Serological surveys from 1994 to 2004 revealed that Bluetongue virus (BTV) infection among sentinel calves had occurred in Okayama Prefecture in 1997, 1999, 2000, and 2001. BTV RNA segment 3 encoding the serogroup-specific VP3 was detected from blood cell samples obtained from seropositive sentinel calves in 1997 and 1999. Moreover, BTVs were isolated from three blood cell samples in 2001. Using cross-neutralization tests, the isolates had a different serological characteristic from the ON89-1 strain of BTV21 isolated in Japan. Neutralization tests and competitive ELISA with the isolate and ON89-1 strain were performed using the sentinel calf sera in 1997, 1999, 2000, and 2001. The results demonstrated that BTV prevalent in Okayama Prefecture in 1997 and BTV present in 1999 and 2001 had the same serological characteristic as the isolate different serological characteristics from the isolate and ON89-1 strain. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the BTV gene detected in 1997 was on a different branch from those detected in 1999 and 2001. These results suggest that the spread of at least two distinct BTVs genetically and serologically different from the previous Japanese isolate has occurred in Okayama Prefecture during the eight years from 1997 to 2004.

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Two somatic cell-cloned Holstein Friesian cows (Cody 1 and Cody 2) diagnosed as having low reproductive or low lactational performance were examined. Although AI or ET was performed 15 times, Cody 1 became pregnant only twice, ultimately miscarrying. Given these results, the animal was euthanized at the age of 61 months. Cody 2 calved twice with a calving interval of 690 days. In both cows, GnRH analog (fertirelin acetate, 100μg/head) was injected intramuscularly to test the ability of LH release from the pituitary, and the LH responses were similar to those of the two control cows. Macroscopically, the uterus in Cody 1 was discolored and hypoplastic, and light microscopy disclosed that there were many calcareous deposits on the wall of some uterine arteries as well as an increased number of arteries in the endometrium. In Cody 2, milk composition was normal, whereas milk yields at primiparity (3, 897kg/305days) and secondary parity (6, 312kg/305days) were much lower than those (average 11, 015kg/305days) of the somatic cell-donor cow. These results indicate the possibility that certain somatic cell-cloned cows may have low reproductive performance and low milk production.

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A 15-year-old spayed female cat was affected with antibiotic resistant granulomatous dermatitis in the metatarsal skin and interdigital web of its right forelimb. Histopathological examination of a biopsy from the right forelimb revealed chronic pyogranulomatous dermatitis with an intrahyphal septate mycelium. Fusarium oxysporum was isolated and identified using a fungal culture. The cat was treated with ketoconazole but the lesion spread to the adjacent skin, exhibiting side effects such as hepatic dysfunction and diarrhea. The cat was cured after three months of itraconazole administration. This was the first case of feline fusariosis in Japan.

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The causes or triggers for the development of muscular abnormality including steatosis or muscular dystrophy are not fully understood in Japanese Black cattle. Investigations into the gender and bodyweight revealed that the muscular abnormality in cows (4.5%) was higher than that in steers (2.8%). In addition, the muscular abnormality was found to be higher in cows with a bodyweight of less than 600kg. However, no such trend was found in steers. Regarding the sites of affected muscles, the muscles trapezius was most affected in steers, while it was muscles longissimus in cows. In terms of beef carcass traits (grades 3 to 5), the muscular abnormality in steers was most apparent in grade 3 or below. However, in cows, the muscular abnormality was higher in grade 5 (8.0%) than in grade 3 and below (2.8%) and 4 (3.5%). These results suggest that gender, bodyweight as well as beef carcass traits may influence on the development of muscular abnormality in Japanese Black cattle.

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