The taxonomy of the bovine Theileria spp

The classification of the benign species of Theileria of cattle is very confusing Representatives of this group of parasites appear worldwide, and are known as T. sergenti in Japan, T. buffeli in Australia and T. orientalis elsewhere. Consequently, these parasites are frequently referred to as the T. sergenti/buffeli/orientalis group. Kozo Fujisaki, Shin-ichiro Kawazu and Tsugihiko Kamio here argue that the Australian T. buffeli and British T. orientalis belong to one and the same species, and that the Japanese T. sergenti is a separate species.

Immunohistochemical expression of epidermal growth factor receptors in human adrenocortical carcinoma

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors were examined immunohistochemically in 64 adrenocortical carcinomas obtained at autopsy, and in 23 adrenocortical adenomas and seven pheochromocytomas obtained during surgery. In the nonneoplastic adrenal gland, EGF receptors were scattered to the zona glomerulosa, zona fasciculata, and zona reticularis. Adrenocortical carcinomas (63 of 64), more than adrenocortical adenomas (10 of 23) or pheochromocytomas (four of seven), stained positively for EGF receptors (P less than .01). The immunoreactivity was limited to the cytoplasm, cell membrane, and chromatin. When the antibody was immunoabsorbed with an excess of immunogen peptide, there was no evidence of immunostaining. The adrenocortical carcinomas could be classified into 16 cases of the well-differentiated type, 33 cases of the moderately differentiated type, and 15 cases of the poorly differentiated type. There was no relationship between histologic grading and staining intensity of the EGF receptors. On the other hand, more than 80% of the cases of adrenocortical carcinomas revealed a moderate to high intensity for EGF receptors. In 62 of the 64 patients, there was already metastases to other organs. We conclude that the expression of EGF receptors is associated with tumor growth and/or metastatic potential in adrenocortical carcinoma.

Analysis of the genes encoding immunodominant piroplasm surface proteins of Theileria sergenti and Theileria buffeli by nucleotide sequencing and polymerase chain reaction

The nucleotide sequences of the cDNAs encoding a 33-kDa piroplasm protein of Theileria sergenti (p33) and a similar protein of Theileria buffeli (p34) were determined. Both of the genes contained an open reading frame of 849 base pairs. The predicted amino acid sequence of p33 and p34, consisting of 283 residues, showed 82% similarity. A transmembrane hydrophobic domain and signal peptides were predicted. The polymerase chain reaction was used to amplify p33/34 genes from the piroplasm DNA of T. sergenti, T. buffeli and Theileria orientalis. Following amplification, p33 and p34 genes were clearly differentiated using the restriction enzymes sites that were not shared between them. These results indicated that p33 and p34 were conserved molecules among these Theileria species, and the genes that encode p33/34 proteins were suitable for discrimination of T. sergenti from T. buffeli/T. orientalis.

Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence of Anaplasma centrale and its phylogenetic relatedness to other ehrlichiae

The nucleotide sequence of the Anaplasma centrale 16S rRNA gene was determined and compared with the sequences of ehrlichial bacteria. The sequence of A. centrale was closely related to Anaplasma marginale by both level-of-similarity (98.08% identical) and distance analysis. A species-specific PCR was developed based upon the alignment data. The PCR can detect A. centrale DNA extracted from 10 infected bovine red blood cells in a reaction mixture. A. centrale DNA was amplified in the reaction, but not other related ehrlichial species.

