In March 2003, classical swine fever (CSF) infection was reported in a piggery located at Iksan city, Jeollabuk-do in Korea. Subsequently, a total of 72 infected farms were confirmed between March and December, 2003. Based on epidemiological investigation of the earlier confirmed infected farms, the source of infection was shown to be from a breeding farm. Targeted surveillance of 82 piggeries that had acquired pigs from this breeding farm showed 44 piggeries were infected with CSF virus.

This paper describes the epidemiological characteristics of bovine brucellosis in Korea during January 2000~September 2004, which encompasses the period when the incidence of bovine brucellosis increased abruptly. Data from the National Animal Infectious Disease Data Management System were used for this study. A range of epidemiological measures was calculated including annual herd and animal incidence. During the study period, there were 1,183 outbreaks on 638 farms. In beef cattle, annual herd incidence increased from 0.2 (2000) to 11.5 (2004, to September) outbreaks per 10,000 and annual animal incidence varied between 3.4 (2000) and 105.8 (2004, to September) per 100,000, respectively. On 401 (62.9%) infected farms during this period, infection was eradicated without recurrence. Recurrence of infection was significantly higher on farms where abortion was reported (53.3%), compared to farms where it was not (30.0%). On beef cattle farms, infection was introduced most frequently through purchased cattle (46.2%). Based on the results of this study, the establishment and spread of brucellosis in the Korean beef cattle population were mainly due to incomplete or inappropriate treatment of aborted materials and the movement of infected cattle.

To identify risk factors of canine distemper, which is one of the most important disease of dogs in Korea, a case-control study was performed with 2,507 cases and 4,121 controls from 630 veterinary clinics throughout Korea. In multivariate logistic regression models, the sampling period (Mars and April) and the age of the dogs (7-12 months old) were associated with an increased risk of canine distemper. Sex, body size and residential region showed no significant relationship.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is the most economically important viral infectious disease in pig populations worldwide. This study was conducted to better understand the epidemic and dynamics of PRRS virus (PRRSV) on each farm and to evaluate the risk of PRRSV infection in Korea. Interviews with pig farmers were carried out to obtain PRRS vaccination programmes in 60 pig farms throughout Korea. Blood samples were also collected from the 59 pig farms to investigate outbreak patterns of each farm. Vaccination against PRRS was performed in 16.7% farms for breeding pigs and 8.3% of farm for nursery pigs. According to the seroepidemiological analysis, 56 (94.9%) out of 59 farms were considered to be affected by PRRSV infection. The results revealed that 68.9% of sows tested were seroconverted and interestingly, gilt herds had the highest seropositive rate (73%), suggesting that gilts may play a key role in PRRSV transmission in sow herds. Among the PRRS-affected piglet herds, 33 (55.9%), 14 (23.7%) and 6 (10.2%) farms were initially infected with PRRSV during the weaning, suckling and nursery period, respectively. It seems likely, therefore, that PRRSV infection predominantly occurs around the weaning period in piglet herds. Based on antibody seroprevalence levels in both sow and piglet groups, we were able to classify patterns of PRRSV infection per farm unit into 4 categories; category 1 (stable sow groups and non-infected piglet groups), category 2 (unstable sow groups and non-infected piglet groups), category 3 (stable sow groups and infected piglet groups), and category 4 (unstable sow groups and infected piglet groups). Our data suggested that 43 (72.9%) farms were analysed to belong to category 4, which is considered to be at high-risk for PRRS outbreak. Taken together, our information from this study will provide insight into the establishment of an effective control strategy for PRRS on the field.

This paper described the epidemiological characteristics of 2002 outbreak of classical swine fever (CSF) in Korea. A total of thirteen CSF-infected farms could be classified into two clusters according to the location and time of outbreak. Two farms located in the same county of Gangwon province and 11 farms located in several different districts of Incheon metropolitan/Gyeonggi province were identified as CSF-infected from April 16 to 30 and from October 7 to December 21 in December 21 in 2002, respectively.

Fifteen dogs with superficial pyoderma were investigated clinically. Dermatological signs were mainly consisted of papule (66.6%), pustule (86.6%), epidermal collrarette and patchy (40%), and hyperpigmentation (53.3%). Distribution of skin lesion were consisted of back (35.5%), abdomen (29.0%), axillary (6.4%), leg (3.2%), neck (3.6%) and foot (16.1%), respectively. In pustular cytology PMN cells and cocci were examined. Cephalexin was very effective antibiotics on superficial pyoderma at administration of 30mg/kg bid P.O.for 3 weeks. Hyperadrenocorticism and atopy were diagnosed as a primary cause on pyoderma in 2 dogs.

In order to evaluate the present epidemiological situation of Trichinella infection in wild animals in Hokkaido, Japan, red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides), brown bears (Ursus arctos), martens (Martes melampus), rodents and insectivores captured in Hokkaido were examined for muscle larvae by the artificial digestion method from 2000 to 2006. Foxes (44/319, 13.8%), raccoon dogs(6/77, 7.8%) and brown bears (4/126, 3.2%) were found to be infected with Trichinella larvae and all other animal species evaluated were negative. Multiplex PCR and DNA sequencing revealed that larvae from a fox captured in Otofuke, in south-eastern Hokkaido, were T. nativa, and larvae from 27 animals including 21 foxes, 2 raccoon dogs and 4 brown bears captured in western Hokkaido were Trichinella T9.

A total of 128 faecal samples of dogs suspected for canine parvovirus infection were examined by Haemagglutination (HA) and Haemagglutination inhibition (HI) tests. The prevalence of canine parvovirus infection was 45.30% (58/128) and the age wise maximum (70.20%) prevalence was found in dogs upto 6 month. The breed wise maximum (56.90%) prevalence was in Non-descript dogs and sex wise prevalence revealed no significant difference in male (45.9%) and female (43.3%).

The donkey population has remained unchanged in the last two decades despite a decrease in the overall population of equids, emphasizing the usefulness of the donkey as a draught and pack animal. Piroplasmosis in donkeys, caused by Theileria equi and Babesia caballi, has been recognized as a serious problem of major economic importance as the affected animals manifest decreased working capacity, loss of appetite, etc. In tropical countries, T. equi infections are more wide-spread and pathogenic than those caused by B. caballi. Donkeys usually remain asymptomatic carriers with positive antibody titres throughout life. Transmission of infection occurs from animal to animal through ticks such as Hyalomma spp. Rhipicephalus spp. and Dermacentor spp. The clinical form of the disease is diagnosed by peripheral blood smear examination, but in carrier donkeys it is very difficult to demonstrate the parasite in stained blood smears as the parasitaemia is extremely low. For diagnosis of such low grade infection or carrier animals, serological tests and DNA-based molecular diagnostic techniques, which are discussed in the present review, have become mandatory. Currently, there is no suitable pharmacotherapy available to clear the T. equi infection from affected donkeys, though some new drugs and drug combinations used against this disease condition have been discussed. In the present situation, there is an urgent need for international cooperation and coordination for development of sensitive molecular diagnostic tools and effective pharmacotherapies for curtailment of the disease condition. Hence, it is imperative to develop and exchange reagents and technology developed through human resource sharing in the interest of sustainability of donkey husbandry.