The aim of this study was to examine normal bronchi in dogs by using virtual bronchoscopy (VB) and to evaluate the utility of VB in clinical practice. The bronchi of six dogs without tracheobronchial disease were visualized by VB. Airways from the tracheal bifurcation to the lobar bronchi were well visualized in all dogs. Segmental and subsegmental bronchi were also well identified, but the degree and number of those varied with dog size. The mean numbers of segmental and subsegmental bronchi identified in the six dogs were 41.83 and 50.17, respectively, whereas, the mean numbers in medium- and large-sized dogs were 55.00 and 82.67, respectively, and in small-sized dogs, the means were 28.67 and 17.67, respectively. Although there were size-dependent differences in VB visualization of the bronchi, it was possible to identify peripheral airways to the subsegmental bronchi level, which can rarely be accomplished via conventional bronchoscopy. VB is the noninvasive method that can be used to examine bronchial anatomy, and our results suggest that VB can be useful for evaluating bronchi, including segmental and subsegmental ones that cannot be examined routinely by conventional bronchoscopy. Thus, VB has potential as an alternative to conventional bronchoscopy in the examination of bronchi in dogs.

Bovine mastitis is an important microbial disease in the dairy industry. We investigated the frequencies of bacterial pathogens in 62 farms and pathogen antibiotic resistance from mastitis samples (n = 748). We tested the antimicrobial activity of chicken and duck egg white and lysozyme purified from chicken egg white. Moreover, we compared the microbiomes of normal and mastitic raw milk obtained by 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing and culture methods. The results showed that the frequencies of Gram-positive pathogens (Enterococcus faecalis 37% and Staphylococcus aureus 36%) were higher than that of a Gram-negative pathogen (Escherichia coli 15%). Resistance frequencies to ampicillin and norfloxacin were lowest in Staphylococcus aureus (21%), Enterococcus faecalis (23%), and Escherichia coli (33%), and the antimicrobial activity of chicken egg white was higher than those of lysozyme and duck egg white. Pyrosequencing results revealed clear differences between the microbiomes of mastitic and normal raw milk samples and revealed a slightly similar, but clearly different, composition of pathogens compared to that from the culture method. Thus, pyrosequencing may be useful for elucidating changes in microbiomes during mastitis progression and treatment. A chicken egg white and antibiotic combination may help with mastitis treatment; however, further studies are needed.

A 5-year-old castrated male Chinchilla Persian cat weighing 4.84 kg was referred for hematuria. The cat had a history of urethrostomy and bacterial cystitis. In urine culture, Candida glabrata was cultured on Sabouraud dextrose agar. Based on these results, the cat was diagnosed with Candida cystitis. Subsequently, oral administration of fluconazole was initiated. Urine culture was negative at 31 days after administration. This case describes the diagnosis and treatment of Candida glabrata infection of urinary bladder in a cat with a history of urethrostomy.

This study was performed to investigate the distribution of ticks and the rate of infection with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) virus in ticks collected at Mt. Gwanak and the Seoul National University campus, Korea. Ticks (n = 273) were collected from May to October and included 76 Haemaphysalis longicornis (4 adult females, 72 nymphs), 49 Haemaphysalis flava (9 adult females, 3 adult males, 37 nymphs), and 148 Haemaphysalis spp. larvae. SFTS virus detection was performed by using one-step RT PCR and nested PCR. The SFTS virus was detected in 7 samples (1 Haemaphysalis longicornis nymph, 3 Haemaphysalis flava nymphs, and 3 Haemaphysalis spp. larva). The overall minimum field infection rate was 2.6%, whereas the minimum field infection rates of adult, nymphal, and larval ticks were 0%, 3.2%, and 2.0%, respectively. For a more accurate indication of the prevalence of SFTS virus in Korea, further in-depth investigations of tick species and SFTS virus occurrence over a larger area and longer period are needed.

Porcine parvovirus, Erysipelothrix (E.) rhusiopathiae, and Leptospira (L.) interrogans are considered major etiologic agents of reproductive failure in pigs, causing economic loss in the swine industry. In this study, the safety and immunogenicity of a new octavalent inactivated vaccine were evaluated. The vaccine contained inactivated porcine parvovirus, E. rhusiopathiae, and six L. interrogans serovars (Bratislava, Canicola, Grippotyphosa, Hardjo, Icterohaemorrhagiae, and Pomona). Safety test results showed no notable side effects or clinical signs after vaccination in mice, guinea pigs, and sows. In addition, we assessed immunogenicity of the vaccine in 25 sows under field conditions. The vaccinated group (n = 20) had a significantly higher antibody level than the non-vaccinated group (n = 5). Moreover, the stillbirth rate decreased in piglets born from vaccinated sows, resulting in an increased fertility rate. The results of this study demonstrate that the new octavalent inactivated vaccine can be applied safely and effectively to improve reproductive performance in sows.