Antigenic differences between Japanese Theileria sergenti and other benign Theileria species of cattle from Australia (T. buffeli) and Britain (T. orientalis)

Serological comparisons among piroplasm antigens of the benign Theileria species of cattle from Japan, Australia and Britain, which are frequently referred to as T. sergenti, T. buffeli and T. orientalis, were carried out. The results obtained from comparative enzyme-liked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using sera from infected cattle suggest that T. sergenti could be differentiated from both T. buffeli and T. orientalis by their serological dissimilarities. Western blotting combined with two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE) revealed that both the 33-kDa piroplasm protein of T. sergenti and the similar 34-kDa protein of T. buffeli and T. orientalis corresponded to immuno-dominant antigens against cattle. The other 32-kDa proteins of . T. buffeli and T. orientalis also represented immunodominant antigens. Cross-reactivities of the 32-and 34-kDa proteins were observed between T. buffeli and T. orientalis, whereas the 33-kDa protein of T. sergenti could be differentiated from the similar 34-kDa proteins of T. buffeli/orientalis. The present study suggests that T. sergenti should be separated from T. buffeli and T. orientalis on the basis of their serological dissimilarities.

Phylogenetic relationships of the benign Theileria species in cattle and Asian buffalo based on the major piroplasm surface protein (p33/34) gene sequences

In order to examine the taxonomic relationship of Theileria sp. of Asian buffalo to the benign Theileria spp. of cattle, we sequenced and compared the major piroplasm protein (p33/34) genes of these parasites. The two consensus sequences determined for the buffalo parasite were of the same length (852 bp) and showed >80% identity with the sequences of the homologous genes (849 bp) in the cattle parasites. Alignment of the inferred aa sequences with those of Theileria sergenti and Theileria buffeli predicted that there is an insertion of a single residue at the N-terminus in the inferred polypeptide of the buffalo parasite. Phylogenetic analyses based on the aa sequences suggested that Theileria sp. of the Asian buffalo should be classified within the benign Theileria parasite group as a separate species from the cattle parasites. Based on this, we propose a rearrangement of the currently used classification for the benign Theileria species in cattle and Asian buffalo.

Molecular characterization of a troponin I-like protein from the hard tick Haemaphysalis longicornis

A cDNA expression library prepared from mRNA of Haemaphysalis longicornis (H. longicornis) was screened with a H. longicornis-infested rabbit serum. A cDNA encoding 27/30kDa proteins was cloned and designated P27/30 gene. The predicted amino acid sequence of the P27/30 gene shows a rather high homology (58% amino acid identities and 11% amino acid similarity) with Drosophila melanogaster troponin I clone E2. H. longicornis P27/30 possesses amino acid sequence of actin-binding domains of troponin I at the amino acid residues 128-148, suggesting that H. longicornis P27/30 is a troponin I-like protein. By immunoblot analysis, mouse anti-recombinant P27/30 serum reacted with major constituent protein bands in extracts of adult ticks, and also immunoreacted with muscle, cuticle, gut, and salivary gland in H. longicornis ticks. Moreover, immunohistochemistry using the anti-P27/30 serum showed a strong reactivity in muscle, suggesting that native P27/30 is expressed abundantly in that tissue.

Extended high-frequency ototoxicity induced by the first administration of cisplatin

The ototoxicity induced by cisplatin results in high-frequency hearing loss. The sound-pressure thresholds at extended high frequencies of 8 to 20 kHz were measured in 12 patients with head and neck cancer before and after the first administration of cisplatin. Ototoxicity was defined statistically by the newly introduced regression-line analysis. This analysis revealed that the threshold of 1 of the 12 patients increased evenly from 8 to 10 kHz, and the damage to the hearing system of this patient was permanent. The reasons for such a low rate of ototoxicity might be the long-term administration of low doses of cisplatin and the addition of fosfomycin.

Eye movement analysis system using computerized image recognition

A new technique for an eye movement analysis system utilizing infrared video recording and a computerized image recognition method is presented. The system consists of an infrared lighting apparatus, a very small infrared video charge-coupled device camera, a video tape recorder, an analogue-digital converter, and microcomputers. This system makes it possible to simultaneously analyze the slow-phase velocity quantitatively not only of the horizontal and vertical but also of the rotatory components of the energy-induced nystagmus. The maximum slow-phase velocity of the rotatory component of energy-induced nystagmus was found to be 4.1 degrees per second on an average in this study.

