A 13-year-old, Maltese dog presented with syncope and lethargy. Abdominal ultrasonography demonstrated anechoic peritoneal effusion and hepatic congestion. A focal echogenic round mass compressing the right ventricle and atrium was observed on echocardiography. Cardiac tamponade and right ventricular outflow tract obstruction occurred. On computed tomography, a homogeneous soft-tissue structure compressing the right chamber without contrast enhancement, suspected to be loculated pericardial effusion. During pericardiocentesis, cardiac tamponade was resolved, and irregular pericardial thickening was noted. Pericardial effusion was exudate and gram-positive bacterial colonies were observed on cytology. A diagnosis of fibrinous pericarditis secondary to bacterial infection was established.

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a mosquito-borne virus that can infect pigs, horses, and other mammals, including humans. Sero-epidemiological investigations of JEV have been performed using hemagglutination inhibition (HI), virus neutralization (VN) tests and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A need exists for a new ELISA that can detect JEV antibodies in the sera of several animal species. We aimed to develop a blocking ELISA (B-ELISA) for detecting JEV antibodies in pig and horse serum samples. JEV antibodies in 218 pig and 315 horse serum samples were measured using HI and VN tests. The purified KV1899-306 strain was used as an antigen for B-ELISA. The purified antibody (7A13) was conjugated with horseradish peroxidase and used as a detector antibody. The sera of pigs and horses to measure antibody against JEV were subjected to B-ELISA and analyzed. The B-ELISA had a diagnostic sensitivity of 94.6% to 100%, a specificity of 91.2 to 100%, and an accuracy of 94.9 to 98.6% compared with those of the HI and VN tests in pig and horse sera. The B-ELISA had a higher correlation with pig sera (r = 0.89 and 0.90 for VN and HI) than with horse sera (r = 0.75 and to 0.79). The new B-ELISA could be useful in the sero-surveillance of JEV in pig and horse sera and replace indirect ELISA.

We describe the first reported case of grain-free diet-induced dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in a dog in Korea. An 11-year-old female dog was referred with abdominal distention, anorexia, and vomiting, having been fed a grain-free diet for more than 5 years. Thoracic radiography revealed cardiomegaly and pulmonary edema. Atrial fibrillation was detected using electrocardiography. The dog was tentatively diagnosed with congestive heart failure (CHF) secondary to grain-free diet-induced DCM, and its diet changed to contain grain. Digoxin and diltiazem were prescribed for the atrial fibrillation, and pimobendan, enalapril, and furosemide for CHF. Significant improvements in echocardiographic indices were confirmed after 3 months.

A university’s admission policy is established to select applicants who can successfully complete the curriculum. Thus, it is important to develop optimal admissions processes for applicant selection. This study was conducted to infer the most suitable admission processes for veterinary school applicants by examining academic achievement, graduation competency and academic sustainability. It was conducted on students admitted from 2009 to 2018 at one of the veterinary colleges in Korea. The admission methods were divided into, first the regular admission (RA) process, primarily reflecting the results of the College Scholastic Ability Test, and second, the rolling admission processes. The rolling processes were further divided into admission officer-based (AO), high school grade point average-based (GA), essay testbased (ET), admission for the underprivileged (UP) and admission for overseas Koreans and foreigners (OKF). The final grade point average was observed to be higher in the order of the GA, AO and RA groups. The survey on the veterinary graduation competency did not reveal any difference between the regular and rolling admission processes. However, among the latter, AO-based admission showed a higher ratio of outstanding competency levels. In terms of academic sustainability, OKF admission demonstrated a higher rate of failure while RA showed a higher rate of expulsion and dropout. Summarizing the above results, the most successful veterinary applicants were selected through AO-based admission. These results are meaningful in providing the basic information required to establish admission policies for veterinary colleges in Korea.

