Japanese encephalitis (JE) is an important zoonosis caused by the mosquito-transmitted JE virus (JEV), which is a causative agent of reproductive failure in pregnant sows. Detection of JEV antibodies in swine is performed by hemagglutination inhibition (HI), virus neutralization (VN), and the plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT). The most stringent PRNT is the 90% endpoint PRNT (PRNT∧90). These conventional assays are difficult to carry out in diagnostic laboratories with insufficient instruments or cell culture systems. An alternative assay that is easily conducted and time efficient is required. In this study, we improved the indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (I-ELISA) with clarified antigen for the detection of JEV antibodies. The I-ELISA results obtained from 175 swine serum samples were compared with HI, VN, and PRNT∧90 results. The sensitivity of I-ELISA was 91.8%, 95.0%, and 94.7% compared with HI, VN, and PRNT∧90 results, respectively. The specificity of I-ELISA was 92.2%, 94.7%, and 94.7% compared with HI, VN, and PRNT∧90 results, respectively. Moreover, the I-ELISA results were significantly correlated with the HI (r = 0.93), VN (r = 0.95), and PRN∧T90 (r = 0.92) results. These results suggest that the improved I-ELISA is useful for serosurveillance of JEV in swine.

Concentrations of cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate were measured by performing radioimmunoassay of the cerebrospinal fluid of 68 dogs diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy or inflammatory, degenerative, or non-neurological disease. No steroid concentration differences were found among diagnoses. Dehydroepiandrosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate concentrations were higher in males than in females and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate decreased with increasing age. No sex or age effects were observed on cortisol or hormone ratios. Although limited to a relatively small sample, our results show sex- and age-dependent variations in these neurosteroid concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid. The role of such variations in the pathophysiology of the dog brain warrants further investigation.

A 9-month-old intact male Maltese dog (1.52 kg) was diagnosed with a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Transcatheter occlusion of the PDA was performed by using the Amplatz canine duct occluder (ACDO). After occlusion, reflex bradycardia occurred and lasted for at least 15 h with normal systolic arterial pressure and slightly increased diastolic arterial pressure. The bradycardia slowly resolved, and the heart rate was normal in re-examinations after 7 and 30 days. This is the first case of reflex bradycardia after ACDO implantation, in which the bradycardia continued for a long time, even after recovery from anesthesia.

A 6-month-old mature intact female Siamese cat presented with exertional dyspnea. Diagnostic studies revealed pleural effusion, grade 4/6 left basal systolic murmur, deep S-wave in electrocardiograph leads I, II, and III, cardiomegaly with pleural effusion on radiography, pulmonic systolic (~5.8 m/sec) and tricuspid (3.6 m/sec) regurgitant jets, atrial septal defect, and a hypoplastic right outflow tract. Based on these results, the case was diagnosed as pulmonic stenosis with atrial septal defect. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report describing pulmonic stenosis with atrial septal defect in a cat in Korea.

Well-established standards and specifications for medical devices not only provide clarity and consistency in licensing processes but also secure device safety and effectiveness. This study reviewed regulatory standards and specifications for veterinary medical devices in Korea based on data obtained through analyses of those medical devices. General standards for electromechanical, electromagnetic, and biological safety and individual standards for 76 electric and 70 general medical device products have been established by the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. However, the first standards and specifications for veterinary medical devices were established in March 2000 for two products (disposable needle and syringe). Similar to the large number of standards for medical devices, there have been general standards for safety and individual standards for 72 veterinary medical devices (27 electric medical devices, 12 non-electric medical devices, 10 medical supplies, and 23 other types) established since 2014. These new standards considered, among other aspects, the devices' applications, usage characteristics, and industrial environment. To date, the establishment of standards and specifications for veterinary medical devices remains limited. This study suggests that improvements should be made to the regulation of general and individual standards associated with various veterinary medical instruments, supplies, and in vitro diagnostic medical reagents.

