J-STAGE Advanced Publication

• Journal of Veterinary Medical Science Advance Publications

• Effect of Trans-ε-Viniferin on In Vitro Porcine Oocyte Maturation and Subsequent Developmental Competence in Pre-Implantation Embryos
  

  Yubyeol JEON, Seong-Sung KWAK, Seung-A CHEONG, Yeon Hee SEONG, Sang-Hwan HYUN

  [Advance Publication] Released: May 22, 2013

  12-0105

  • Abstract
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  Trans-ε-viniferin is a naturally occurring polyphenol belonging to the stilbenoid family that has been isolated from Vitis amurensis, one of the most common wild grapes in Asia. We investigated the effects of trans-ε-viniferin on in vitro maturation (IVM) and developmental competence after in vitro fertilization (IVF) or parthenogenesis (PA). We observed that trans-ε-viniferin treatment during IVM did not improve nuclear maturation rates of oocytes in any group, but significantly increased (P<0.05) intracellular glutathione (GSH) levels and reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in the 0.5 μM treatment group. Trans-ε-viniferin treatment during IVM of recipient oocytes promoted higher (P<0.05) expression of DNA methyltransferase-1 (DNMT1) mRNA in the 0.5 μM treatment group as compared with the control group. However, the expression of essential transcriptional and apoptosis related genes did not significantly differ from that of the control. In cumulus cells, pro-apoptosis gene expressions were changed as apoptosis reducing. Oocytes treated with trans-ε-viniferin during IVM did not have significantly different cleavage rates or blastocyst formation rates after PA, but total cell numbers were significantly higher (P<0.05) in the 0.5 and 5.0 μM treatment groups compared to those in the control group. IVF embryos showed similar results. In conclusion, these results indicate that trans-ε-viniferin treatment during porcine IVM increased the total cell number of blastocysts, possibly by increasing intracellular GSH synthesis, reducing ROS levels, increasing DNMT1 gene expression of oocytes and decreasing pro-apoptosis gene expressions of cumulus cells.
  

   
• Increase in Cardiac Troponin I in a Lamb with Tetralogy of Fallot
  

  Elisa Barp NEUWALD, Frederico Aécio Carvalho SOARES, Cristina Terres DREYER, Samuel CARNESELLA, Angelica Terezinha Barth WOUTERS, Félix Hilario Diaz GONZÁLEZ, David DRIEMEIER

  [Advance Publication] Released: May 20, 2013

  13-0034

  • Abstract
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  This study describes a case of tetralogy of Fallot in a lamb showing failure to thrive and signs of respiratory distress. Physical examination, electrocardiography, thoracic radiographies, echocardiography and cardiac troponin I evaluation were performed. The value of cardiac troponin I was compared with the values of 10 healthy lambs of the same age and breed, and the affected animal demonstrated an increase in cardiac troponin I. Due to the poor prognosis, euthanasia was indicated, and necropsy confirmed the diagnosis. This is the first report of an increase in cardiac troponin I in a lamb with tetralogy of Fallot.
  

   
• Generalized Alopecia with Vasculitis-Like Changes in a Dog with Babesiosis
  

  Yumi TASAKI, Naoki MIURA, Keita IYORI, Koji NISHIFUJI, Yasuyuki ENDO, Yasuyuki MOMOI

  [Advance Publication] Released: May 16, 2013

  12-0482

  • Abstract
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  A locally bred, 12-year-old, intact female Satsuma dog presented with generalized alopecia. Erythema, crusts and desquamation were observed primarily on the truck. Papules and erosions were present in the pinnae, and there were multiple areas of skin necrosis on the right forelimb. The cutaneous lesions had not responded to treatment with systemic antibiotics and prednisolone. The dog also had progressive anemia. Babesia gibsoni was detected in the blood, and the dog was treated with antiprotozoal agents. The skin lesions and anemia improved, but relapsed after the treatment was discontinued. Histopathological examination of skin biopsies revealed findings suggestive of early leukocytoclastic vasculitis or ischemic vasculopathy.
  