The presence of Theileria sergenti in Haemaphysalis longicornis overwintering in pasture in Japan

Unfed Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks were collected from the soil of pasture during the winter and their salivary glands were examined by the methyl green pyronin staining method in order to detect overwintering of Theileria sergenti, the causative agent of bovine theileriosis in Japan. A transmission experiment was carried out using these ticks applied to a splenectomized calf. The protozoa which appeared in the peripheral blood were identified parasitologically and seroimmunologically as T. sergenti. The results suggested that T. sergenti in Japan might overwinter in H. longicornis which moulted after repletion on infected cattle in the autumn and hid in the soil during the winter. Moreover, it seemed possible that T. sergenti might develop to the infective stage in H. longicornis during the overwintering period.

Purification of merozoites of Theileria sergenti from infected bovine erythrocytes

A simple and rapid method for purifying merozoites of Theileria sergenti from infected bovine erythrocytes was developed. Infected erythrocytes were lysed by the use of a cytolytic toxin produced by Aeromonas hydrophila and the lysate was subjected to ultracentrifugation in a Percoll discontinuous density gradient. Pure and morphologically intact merozoites free of erythrocyte membrane were recovered from a band formed at the interface of 40% and 60% (by vol.) Percoll solutions. In this merozoite fraction, contamination of erythrocyte membrane proteins was not detected as examined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

Molecular phylogenetic studies on Theileria parasites based on small subunit ribosomal RNA gene sequences

Classification of Theileria parasites of south-east Asian countries is still ambiguous due to the lack of basic studies, especially their molecular genetic information. In this study, we included 6 known species and 14 unclassified Theileria parasite isolates: Theileria annulata, Theileria parva, Theileria taurotragi, Theileria sergenti, Theileria buffeli, Theileria types Sable, Theileria types A, B, B1, B2, C, D, E, F, G, G1, Theileria type Medan (Indonesia), Theileria type Ipoh (Malaysia) and Theileria type Thong Song (Thailand). Small subunit ribosomal RNA (srRNA) nucleotide sequence data were collected by PCR, cloning and dideoxy sequencing. The srRNA nucleotide sequences were aligned and analyzed by distance methods, maximum parsimony algorithms and maximum likelihood methods to construct phylogenetic trees. Bootstrap analysis was used to test the strength of the different phylogenetic reconstructions. The data indicated that all of the tree-building methods gave very similar results. This study identified two groups of Theileria, the pathogenic and benign groups, which are strongly supported by bootstrap analysis. The analysis also indicated that three subgroups (A, B and C) were generated within the benign Theileria group whereas the classification of Theileria type D and Thong Song is questionable. However, more basic information such as life cycle differences, vectors, modes of transmission, virulent and genetic/sexual compatability is essential for clearer taxonomic definition of the benign Theileria parasites.

Protein analysis of Theileria sergenti/buffeli/orientalis piroplasms by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis

Proteins of the piroplasms of Theileria sergenti, T. buffeli and T. orientalis were analysed by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Protein spot patterns of T. buffeli and T. orientalis were identical except for a few minor proteins, whereas spot patterns of two T. sergenti stocks were differentiated from those of T. buffeli and T. orientalis by a characteristic set of proteins including a major protein of molecular weight 33-34 kDa. This result indicates that Japanese T. sergenti can be phenotypically distinguishable from European and Australia Theileria species; T. orientalis and T. buffeli.