Solanum lycopersicum, commonly known as tomato, is widely used in raw, cooked, or liquid forms because it contains nutritional compounds that are beneficial for human health, including carotenoids, lycopene, ascorbic acid, vitamins, and minerals. The tomato is perhaps the most widely studied fruit, especially with respect to its cardioprotective effects. In this study, we aimed to identify the anti-inflammatory mechanisms by which the tomato elicits its antiinflammatory properties. We treated murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells with a tomato ethanol extract and performed various biochemical assays including nitric oxide inhibition, cell viability, RNA extraction, expression of proinflammatory mediators and cytokines, and immunoblotting, as well we assessed cell survival rates. Our results have shown for the first time that a tomato ethanol extract treatment can suppress nitric oxide production in a dose-dependent manner without cytotoxicity. Moreover, it inhibits the expression of pro-inflammatory mediators and cytokines and elicits its anti-inflammatory effects via the nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways. In addition, administration of tomato syrup potently rescued mice from septic shock induced by lipopolysaccharide injection. Collectively, our results elucidate details regarding the antiinflammatory mechanisms of tomato.

A 11-year-old, female Russian Blue cat was presented with anorexia, vomiting, and diarrhea lasting for 3 days. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed a hypoechoic, non-circumferential, and eccentrically formed intestinal loop with altered wall layering and thickening of the tunica muscularis. After surgical resection, histopathologic examination confirmed an infiltrative, round-cell neoplasm composed of sheets and cords of neoplastic mast cells within a fibrotic, edematous stroma. The cat was alive and healthy 6 months after surgery. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of an intestinal mast cell tumor in a Russian Blue cat in South Korea.

Porcine ear necrosis syndrome is characterized by erosive and ulcerative lesions at the margin or tip of the pinna. Three growing pigs of different ages exhibited retarded growth accompanied by reddening and necrosis of ear prior to death. Gross examination showed reddening, swelling, black discoloration, scaling, and variable-sized yellowish materials and edema in ear cross section. Microscopically, thrombosis, abscess, ulceration, epidermal hyperplasia, and dermal pyogranulomatous inflammation with an intralesional bacterial colony were observed. Staphylococcus hyicus was isolated in all pigs' ears and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus was detected by PCR and immunohistochemistry.

The microbial community is known to have a key role during the rearing period of broilers. In this study, gut microbial composition and diversity were examined to evaluate the relationships between these factors and broiler growth performance. By applying 454-pyrosequencing of the V1-V3 regions of bacterial 16S rRNA genes, six fecal samples from four- and 28-day-old chickens from three broiler farms and 24 intestinal samples of broilers with heavy and light body weights were analyzed. Microbial composition assessment revealed Firmicutes to be the most prevalent phylum at farm A, while Proteobacteria were predominant at farms B and C. Fecal microbial richness and diversity indices gradually increased from four to 28 days at all three farms. Microbial diversity assessment revealed that small intestine microbial diversity was lower in heavy birds than in light birds. In light birds, the Firmicutes proportion was lower than that in heavy birds. In conclusion, each broiler farm revealed a specific microbial profile which varied with the age of the birds. The microbial communities appeared to affect growth performance; therefore, gut microbial profiles can be utilized to monitor growth performance at broiler farms.

The isolation rate of Escherichia (E.) coli in poultry litter was investigated at 44 broiler farms, 20 that used fresh litter and 24 that used recycled litter. The patterns of resistance to antibiotics of the E. coli isolates were compared. In litter sampled before the rearing period, the isolation rate of E. coli was higher at farms that used fresh litter; E. coli was present in the litter in 94.5% (35 out of 37 flocks tested) of the farms that used fresh litter vs. 51.2% (21 out of 41 flocks) of the farms that used recycled litter. The susceptibility of the 93 isolates of E. coli to 13 antibiotics was studied. Before the rearing period, E. coli isolates from the farms that recycled litter showed higher resistance rates than isolates from farms that replaced litter with fresh litter. Comparing the antibiotic resistance patterns of isolates from litter sampled before and at the end of the rearing period, the antibiotic resistance rates at the end of the rearing period increased dramatically compared with rates before the rearing period.