The liver is a defense against infections due to its strategic location between the gastrointestinal and systemic circulations. In dogs and cats, infectious hepatitis encompasses a range of contagious diseases affecting the liver either directly or as part of a broader systemic infection, including bacterial, mycobacterial, viral, fungal, protozoal, parasitic, and rickettsial diseases. Catechins possess well-recognized natural antioxidant properties. This study investigated their therapeutic potential for applications in hepatology, evaluating whether catechins reduce hepatic inflammation in rats repeatedly exposed to carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄). Sprague-Dawley rats were given catechin 50 (C50) or 100 (C100) mg/kg body weight orally daily for 3 days. This treatment was given with or without concurrent intraperitoneal injections of CCl₄. Phosphate-buffered saline served as the vehicle control, while silymarin administered at 100 mg/kg was used as the positive control. Gross examination revealed significant enlargement, edema, and darker tissue in CCl₄-induced livers treated with vehicle. Additionally, spotty discoloration was observed on the surface. Kupffer cell activation suppressed the expression of inflammatory mediators, including inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), in groups co-treated with catechin and CCl₄; this effect was reversed when catalase replaced catechin in CCl₄-injured rats. Catechin alleviates hepatic inflammation in rats repeatedly exposed to CCl₄; it also modulates the activation of Kupffer cells and monocytes. These results should lead to new treatments for liver inflammation in veterinary practice.

Differences between left and right-side joint range of motion may affect canine locomotive ability and movement. Passive range of motion (PROM) joint measurement provides the limits that a particular joint can move in its physiological planes of motion without influence of muscle activity. To compare left and right-side flexion and extension of the glenohumeral, humeroulnar/humeroradial, coxofemoral and femorotibial joints and for laterality PROM differences. Siberian Husky dogs were selected (n = 18), mixed gender, aged (1.4–11.8) years living and working together. Goniometry measured joint PROM, a validated, non-invasive method. Dogs were conscious and placed in standing position. Triplicate measures of joint flexion and extension were taken bilaterally of each dog for afore-mentioned joints. Median values of triplicate measures were computed. Paired t-tests compared laterality of joint PROM, gender, age (< 6 vs. ≥ 6 years) effects. Inferential symmetry indices [SI] were calculated. For all joints, there was no significant difference (p > 0.05) between left and right-side flexion and extension measures nor between genders. Age (< 6 vs. ≥ 6 years) had a significant effect on right hip flexion (p < 0.001); both left and right-side shoulder flexion (p < 0.001); elbow flexion (p = 0.001 and p < 0.001); hip extension (p = 0.02 and p < 0.001) respectively. The shoulder joint showed greatest PROM asymmetry (SI = 3.63%). Bilateral PROM measures are important to consider in joint movement and assessment. These results warrant further investigation with larger cohorts of defined age groups.

Archaeological research has mainly focused on stone tools, pottery, and metal relics excavated from ruins. Recently, interest in natural relics such as animal bones has increased, as these relics can provide insight into the eating habits, cultural level, and perception of animals of the people at that time. This study investigated morphological structures and dimensions of Nyctereutes procyonoides bones excavated from a well at the Gasan-ri archaeological site in Jinju. These bones are presumed to be relics from the Three Kingdoms period. A total of 447 animal bones were excavated, of which 59 (13.2%) were identified as N. procyonoides bones. These identified bones weighed 47.14 g, accounting for 4.83% of the total bone weight (975.30 g). These N. procyonoides bones were found to belong to 2 individuals estimated to be 5 to 6 weeks old. These bones included 5 skull fragments, 2 mandibles, 9 vertebrae, 11 ribs, 10 forelimb bones, 3 hip bones, and 19 hindlimb bones. A fracture was observed near the bregma of one skull. The presence of a complete specimen in the well suggested that it was used in animal sacrifice rituals. This study estimated the value of animals and human dietary culture at that time by utilizing N. procyonoides bones presumed to be relics of the Three Kingdoms period.

In this study, almost complete genomic sequences of porcine parvovirus (PPV)1 and PPV4 circulating in commercial pig farms in South Korea were obtained and analyzed. Important mutations that may be precursors to host changes, such as premature stop codons of PPV1 and frameshift mutations of PPV4, were observed in these sequences. A 27a-like strain of PPV1, known to show a lack of cross- neutralization against existing commercial vaccine strains, was identified by phylogenetic analysis. Given the active genetic evolution, the additional precursors to host changes and emerging new genotypes of PPVs need to be monitored through continuous sampling and genetic analysis.