Molecular characterization of a peroxiredoxin from the hard tick Haemaphysalis longicornis

Antioxidant enzymes in eukaryotes play an important role in protection against the oxygen radicals generated during aerobic metabolism. Here we report the cloning and characterization of a cDNA encoding the antioxidant enzyme peroxiredoxin from the hard tick Haemaphysalis longicornis (HlPrx). HlPrx is 939 bp long and contains a 101 bp non-translated sequence at the 5' end and a polyadenylation singnal followed by a poly(A) tail at the 3' end. HlPrx encodes a full-length protein with a predicted molecular mass of 26 kDa that possesses one cysteine residue at amino acid 49 that is conserved among Prx proteins of various species. GenBanktrade mark analysis showed that the deduced amino acid sequence had significant similarity to mammalian and plant Prxs at the amino acid level. A DNA-nicking assay revealed that Escherichia coli-expressed recombinant HlPrx (rHlPrx) inhibited oxidative-nicking of supercoiled plasmid DNA. Two-dimensional immunoblot analysis with mouse antirHlPrx serum showed reaction with a major constituent protein spot in extracts of adult ticks. In addition, immunoblot analysis showed that rHlPrx was immunoreacted with serum from rabbits repeatedly infested with H. longicornis. Localization analysis using mouse antirHlPrx serum revealed that native HlPrx was highly expressed in the salivary gland of the tick. Moreover, Northern blot analysis showed that the level of HlPrx transcripts was increased during blood sucking. The present results indicate that HlPrx may be an important detoxifying enzyme during the normal life span as well as during blood sucking in ticks.

Theileria sergenti and T. buffeli: polymerase chain reaction-based marker system for differentiating the parasite species from infected cattle blood and infected tick salivary gland

Benign Theileria species in cattle. Theileria sergenti and T. buffeli, are morphologically indistinguishable. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to amplify the genes encoding the 33- and 34-kDa major piroplasm antigens (p33/34) of T. sergenti and T. buffeli from cattle blood infected with these parasites and tick salivary gland infected with T. sergenti. Following amplification, the p33 gene from T. sergenti and the p34 gene from T. buffeli were clearly differentiated using the restriction enzyme sites that were not shared between them. The oligonucleotide primer set, designed from the p33/34 genes, was specific for these Theileria species, since no amplification was detected with DNA from Babesia ovata, B. bovis, Anaplasma marginale, A. centrale, Eperythrozoon wenyoni, bovine white blood cells, and uninfected tick salivary glands. One tenth vol of the template prepared from either 25 microliters of blood with 0.5% parasitemia or individual tick salivary glands with six infected acini allowed sufficient amplification for differentiation of the two parasite species by restriction enzyme digestion. In addition, this system could be used to demonstrate the simultaneous, experimentally induced infection of cattle with T. sergenti and T. buffeli. The PCR-based marker system therefore provides a means to differentiate T. sergenti from T. buffeli in infected cattle blood and infected tick salivary glands. This system may also be useful for the characterization of other benign Theileria species in cattle.

Molecular cloning and immunological analysis of immunodominant piroplasm surface proteins of Theileria sergenti and T. buffeli

cDNA libraries of Theileria sergenti and T. buffeli piroplasms were constructed in lambda gt11 and screened with rabbit anti-piroplasm sera. A major antigen of T. sergenti (33 kDa) and that of T. buffeli (34 kDa) was identified from the recombinant phages by using recombinant antigen-selected monospecific antibodies. The reactivities of the cloned proteins with rabbit antisera, infected calf sera and mouse monoclonal antibody suggested that the 33 and 34 kDa proteins expressed species-common and species-specific epitopes. The DNA probes from these recombinant clones showed species-specific hybridizations in Southern blotting with genomic DNA from piroplasms. These results indicate that the Japanese T. sergenti can be distinguishable from the Australian T. buffeli with regard to a polymorphism of the major immunodominant proteins of piroplasm.

Infection rates of Theileria sergenti in Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks collected from the field in Japan

For a period of one year Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks were collected in a pasture from vegetation by dragging flannel cloth and from soil samples at monthly intervals. Nymphal ticks were assessed for Theileria infection. Salivary glands were stained with methylgreen-pyronin and examined for parasite masses. Nymphal H. longicornis infected with Theileria sergenti were found in all samples during 12 months including the winter. After shortening the prefed period on rabbits to 24 hours, the parasite masses could be detected in the salivary glands of nymphs collected in the grazing season, from May to October, while no parasite masses were detected in other season. It was suggested that the environmental factors in the grazing season might influence on the maturation of parasites in the salivary glands of ticks.