   
• Effect of Chronic Hemoplasma Infection on Cattle Productivity
  

  Michihito TAGAWA, Kazuhiro YAMAKAWA, Takahiro AOKI, Kotaro MATSUMOTO, Mitsuo ISHII, Hisashi INOKUMA

  [Advance Publication] Released: May 15, 2013

  13-0119

  • Abstract
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  The present study evaluated the effect of hemoplasmosis on cattle productivity. Prevalence of bovine hemoplasma was examined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using whole blood samples collected from 93 breeding cows and their 71 calves in Hokkaido, Japan. Monthly milk production records and other clinical data were compared between Mycoplasma wenyonii (Mw)-infected, “Candidatus Mycoplasma haemobos” (CMh)-infected, co-infected and PCR-negative groups. Blood chemical parameters were obtained from the 93 cows and 64 calves. PCR results showed that 89.2% (83/93) of cows and 14.1% (10/71) of calves were positive for bovine hemoplasma. Based on productivity data obtained from the 93 cows, Mw-infected, CMh-infected and co-infected cows had significantly lower monthly milk yield compared to PCR-negative cows. Furthermore, decline in milk yield was prolonged in CMh-infected and co-infected groups. No significant differences were found for other clinical findings among the four groups. Calf birth weight tended to be lower for Mw-infected, CMh-infected and co-infected groups compared to the PCR-negative group. There were no significant differences in all blood parameters of cows and calves among the four groups. In addition, no significant differences were found in any parameter between hemoplasma-infected and PCR-negative calves.
  

   
• Use of an Aortic Stent Graft Extension for the Treatment of Urethral Stricture in a Dog
  

  Jae Hyun BAE, Yong Hwan KWON, Ye Chan JUNG, Ji Mo JUNG, Hae Beom LEE, Ki Chang LEE, Nam Soo KIM, Min-Su KIM

  [Advance Publication] Released: May 14, 2013

  13-0146

  • Abstract
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  A 2-year-old male mixed dog was referred to us for further evaluation and treatment of a 4-week-history of oliguria and abdominal distension after a surgical repair of urethral injury. To relieve the urethral stricture, we placed a self-expanding aortic stent graft extension with a partial coverage with an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE). After the placement of the stent, the dog presented with a normal urinary voiding, despite the presence of urinary incontinence. The current case indicates that the ePTFE-covered, self-expanding ASGE is an effective intervention for the treatment of severe urethral stricture in the dog.
  

   
• Prevalence and Characteristics of Salmonella spp. Isolated from Poultry Slaughterhouses in Korea
  

  Dong-Hwa BAE, Hirut Kidie DESSIE, Ho-Jeong BAEK, Seong-Guk KIM, Hee-Soo LEE, Young-Ju LEE

  [Advance Publication] Released: May 13, 2013

  13-0093

  • Abstract
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  Poultry products have consistently been identified as important sources of Salmonella infection in humans, because vertical transfer of infection from breeding hens to progeny is an important aspect of the epidemiology of Salmonella spp. infection within the poultry industry. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of Salmonella contamination in poultry products from 15 different located geographical areas from among the 50 poultry slaughterhouses authorized to operate in Korea and to characterize all the isolates by genotyping, phage typing and antibiotic resistance pattern. Salmonella was isolated from 10 (66.7%) of the first and 5 (33.3%) of the last chilling waters and from 32 (42.7%) carcasses originating from 9 slaughterhouses. The major prevalent serotypes of Salmonella originating from 2 duck slaughterhouses and 13 chicken slaughterhouses tested were S. Typhimurium and S. Enteritidis, respectively. Regarding the characteristics of their antibiotic resistance, 8 of the 11 ampicillin resistant (Am^R) isolates carried bla_TEM only, two carried bla_TEM and bla_CTX-M-14 and one carried bla_CTX-M-3 and only one Am^R isolate with the bla_CTX-M-3 β-lactamase gene was an ESBL-producing Salmonella strain. Twenty-seven Salmonella isolates showed nalidixic acid resistance with a mutation at amino acid codon Asp87 in gyrA and no mutation in the parC gene. In all the phenotypic and genotypic properties of the 18 S. Enteritidis and 8 S. Typhimurium based on PFGE, phage types and antibiotic resistance pattern, the predominant patterns were XEI/BEI-PT32a-Na^R (n=5) and XTI/BTI-RNDC-no resistant antibiotics (n=6), respectively.
  

