26-0259","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Fesaviruses, members of the group of picorna-like viruses, were discovered in 2014 in stool samples from cats in an animal shelter in the United States. In this study, we investigated the serological evidence of fesavirus 4 infection in domestic cats in Japan using a purified recombinant antigen corresponding to a portion of the large open reading frame of fesavirus 4. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was developed and used to test 100 cat plasma samples to detect specific antibodies against the fesavirus 4 antigen and Western blotting confirmed presence of specific antibodies against the fesavirus 4 antigen in 12 samples. These findings highlight the importance of investigating newly discovered viruses circulating in companion animals in Japanese animal shelters.</p>","PeriodicalId":49959,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Medical Science","volume":" ","pages":"1424-1428"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13616600/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148431476","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nami Suzuki-Hashido, Sayaka Tsuchida, Dickson Ndoboli, Steven Kakooza, Brian Muhindo, Victor Musiime, Barbara Alapo, Mina Aoyama, Daisuke Mori, Hitoshi Murai, David Musingo, Kazunari Ushida
{"title":"Phylogenetic analysis and sex identification of captive African grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus) in Uganda and Japan.","authors":"Nami Suzuki-Hashido, Sayaka Tsuchida, Dickson Ndoboli, Steven Kakooza, Brian Muhindo, Victor Musiime, Barbara Alapo, Mina Aoyama, Daisuke Mori, Hitoshi Murai, David Musingo, Kazunari Ushida","doi":"10.1292/jvms.26-0229","DOIUrl":"10.1292/jvms.26-0229","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The African grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus) is endangered due to habitat loss, poaching, and illegal trade. In 2022, Chubu University and the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre-Conservation Area (UWEC-CA) have initiated an ex-situ conservation project for rehabilitation and future reintroduction. Noninvasively genetic sampling was conducted using feces from four parrots at UWEC-CA and naturally shed feathers from 22 parrots at 11 Japanese zoos. Non-invasive genetic sampling enabled reliable sex identification and mitochondrial sequencing of parrots in Uganda and Japan. Phylogenetic analysis revealed two major clades, including a Gabon-associated lineage within which all UWEC-CA parrots clustered, providing baseline genetic context relevant to ex-situ conservation management and evidence-based reintroduction.</p>","PeriodicalId":49959,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Medical Science","volume":" ","pages":"1443-1447"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13616607/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148370560","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Peristaltic locomotion with a twisted and bent spine in Dermophis mexicanus.","authors":"Atsushi Kohara, Yohsuke Tamai, Kenji Kutara, Toshiyasu Matsui, Ryusei Kuwata, Sho Kadekaru, Yasuhiro Yoshikawa","doi":"10.1292/jvms.26-0061","DOIUrl":"10.1292/jvms.26-0061","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Various aspects of movement, excavation, ecology, and muscle structure of Gymnophiona species have been reported. However, the unique mechanisms and dynamics of peristaltic locomotion and excavation are unclear, particularly for soil-inhabiting Gymnophiona spp. Previous studies primarily focused on forward locomotion and thrusting behavior, with less attention paid to the underlying vertebral and muscular mechanisms. Herein, using X-ray computed tomography, video analysis, and tissue specimens, we determined that the Mexican caecilian (Dermophis mexicanus) could generate peristaltic locomotion via coordinated bending and extension of the vertebral column and associated musculature, including the M. dorsalis trunci, M. subvertebralis, and external muscular sheath, facilitating both forward and backward movement. Thrust forces akin to a multistep spring mechanism are generated by extending their twisted and bent spines across the head, neck, chest, and abdomen. Each region flexes its vertebrae and modulates muscle size to fulfill various functions. The spinous processes of the vertebrae are loosely connected to independent segmental annuli via tendons. Unlike snakes, caecilians can move forward and backward by bending and stretching their spinal columns within their bodies, allowing movement through soil when there is space for their heads and bodies, which confers remarkable survival advantages. Dorsoventral and right-left dynamics of the spinal and muscular structures and the locomotion of Mexican caecilians was confirmed.</p>","PeriodicalId":49959,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Medical Science","volume":" ","pages":"1434-1442"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13620417/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148537493","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Restoration of hepatopetal portal flow in a cat with left hepatic arteriovenous malformation following left hepatic division resection and staged attenuation of acquired portosystemic shunts.","authors":"Shingo Miki, Kenji Hosoya, Noboru Sasaki, Ryohei Kinoshita, Ryo Owaki, Sangho Kim, Masahiro Okumura","doi":"10.1292/jvms.25-0600","DOIUrl":"10.1292/jvms.25-0600","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A 5-month-old Munchkin cat was referred for hematuria. Computed tomographic angiography revealed hepatic arteriovenous malformation (HAVM) within the left lateral liver lobe and multiple acquired portosystemic shunts (APSSs), in addition to a bladder calculus. Following medical management, the cat underwent attenuation of arterioportal communications. Because ligation of the left hepatic artery did not normalize portal pressure, the left hepatic division was resected. Surgical ligation of a subset of the APSSs was performed 1 month later. Postoperatively, clinical signs improved, hepatopetal portal flow was restored, and biochemical liver function parameters normalized. The remaining APSSs regressed spontaneously. To our knowledge, based on the English-language literature, this is the first reported case of feline or canine HAVM in which liver function parameters normalized.