Cervico-vestibular interaction in eye movements

The cervico-vestibular interaction was investigated in normal subjects and patients with unilateral labyrinthine dysfunction using neck vibratory stimulation and caloric stimulation. There is a functional interaction between sensory inputs from the neck proprioceptors and the peripheral labyrinth in the patients with unilateral labyrinthine dysfunction. However, this interaction was not observed in normal subjects. This result indicates that the role of the cervical sensory inputs in normal subjects and the patients is different. That is, inputs from the neck proprioceptors have little effect on the control of eye movements in normal subjects, whereas the neck inputs are quite important for the control of eye movements in patients with unilateral labyrinthine dysfunction.

Experimental transmission of Babesia ovata oshimensis n. var. of cattle in Japan by Haemaphysalis longicornis

Transovarial transmission of a newly isolated large intraerythrocytic parasite, Babesia sp. 1 by Haemaphysalis longicornis was experimentally demonstrated. Larvae of H. longicornis were transovarially infected with the parasite by feeding as adults on the calf which had been experimentally infected with B. sp. 1. Piroplasms of B. sp. 1 were observed in peripheral blood of the calf which was infested with the parasite-infected larvae. Based on the transmissibility of the parasite with vector ticks, this parasite was suggested to be a variety of B. ovata. Thus, we propose a new variety name for B. sp. 1 as B. ovata oshimensis n. var.

Average thresholds in the 8 to 20 kHz range as a function of age

The sound-pressure thresholds at the extended high frequencies of 8-20 kHz were measured for 65 normal subjects aged between 10 and 69 years. The results are not unlike those obtained by previous investigators. The thresholds increased gradually as a function of frequency, except around 12 kHz and above 19 kHz, and also as a function of age. To clarify the connections between threshold, frequency and age, we introduced the regression lines for the threshold by analysing two ranges of frequencies (8-10 kHz and 14-19 kHz) and determining their slopes and intercepts. The regression line analysis reveals that the thresholds at 8-10 kHz tend to increase more at higher frequencies as subject age increased above 30 to 39 years, and those at 14-19 kHz increase translationally with increase of age. Our results did not contradict earlier reports on the pathological changes of the inner ear.

Case report: agranulocytosis induced by interferon-alpha therapy for chronic hepatitis C

A 60-year-old woman presented with chronic active hepatitis C whose HCV-RNA genotype was II according to Okamoto's classification and serum HCV-RNA concentration was 10(4) copies/mL. Agranulocytosis was induced 13 days from the commencement of interferon (IFN)-alpha 2b (6 MU/day) therapy, so the IFN therapy was immediately discontinued. The agranulocytosis improved rapidly with the administration of a granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF). The possibility that IFN was associated with maturational arrest of myeloid progenitor cells was considered. During the course of 3 years of follow-up, her liver function has remained normal and serum HCV-RNA remains negative.

Average thresholds in the 8 to 20 kHz range in young adults

The sound-pressure level thresholds in the extended high-frequency range (8 to 20 kHz) were measured in 25 non-hearing-impaired young adults from 20 to 29 years of age. The result was not unlike that obtained by previous investigators; the thresholds increased gradually as a function of frequency. However, two notable points were found: one that the threshold reached a plateau above 18 kHz, and the other that it decreased slightly at 12 kHz. As the subjects might respond to the low-frequency noise of the stimulus wave, the threshold became a plateau above 18 kHz. An acoustic resonance in the ear canal caused the threshold to decrease at 12 kHz. In clinical studies of extended high-frequency audiometry, the threshold data should be carefully evaluated above 18 kHz and at 12 kHz.