   
• Multilocus Sequence Typing and DNA Similarity Analysis Implicate Borrelia valaisiana-Related sp. Isolated in Japan Is Distinguishable from European B. valaisiana
  

  Hiroki KAWABATA, Ai TAKANO, Teruki KADOSAKA, Hiromi FUJITA, Yoshiki NITTA, Mutsuyo GOKUDEN, Toshiro HONDA, Junko TOMIDA, Yoshiaki KAWAMURA, Toshiyuki MASUZAWA, Fubito ISHIGURO, Nobuhiro TAKADA, Yasuhiro YANO, Masako ANDOH, Shuji ANDO, Kozue SATO, Hideyuki TAKAHASHI, Makoto OHNISHI

  [Advance Publication] Released: May 13, 2013

  13-0162

  • Abstract
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  Lyme disease Borrelia spp. are transmitted by Ixodes ticks, and more than 10 species of borreliae have been identified around the world. Recently another Borrelia sp. has been reported in Asia (Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan and Thailand) as Borrelia valaisiana-related sp. In the present study, we obtained and genetically characterized 19 B. valaisiana-related sp. strains from mammals and ticks. Genetic analyses showed that the Borrelia strains were distinct from B. valaisiana found in Europe. Multilocus sequencing typing revealed that these Borrelia isolates formed a monophyletic group with B. yangtze strains in China. Some of strains were isolated from the bladders of small mammals, and also two strains were experimentally confirmed to be infectious to C3H/HeN mice. We observed that the Borrelia sp. was maintained in Ixodes granulatus tick after molting. These results suggested that small mammals and I. granulatus were possible reservoir hosts and vector tick for the Borrelia sp., respectively. B. valaisiana, originally found in Europe, was transmitted mainly by I. ricinus, and birds were mainly thought to be reservoir hosts. Our results suggested Japanese isolates of B. yangtze (formerly B. valaisiana-related sp.) were distinguishable from B. valaisiana according to the reservoir host and its vector tick. In this study, we also deposited borrelia strain Okinawa-CW62 to bioresource centers as a reference strain of the B. yangtze (=DSM 24625, JCM 17189).
  

   
• Helical Conformation Endows Poly-L-Lactic Acid Fibers with a Piezoelectric Charge under Tensile Stress
  

  Yasuji HARADA, Kunihiko KADONO, Tomohiro TERAO, Masakazu SUZUKI, Yoshito IKADA, Naohide TOMITA

  [Advance Publication] Released: May 10, 2013

  12-0323

  • Abstract
  • Full Text PDF[680K]

  
  Poly-l-lactic acid (PLLA) has been clinically used as a bioabsorbable material and attains a piezoelectric charge upon molecular orientation by the application of a shear force to the C-axis of the crystal line region. Previous studies showed that implanted drawn PLLA films or rods accelerate the ossification due to piezoelectric effect. In this study, we originally designed helically-twisted PLLA fiber to produce piezoelectricity in bioabsorbable suture upon tensile stress. The piezoelectricity of the helical PLLA fibers was evaluated using a lock-in amplifier system in vitro. The ossification induced by helical PLLA fibers was examined by implanting them in the rat patellar ligament supporting a physiological tensile load. We observed that 57° and 45° twisted PLLA fibers generated a higher piezoelectric potential than did 27° twisted fibers. The animal experiment showed that the formation of osseous tissue around helical PLLA fibers was more significant than around non-helical control fibers at 4 weeks after their implantation. These results suggest that helical PLLA fiber may be useful for the surgical suture or artificial ligament, which connects to the bone.
  

   
• Seroprevalence of Trypanosoma evansi Infection in Water Buffaloes from the Mountainous Region of North Vietnam and Effectiveness of Trypanocidal Drug Treatment
  

  Quoc Doanh NGUYEN, Thu-Thuy NGUYEN, Quang Phuc PHAM, Ngoc My LE, Giang Thanh T. NGUYEN, Noboru INOUE

  [Advance Publication] Released: May 10, 2013

  12-0533

  • Abstract
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  Water buffalo (WB) is an important domestic animal in Vietnam. This study utilized a card agglutination test to investigate seroprevalence of surra in WB population. Sera were collected from 585 WB from four different regions in Cao Bang and Thai Nguyen Provinces. Among them, 131 samples (22.4%) were positive for surra. The highest prevalence (24.6%) was found among three to five years old WB. Buffaloes less than three years old had the lowest prevalence (15.6%). Among 27 abortion cases, 9 WB (33.3%) were surra positive. For treatment of surra, Berenil^® demonstrated a 100% cure rate, while that of Trypamidium^® was only 40%. Our findings suggest that the current control strategy has not succeeded in reducing prevalence of surra in Vietnam.
  