</p>","PeriodicalId":49959,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Medical Science","volume":" ","pages":"1360-1365"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13612954/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148392275","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Analytical comparison of two commercially available feline serum amyloid A assays using residual clinical plasma samples.","authors":"Ririna Shiba, Chie Tanaka, Rie Tsubouchi, Masaaki Ochi, Noboru Fujitani, Akihisa Hata","doi":"10.1292/jvms.26-0078","DOIUrl":"10.1292/jvms.26-0078","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Serum amyloid A (SAA) is a major acute-phase protein in cats; however, the agreement between commercially available feline SAA assays has not been fully evaluated. This study compared two analytical systems: the FUJI DRI-CHEM vf-SAA (sandwich fluorescence immunoassay) and VET-SAA Eiken (immunoturbidimetry). Eighty residual plasma samples from client-owned cats were analyzed. Methods were compared using Spearman's correlation, Passing-Bablok regression, and Bland-Altman percentage difference analysis. These assays revealed a strong association (Spearman's ρ=0.948). Passing-Bablok regression indicated proportional and constant bias (y=0.3325x + 1.155), and Bland-Altman analysis demonstrated a large negative mean percent difference (-86.2%). These findings suggest that the results are not interchangeable and method-specific reference intervals may be required.</p>","PeriodicalId":49959,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Medical Science","volume":" ","pages":"1314-1317"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13612957/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148370566","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Association of glycolysis-related protein expression with prognosis in Canine Pulmonary Adenocarcinoma.","authors":"Ami Aoyama, Taiki Kato, Masanao Ichimata, Kosuke Kobayashi, Masashi Sakurai, Yumiko Kagawa, Hiroto Toyoda, Ryuzo Katayama, Kei Harada, Eri Fukazawa, Fukiko Matsuyama, Tetsuya Kobayashi, Takuya Mizuno, Masaya Igase","doi":"10.1292/jvms.26-0125","DOIUrl":"10.1292/jvms.26-0125","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Canine pulmonary adenocarcinoma (CPAC) is a rare, aggressive tumor with no established prognostic molecular biomarkers. The expression of monocarboxylate transporter 4 (MCT4) and glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1), key glycolysis-related proteins, is induced by hypoxia and is generally associated with poor prognosis in human pulmonary adenocarcinoma; however, their clinical significance in dogs remains unclear. This study investigated the expression of MCT4 and GLUT1 in 61 CPAC cases. Immunohistochemistry revealed significantly higher MCT4 and GLUT1 expression in tumors compared with normal lung tissues. High expression of both proteins was associated with lymph node metastasis. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that high MCT4 expression was associated with prolonged overall survival, while GLUT1 showed no prognostic impact. However, MCT4 was not retained as an independent prognostic factor in multivariable Cox proportional hazards analysis. These results suggest that MCT4 and GLUT1 are upregulated in CPAC and may have distinct biological and clinical significance compared with human pulmonary adenocarcinoma.</p>","PeriodicalId":49959,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Medical Science","volume":" ","pages":"1334-1341"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13616605/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148347180","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Fungal dermatitis associated with Nannizziopsis arthrosporioides in two diplodactylid geckos (Correlophus ciliatus and Rhacodactylus auriculatus).","authors":"Junpei Nagao, Tsuyoshi Hosoya, Kyung-Ok Nam, Genki Ishiyama, Sho Kadekaru, Yumi Une","doi":"10.1292/jvms.26-0079","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1292/jvms.26-0079","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This report describes fungal dermatitis in a breeding colony of diplodactylid geckos (Correlophus ciliatus and Rhacodactylus auriculatus). Following the introduction of one gecko, the introduced gecko and two with indirect contact died with severe skin lesions. Subsequently, four geckos developed diarrhea, melena, emaciation, and dermatitis and died. Histopathologically, all cases showed necrotizing dermatitis with filamentous fungi. Nannizziopsis arthrosporioides was isolated and identified from two geckos, and these two animals were definitively diagnosed with a fatal cutaneous fungal infection caused by N. arthrosporioides. This is the first report of such cases in diplodactylid geckos in Japan. From an epidemiological perspective, we inferred that an outbreak caused by this fungus had occurred in a colony.</p>","PeriodicalId":49959,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Medical Science","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148860702","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}