The link between mycotoxin contamination of roughage and the growth and occurrence of diseases were investigated in 34 Japanese Black cattle breeding farms. Contamination with aflatoxin (AF) B₁ was detected in five of 22 corn silage and two of 11 wrapped grass silage, respectively, resulting in the contamination of maternal milk with AFM₁. Contamination with deoxynivalenol was also detectable in one of 22 corn silage. A decrease in the daily gain of calves, increase in calf diarrhea and premature birth were found on farms fed highly contaminated silage. The level of serum AST was elevated and the number of MHC II⁺ CD14⁺ -monocyte was reduced in calves with diarrhea. These results suggest that the mycotoxin of roughage may be related to a depression of the growth and occurrence of diseases of calves via a suppressed immune response.

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In mature cows coxofemoral luxation can usually be diagnosed by physical examination, and attempted treatment by closed reduction in a non-postpartum cow can be performed within 12 hours of luxation. However, a four year old postpartum dairy cow, with a history of downer for five days following a slip and fall in a passage, was diagnosed with caudodorsal coxofemoral luxation and successfully treated by closed reduction. In this case we believe the successful outcome was due to the fact that the cow displayed no clinical signs of milk fever or ischiadic paralysis.

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One rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus var. domesticus) showing torticollis was diagnosed following death with Encephalitozoonosis. To investigate the prevalence of Encephalitozoon cuniculi infection in the colony, sixteen rabbits including the first case were provided for pathological and serological study. Histopathologically, chronic interstitial nephritis and non-suppurative encephalomyelitis with E. cuniculi infection were observed in fifteen and fourteen cases, respectively. In addition, coccidium infection was also found in the liver (eight cases) and intestines (ten cases). In a serological study, fourteen cases were positive for anti-E. cuniculi antibody while two cases were negative. In the present study, it was suggested that dual infection with E. cuniculi and coccidium had spread throughout the colony, and that there were extensive asymptomatic cases featuring pathological lesions and high antibody titer for E. cuniculi.

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Encephalitozoonosis was clinically suspected in a rabbit with an acute head tilt. Treatment with febantel, corticosteroids, and antibiotics had been continued for 27 days, at the end of which the clinical signs disappeared. The rabbit had remained in a good physical condition for another 59 days and was then euthanatized for the purposes of a pathological examination. Histopathologically, mild gliosis and perivascular cuffs of mononuclear cells were found in the lateral vestibular nuclei of the medulla oblongata. Multifocal lesions of non-suppurative granulomatous inflammation were observed in the cerebral cortex and kidney. Based on these findings, a diagnosis of encephalitozoonosis was confirmed, and it was suggested that the head tilt seen in the rabbit might be related to the lesion in the medulla oblongata.

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The efficacy and safety of the Japanese rabies vaccine (inactivated) for veterinary use was investigated in cats inoculated twice as required by the Import-Export Quarantine Regulation for Dogs and Other Animals. There were no clinical symptoms or local reactions following the vaccinations of cats injected twice with one dose and three times with one dose, once with two doses and twice with ten doses. After two injections with a month's interval between them, the cats had a virus neutralization titer (VNT) of 11, 026 one month after the last injection and a high VNT of 5, 347 one year after the last injection. With two injections at an interval of about one year, the VNT increased to 1, 318 at one month after the first injection, and maintained a high VNT of 796 at the time of the second injection. At one month after the last injection, the VNT had increased to 21, 081. Based on the above results, the two-vaccination method of cats with Japanese rabies vaccine as provided by the Quarantine Regulations was considered safe and effective.

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In 2002, more than 3, 148 cynomolgus monkeys imported for laboratory use were observed for clinical signs during 35 continuous days of the quarantine period. The animals were weighed and microbiological examinations were conducted. Of 3, 148 animals, loss of appetite was noted in 165, and diarrhea was observed at least once in 258 animals. The average weight gain was 0.26kg in males and 0.16kg in females. No animal was suspected of carrying the Marburg virus or the Ebola hemmorhagic virus during the quarantine period. Fresh stool cultures were not detected for Salmonella organisms or dysentery bacilli, and the tuberculin reaction was negative in all animals. In the serum antibody examination that was conducted for 829 animals on request, all animals showed a negative response for simian type D retrovirus, and simian immunodeficiency virus. However, 39 of the 400 animals tested positive for B virus.

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