   
• Epidemic of Equine Coronavirus at Obihiro Racecourse, Hokkaido, Japan in 2012
  

  Yasuhiro OUE, Yoshinori MORITA, Takashi KONDO, Manabu NEMOTO

  [Advance Publication] Released: May 01, 2013

  13-0056

  • Abstract
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  Equine coronavirus (ECoV) outbreaks have occurred three times at Obihiro Racecourse in Hokkaido, Japan. The third ECoV outbreak occurred between late February and early April 2012. The main clinical signs of affected horses were anorexia, pyrexia and leucopenia; gastrointestinal disease was observed in about 10% of affected horses. Two ECoV strains were isolated from diarrheal samples. All paired sera (9/9) collected from febrile horses showed seroconversion by neutralization test. Sequence and phylogenetic analysis of the ECoV isolated showed that putative amino acid sequences in S and N genes were highly conserved among ECoV strains. In contrast, sequences of the region coding 4.7 kDa non-structural protein (p4.7) differed among the strains. Because of the diversity of the p4.7 region, this region should be useful for epidemiological investigation of ECoV.
  

   
• Static Magnetic Field Induced Hypovitaminosis D in Rat
  

  Lahbib AÏDA, Lecomte FRÉDÉRIC, Ghodbane SOUMAYA, Hubert PHILIPPE, Sakly MOHSEN, Abdelmelek HAFEDH

  [Advance Publication] Released: May 01, 2013

  13-0105

  • Abstract
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  In the following study, we mainly investigate the effects of static magnetic field (SMF) (128 mT, 1 hr/day during 5 consecutive days) on 25-hydroxyvitamin D₃ and calcium homeostasis. Wistar male rats, weighing 50–70 g, were randomly divided into four experimental groups: control, SMF-exposed rat, co-exposed rats (the last day and after exposure rats received a single dose of vitamin D per os) and supplemented with vitamin D group (without exposure to SMF). Exposure to SMF induced a decrease of plasmatic 25-hydroxyvitamin D₃ level (P<0.001). While, calcium and phosphorus levels were not affected (P>0.05). The same treatment failed also to alter body, relative liver and kidney weights. Interestingly, oral supplementation with vitamin D corrected hypovitaminosis D induced by SMF. Likewise, the same treatment failed to alter calcium homeostasis. More studies are needed to evaluate how SMF induces hypovitaminosis D.
  

   
• Characterization of Anoikis-Resistant Cells in Mouse Colonic Epithelium
  

  Hideyoshi KAWASAKI, Tetsuya YOSHIDA, Kazuhide HORIGUCHI, Takashi OHAMA, Koichi SATO

  [Advance Publication] Released: April 30, 2013

  13-0005

  • Abstract
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  Anoikis is a form of apoptosis triggered by inadequate or inappropriate cell matrix contacts. Anoikis resistance has been utilized to isolate adult stem or progenitor cell populations from various tissues. The aim of this study was to characterize the stem or progenitor cell markers expressed in anoikis-resistant cells isolated from mouse colonic epithelium. Mouse colonic epithelial cells were isolated by Ca²⁺-depletion, and anoikis-resistant cells were obtained by culturing the cells in ultra-low attachment dishes. Flow cytometry analysis showed that anoikis-resistant cells are positive for the epithelial cell marker CD326, but negative for the hematopoietic cell marker CD45, eliminating the possibility of hematopoietic cell contamination. The majority of anoikis-resistant cells were also positive for the stem or progenitor cell markers CD133 and DCLK1, by immunofluorescent analysis. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that anoikis-resistant cells express +4 position cell marker Hopx, but did not express the other reported stem or progenitor cell markers, Lgr5, Musashi1, Bmi1, mTert and Olfm4. CD133 and DCLK1 double positive cells were observed both apical and basal crypts in mouse proximal colonic tissues. Together, anoikis-resistant cells in mouse colon epithelium were shown to be positive for CD133, DCLK1, Hopx and CD326, but negative for CD45, Lgr5, Musashi1, Bmi1, mTert and Olfm4. This study has shown a possible approach to isolating stem cells from the intestinal epithelium.

