We analyzed the epidemiological features of adult dairy cattle diarrhea using etiological diagnosis data from the livestock hygiene service centers in 18 prefectures of Japan between 2004 and 2013. Among 212 cases, 45% were diagnosed as a bovine coronavirus (BCV) infection; 3‐9% of the cases were diagnosed as a bovine rotavirus B (RVB), salmonella, bovine rotavirus C (RVC), bovine rotavirus A (RVA) or bovine torovirus (BToV) infection. In contrast, 23% remained unidentified. At least half of the viral (excluding RAV) and salmonella infections were observed as epidemic outbreaks. The proportion of single occurrence in unidentified cases was greater than for other causes. Symptoms caused by BCV and salmonella tend to be more severe than from other causes. Epidemic diarrhea in adult dairy cows is likely to be diagnosed as a BCV, RVB, RVC, BToV or salmonella infection.

In May 2017, we isolated gram-positive cocci from the lungs of an aborted bovine fetus. The bacterium was identified as Helcococcus kunzii using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Histopathological examination indicated suppurative bronchopneumonia. Immunohistochemical examination using an antiserum prepared from Helcococcus ovis that reacts to H. kunzii revealed a diffuse, positive reaction with gram-positive cocci. These results suggest that H. kunzii was the cause of abortion. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case in which H. kunzii was isolated from an aborted bovine fetus. Further studies are needed to clarify the pathogenesis of H. kunzii infection in cattle.

Pectus excavatum is a rare congenital condition that develops in young cats, presenting as a deformity of the sternum and costal cartilage. Consequently, it causes an abnormality in the chest shape, resulting in symptoms such as dyspnea, coughing, and stunted growth. Surgical correction is required to ameliorate these symptoms. Here, we report on the successful surgical correction of the thorax in five young cats (aged 7 to 22 weeks) with this condition using a small animal orthopedic bone plate. We bent the orthopedic bone plate into a semi-elliptical shape to subsequently ligate and affixed it to the region of the sternum with the greatest concavity as well as to the left and right costal cartilage segments using non-absorptive sutures. Normalization of the thoracic morphology and disappearance of clinical symptoms were noted immediately after the operation and no recurrence was observed during the follow-up period (8 to 48 months; median: 15 months) in all five cases. Additionally, based on the evaluation results, using an anatomical and clinical severity score before and after surgery, this procedure appears to be useful in treating pectus excavatum in cats.