Bovine leptospirosis is a serious issue that impedes productivity because it often results in abortions and stillbirths. Moreover, cows can be asymptomatic carriers of Leptospira serotype Hardjo (L. Hardjo). Recently, the high prevalence of L. Hardjo-seropositive cows has been reported in Japan. However, to the best of our knowledge, the influence of subclinical infection with L. Hardjo on dairy productivity in Japan has not been reported. Thus, we compared the reproductive performance between L. Hardjo-seropositive and -seronegative cows at a dairy farm in Hokkaido, Japan. Milking cows were divided into L. Hardjo-seropositive (n = 54) and -seronegative (n = 55) groups according to the presence or absence of antibody-specific to L. Hardjo in the milk. The conception rates per insemination at 125, 150, and 200 days postpartum were significantly lower in L. Hardjo-seropositive cows than in -seronegative ones (P＜0.05). The calving-to-conception interval tended to be longer in the seropositive cows (median: 127 days vs. 113 days, P = 0.06); furthermore, incidence of pregnancy loss (embryo death and abortion) tended to be higher in the seropositive cows (10% vs. 2%, P = 0.098). L. Hardjo has been found to cause latent infections in the reproductive organs, possibly impeding the normal development of the embryo and resulting in lower fertility. The study results revealed that subclinical infection with L. Hardjo in dairy cows is one of the potential factors decreasing dairy productivity in Japan.

Umbilical infections in calves occur during or after birth and cause systemic infections. Intraabdominal omphalitis was observed in 2 of 9 calves purchased. Case 1 showed swelling of the left carpal joint from when they came, but case 2 had no signs. At autopsy, the umbilical veins of both calves were enlarged to 2-3 cm in diameter and contained pus. In case 1, abscesses up to 3 cm in diameter were mainly scattered in the left lobe of the liver, and subcutaneously in the right shoulder and parietal lobe of the brain. However, in case 2, severe atrophy and hyperplasia of hepatic arterioles were observed in the left lobe of the liver. Immunohistochemically, Trueperella pyogenes antigens were detected in the umbilical vein in both cases. Case 1 was diagnosed with septicemia due to umbilical infection, and case 2 was diagnosed with severe atrophy of the left lobe de to circulatory failure from compression of the intrahepatic portal vein by the enlarged umbilical vein with fibrosis.

This study aimed to assess the stability of serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity and isozyme pattern based on storage time and temperature in cattle. Serum from Holstein and Japanese black cattle was stored at a variety of temperatures (4, −20 and −80 ℃). We also examined the serum of swine (Yorkshire) as a control. In Holstein and Japanese black cattle, there were no significant differences in serum LDH activity and isozyme pattern for 12 months at −20 and −80 ℃. On the other hand, LDH activity of stored serum at −20 ℃ in swine decreased significantly (P＜0.05) after 1 month. The M subunit ratio of LDH in swine serum was high compared with bovine serum. It was suggested that LDH activity and isozyme pattern using the bovine serum stored at −20 ℃ was stabilized for 12 months.

A 2-year-old castrated male cat presented with alopecia and itching on the head for approximately two months. Macroscopically there were ulcerative lesions with reddish crusts and alopecia with dander and follicular casts on the skin of top of the head and neck. Histologically, there were diffuse infiltrates of eosinophils and macrophages from the superficial dermis to subcutaneous tissue. In the inflammatory lesions, collagenolysis with eosinophilic inflammation called flame figures was occasionally observed. In the alopecic lesions, there was mild epidermal hyperplasia with orthokeratotic hyperkeratosis. In addition, multiple sebaceous glands were surrounded by CD3-positive T cells and macrophages. Based on these histological findings, the cutaneous lesions of the present case were diagnosed as eosinophilic dermatitis and sebaceous adenitis.

Three cases of food poisoning after the consumption of raw deer meat occurred in Wakayama Prefecture on June 2, 2018. Sarcocystis truncata was detected in the raw deer meat, and we found that the agent expressed diarrhea-inducing 15 kDa protein similar to that of Sarcocystis fayeri. Among genus Sarcocystis, only S. fayeri is officially recognized as a causative agent of food poisoning by the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare of Japan. The detected S. truncata has been shown to be strongly linked to the food poisoning, yet its causative agent was officially reported as unknown. There have been some reported diarrhea cases that seem to be related to raw deer meat contaminated with other Sarcocystis, such as Sarcocystis sybillensis and Sarcocystis wapiti. Our findings indicate that we should recognize any Sarcocystis species expressing the diarrhea-inducing protein as the causative agent of food poisoning after consumption of raw meat.