   
• Changes in Prostaglandin E₂ Levels in Seminal Plasma during Ejaculation and the Effect of Exogenous Prostaglandin E₂ on Semen Volume in the Dog
  

  Masanori KOBAYASHI, Tatsuya HORI, Eiichi KAWAKAMI

  [Advance Publication] Released: April 30, 2013

  13-0053

  • Abstract
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  In healthy male dogs, peripheral plasma testosterone (T), prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂), and seminal plasma PGE₂ levels were measured before, during, and after ejaculation and semen quality was examined after oral administration of PGE₂. Plasma T and PGE₂ levels did not change during these periods, but seminal plasma PGE₂ level in the first and second fraction was significantly higher than that at 0–5 and 5–10 min after the start of ejaculation of the third fraction. Semen volume but not quality increased after PGE₂ administration. In conclusion, large amounts of PGE₂ are released from the prostate gland during the early part of ejaculation and that PGE₂ plays an essential role in secretion of seminal plasma.
  

   
• Jejunal Intussusception Associated with Lymphoma in a Horse
  

  Kazuya MATSUDA, Taku SHIMADA, Yoshio KAWAMURA, Kanako SAKAGUCHI, Masaaki TAGAMI, Hiroyuki TANIYAMA

  [Advance Publication] Released: April 30, 2013

  13-0060

  • Abstract
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  A 2-year-old Thoroughbred horse presented with acute onset of colitis, and the intussuscepted jejunum was surgically resected. A transmural mass protruding into the lumen was found at the leading edge of the intussusceptum. Based on histological and immunohistochemical examinations, the mass was diagnosed as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with metastasis to the mesenteric lymph nodes. Anatomical localization of the mass in the intussusception and absence of other obvious underlying diseases indicated that the intussusception had occurred in association with the mass. To our knowledge, this case is the first report of equine intussusception associated with focal intestinal lymphoma.
  

   
• Fluctuation in Plasma Bone Metabolic Markers in Multiparous and Primiparous Holstein Cows during Early to Peak Lactation
  

  Bhuminand DEVKOTA, Masahiro TAKAHASHI, Kouya SASAKI, Takeshi OSAWA, Yoshiaki IZAIKE, Norio YAMAGISHI

  [Advance Publication] Released: April 30, 2013

  13-0073

  • Abstract
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  Because the role of bone turnover during early to peak lactation in dairy cows is unclear, plasma levels of osteoclast- or collagen-specific bone resorption and osteoblast-specific bone formation markers from postpartum week 3 (W+3) to W+7 were compared with prepartum W-3 levels in multiparous (n=15) and primiparous (n=13) Holstein cows. The multiparous group showed a consistently low level of osteoclast-specific bone resorption markers, while collagen-specific resorption and osteoblast-specific formation markers decreased at postpartum W+7 and from W+5, respectively. In the primiparous group, the plasma levels of all three markers decreased from postpartum W+3. These results suggest that the calcium demand during the transition from early to peak lactation in dairy cows is less affected by bone turnover.
  

   
• Utility of Serum Thymidine Kinase Activity Measurements for Cases of Bovine Leukosis with Difficult Clinical Diagnoses
  

  Mohammad Monir TAWFEEQ, Saori MIURA, Noriyuki HORIUCHI, Yoshiyasu KOBAYASHI, Hidefumi FURUOKA, Hisashi INOKUMA

  [Advance Publication] Released: April 26, 2013

  12-0572

  • Abstract
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  This study evaluated the clinical usefulness of serum thymidine kinase (TK) activity for diagnosing bovine leukosis cases for which clinical diagnosis was difficult (‘BL with difficult diagnosis’). Median TK activity values in 24 ‘BL with difficult diagnosis’ and 36 cattle for which BL was clinically confirmed by cytology findings of enlarged superficial lymph nodes (‘clinically confirmed BL’) were 36.8 and 39.4 U/l, respectively (no significant difference). The percentage with positive TK activity (>5.4 U/l) was also similar in both groups (83.3% for ‘BL with difficult diagnosis’ and 97.2% for ‘clinically confirmed BL’). TK activity was significantly higher in cows with ‘BL with difficult diagnosis’ compared to those with other tumors (n=13) and those with inflammatory diseases (n=14). Maximum TK activity in cows with other tumors and inflammatory diseases was not high (<10 U/l). Median TK activities in cows with other tumors and those with inflammatory diseases were 1.8 and 1.4 IU/l, respectively. Positive TK activity was found in a significantly higher percentage of cows with ‘BL with difficult diagnosis’ (83.3%) relative to the percentages of cows with other tumors (15.3%) and inflammatory diseases (21.4%). Thus, TK activity is an appropriate marker for detecting BL onset in cows with ‘BL with difficult diagnosis’ as well as ‘clinically confirmed BL’ group. While the specificity of TK activity required for BL diagnosis is not clear, simultaneous evaluation of serum lactate dehydrogenase activity may assist in the differential diagnoses of other tumors and inflammatory diseases from BL.
  