A Gram-negative, catalase- and oxidase-positive, coccus-shaped bacterium was isolated from a rabbit with keratoconjunctivitis. Colonies of the isolate were round, smooth, and exhibited hemolytic activity on 5% sheep blood agar. Scanning electron microscopy revealed 0.4 to 0.5 μm diameter oval cocci. Partial 16S rRNA gene (1446 bp) sequence analysis demonstrated the isolate had significant homology with the Moraxella cuniculi CCUG2154 strain isolated from a rabbit in Germany in 1973. Our isolate was designated as APQAB1701. Antibiotic susceptibility tests demonstrated that APQAB1701 was sensitive to 24 antibiotics; 3 of the antibiotics (nalidixic acid, spectinomycin, and colistin) had minimal inhibitory concentrations greater than or equal to 32μg/mL against the isolate.

Wild raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides koreensis) may play a role transmitting several pathogens to humans and pet animals. Information concerning the incidence of rabies, canine distemper virus (CDV), canine parvovirus (CPV), canine adenovirus type 2 (CAdV-2), canine parainfluenza virus type 5 (CPIV-5), and canine herpesvirus (CHV) is needed in wild raccoon dogs. In total, 62 brain samples of raccoon dogs were examined for rabies virus (RABV) and CDV, and 49 lung samples were screened for CDV, CAdV-2, CPIV-5, and CHV. No RABV, CAdV-2, CPIV-5, or CHV was identified, but nine CDV antigens (8.1%, 9/111) were detected. Moreover, 174 serum samples from wild raccoon dogs were screened for antibodies against the five major viral pathogens. The overall serosurveillance against CDV, CPV, CAdV-2, CPIV-5, and CHV in wild raccoon dogs was 60.3%, 52.9%, 59.8%, 23.6%, and 10.3%, respectively. Comparisons of the sero-surveillance of the five pathogens showed that raccoon dogs of Gyeonggi province have slightly higher sero-positive rates against CDV, CPV, and CHV than those of Gangwon province. These results indicate high incidences of CDV, CPV, and CAdV-2 in wild raccoon dogs of two Korean provinces and a latent risk of pathogen transmission to companion and domestic animals.

A 2-year-old, female Pomeranian dog was referred for dyspnea. Thoracic radiographs revealed left-sided mediastinal shift, increased soft tissue opacity in the caudal aspect of left thorax with loss of the left diaphragmatic silhouette, and dorsal elevation of mediastinal structures and heart from the sternum by lung tissue. The left main bronchus was visualized as an air-bronchogram and observed to abruptly discontinue at the level of the 10th rib. Thoracic computed tomography (CT) revealed absence of the left lung parenchyma and left pulmonary vessels with a rudimentary left main bronchus. The case was congenital pulmonary aplasia diagnosed via radiography and CT.

Spotted fever group rickettsioses are a group of tick-borne zoonotic diseases caused by intracellular bacteria of the genus Rickettsia. The diseases are widely reported amongst international travellers returning from most sub-Saharan Africa with fever, yet their importance in local populations largely remains unknown. Although this has started to change and recently there have been increasing reports of the diseases in livestock, ticks and humans in Kenya, they have not been investigated in wildlife. We examined the presence, prevalence and species of Rickettsia present in wildlife in two regions of Kenya with a unique human–wildlife–livestock interface. For this purpose, 79 wild animals in Laikipia County and 73 in Maasai Mara National Reserve were sampled. DNA extracted from blood was tested using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify the intergenic spacer rpmE-tRNAfMet and the citrate synthase-encoding gene gltA. Rickettsial DNA was detected in 2 of the 79 (2.5%) animals in Laikipia and 4 of the 73 (5.5%) in Maasai Mara. The PCR-positive amplicons of the gltA gene were sequenced to determine the detected Rickettsia species. This revealed Rickettsia sibirica in a Topi (Damaliscus lunatus ssp. jimela). This is the first report of spotted fever group rickettsioses in wildlife and the first to report R. sibirica in Kenya. The finding demonstrates the potential role of wild animals in the circulation of the diseases.

Bovine tuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium bovis, is a zoonotic disease causing approximately 6% of total human deaths. Its economic losses are not only a reduction of 10-20% in milk production and weight, but also infertility and condemnation of meat. Many serological tests are applied for detection of tuberculosis. ELISA test has the highest sensitivity and specificity than the other serological tests for the diagnosis of tuberculosis. Several forms of new technology were brought into the diagnostic approach to mycobacterial infection. The aim of this work was to detect bovine tuberculosis by application of different serological tests. Tuberculin skin test was applied on 2650 cattle, only 63(2.4%) were positive. Forty eight (76.2%) of the slaughtered positive animals showed visible lesions (VL) while the other 15 (23.8%) had non-visible lesions (NVL). The bacteriological examination of the 63 samples revealed isolation of M. bovis from 47 processed samples (74.6%). The results of the immunoassay test have detected 27 out of the tuberculin positive cattle, while the ELISA has detected 34 out of the positive reactor cattle. It was concluded that immunoassay and ELISA tests act as complementary tests for tuberculin skin test especially in anergic cattle.