   
• Shortened Blood Coagulation Times in Genetically Obese Rats and Diet-Induced Obese Mice
  

  Noriyuki KAJI, Dai NAGAKUBO, Shin-ichi HASHIDA, Saya TAKAHASHI, Motoi KURATANI, Norihiko HIRAI, Mitsuyuki SHIRAI, Fumitoshi ASAI

  [Advance Publication] Released: April 26, 2013

  13-0029

  • Abstract
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  The aim of this study was to investigate blood coagulation times in genetically obese rats and diet-induced obese (DIO) mice in order to clarify the relationship between visceral obesity and blood coagulation. WBN/Kob-Lepr^fa (fa/fa) rats, a genetically obese model, exhibited a significantly shorter activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and prothrombin time (PT) than age-matched Wistar rats. C57BL/6J mice fed a high-fat diet (60%), a DIO model, exhibited significantly shorter aPTT, PT and thrombin time than lean mice fed a standard diet. Higher body weight, visceral fat weight and insulin resistance were also shared by fa/fa rats and DIO mice. These results suggest that visceral obesity is related to accelerated blood coagulation in addition to disrupted metabolism of glucose and lipids.
  

   
• Origin of Three Red-Crowned Cranes Grus japonensis Found in Northeast Honshu and West Hokkaido, Japan, from 2008 to 2012
  

  Yoshiaki MIURA, Junya SHIRAISHI, Akira SHIOMI, Takio KITAZAWA, Takeo HIRAGA, Fumio MATSUMOTO, Hiroki TERAOKA, Hiroyuki MASATOMI

  [Advance Publication] Released: April 26, 2013

  13-0090

  • Abstract
  • Full Text PDF[294K]

  
  The Red-crowned Crane Grus japonensis is an endangered species that has two separate breeding populations, one in the Amur River basin, and the other in north and east Hokkaido, Japan. So far, only two (Gj1 and Gj2) and seven (Gj3–Gj9) haplotypes in D-loop of mtDNA were identified in Japan and in the continent, respectively. We obtained feathers from three cranes found in northeast Honshu. The crane in Akita in 2008, which also arrived at west Hokkaido, had a novel haplotype (Gj10). Another crane in Akita in 2009 showed a heteroplasmy (Gj7 and a novel type, Gj12). The third crane in Miyagi in 2010 also showed another type, Gj11. These results suggest that three Red-crowned Cranes appeared in Honshu and west Hokkaido were from the continent.
  

   
• Histopathological Studies on Cases of Chronic Mouse Hepatitis by Natural Helicobacter Infections
  

  Chunja NAM, Yasushi OHMACHI, Toshiaki KOKUBO, Tetsu NISHIKAWA, Kazuyuki UCHIDA, Hiroyuki NAKAYAMA

  [Advance Publication] Released: April 25, 2013

  12-0304

  • Abstract
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  It has been known that Helicobacter hepaticus or Helicobacter bilis infection cause chronic inflammation of the colon and liver. Chronic active hepatitis was found in radiation exposure experiments using male C3H/HeNrs mice at our institute. Histopathologically, 103 cases among 978 mice (64–91 weeks of age at autopsy) had hepatic lesions regardless of irradiation exposure. Mild lesions showed only focal necrosis and focal inflammation in the liver. Severe cases were accompanied by hepatocytomegaly, bile duct hyperplasia, hypertrophy and activation of Kupffer cells, cholangitis, pleomorphic hepatocytes and/or tumor. Helical-shaped bacteria were detected between hepatocytes by Warthin-Starry silver stain and immunohistochemistry (IHC) with an antibody against Helicobacter pylori. It was suggested that these chronic hepatitis caused by Helicobacter spp. Although chronic hepatitis occurred frequently in mice exposed high-dose irradiation compared to non-irradiated mice in one lot, it was not concluded whether radiation might influence in incidence or degree of hepatitis or not. Our report suggested that natural Helicobacter spp. infection in mice can occur in an experimental animal facility. Therefore, it is suggested that monitor of the Helicobacter infection is very important for quality control of animal experiments.