The molecular genetic characterization of Aujeszky's disease virus (ADV) Yangsan strain (ADV-YS), a Korean isolate, was investigated by analyzing the electrophoresis patterns and the physical maps of the viral DNA digested with various endonucleases. To establish DNA library for ADV-YS, twelve major BamHI restricted segments were cloned. Each location of the segments in the ADV genome was determined by sequence comparison with the sequences reported in Genbank and those sequences of the both termini of the segments. Physical maps were constructed based on the electrophoresis patterns of the digested viral DNA by restriction endonuclease and the results of Southern blot analyses with various DIG labeled probes originated from those of enzyme restricted segments of virulent (Shope) and avirulent (Bartha) strain. Comparing ADV-YS with a standard strainof Kaplan in the maps of restriction enzymes, following major respects were identified: (ⅰ) disappearance of BamHI restriction site between the first and second BamHI segments, (ⅱ) creation of the BamHI restriction site in the fifth segment, and (ⅲ) generation of the BglⅡ site in the unique short (Us) regions. The genome of ADV-YS also contains a type 2 herpesvirus DNA molecule (in which the Us region only inverts itself relative to the unique longregion) like all other ADV strains except Norden strain(type3), analyzed up to date. The size of the ADV genome estimated from the sizes of the restriction enzyme fragments, was approximately 145.3kb (BamHI) or 145.3kb (BglⅡ) 145.4kb (BglⅡ). BamHI enzyme cleavage pattern were compared among the five Korean ADV isolates: Yangsan, Yongin, Dangjin, Jincheon and Iksan strains. Difference either in the number or in the size of the DNA fragments, suspected regions of termini of IR and TR, could be detected among all five strains.

Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) is an immune-mediated skin disease which requires histopathology and immunohistopathology in both dogs and humans. A 10-month-old, intact female Alaskan Malamute presented for depigmentation, swelling, alopecia, erythema, and crusting on the bridge of the nose and the nasal planum. Cytological examination of nasal lesions revealed numerous cocci and neutrophils. Histopathological features included of infiltration of mononuclear cells at the dermoepidermal junction. Direct immunofluorescence tests and immunohistochemistry exhibited positive IgG, IgM, IgA, CD3, CD18, and CD 79a on the epidermal basement membranes and around adnexal glands. This case indicates both T cells and B cells are related to mechanism of canine DLE. This case report describes advanced diagnostic tests and clinical outcome with immume suppressive therapy in a rare juvenile canine DLE case.

This study examined the therapeutic effects of aromatherapy for the treatment of otitis externa in dogs. Eleven dogs with otitis externa were examined. The control group (5 dogs) was treated with susceptible antibiotics, and the experimental group (6 dogs) was treated with aroma-oil applied topically to the ear canal. The aroma-oil contained 10 ml sweet almond oil, 0.3 ml bergamot oil, 0.2 ml lavender oil, 0.1 ml tea tree oil and 0.1 ml roman chamomile oil. The blended aroma-oil (0.1 ml) was applied to the ear canal twice daily for 2 weeks. The authors examined the changes in the clinical signs, bacterial count in discharges, total WBC count and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratios in the two groups. The bacterial cell counts in the experimental group were significantly lower at one (p less than 0.01) and two weeks (p less than 0.05) after treatment than the control group. These results suggest that aromatherapy is an effective and practical treatment for otitis externa in dogs.

The concept about zoo is changing from the animal exhibition which simply contained the animals to the ecological zoo which has the function of preserving the animal species. At the central point of maintaining such role, the basic principle called the animal welfare lies obviously. Korea has applied the animal welfare principles such as carrying out the enrichment in the zoos since 2003, but there has not been any institutional device to evaluate and examine the application of the animal welfare so far. This study aims to confirm the level of animal welfare in Korea and suggest a developmental direction. For the purpose of the study, 12 zoos in Korea were evaluated according to 68 evaluating categories. 'Five Principles of Animal Welfare' in the Secretary of State's Standards of Modern Zoo Practice were selected and carried out as the evaluation categories, and the result, from the highest to lowest score given, was 'provision of food and water', 'provision of protection from fear and distress', 'provision of health care', 'provision of an opportunity to express most normal behaviours', and 'provision of a suitable enrichment' with the overall score of the entire Korean zoos being 2.86 (± 0.56). It was also confirmed that in order to improve the animal welfare of the Korean zoos, the animal management system must be standardized and organized. The evaluation and feedback, the active practice of animal welfare and its legislative support should be provided to establish an effective institutional device as well.

The objective of this study was to analyze data from the planned national serological monitoring program for Aujeszky's disease (AD) using a simulation model to evaluate probable outcomes expected in the sample derived from the simulated herds at predefined within-herd prevalence and herd prevalence. Additionally, prevalence at animal- and herd-level estimated by the stochastic simulation model based on the distributions of the proportion of infected herds and test-positive animals was compared with those of data from a national serological survey in 2006, in which 106,762 fattening pigs from 5,325 herds were tested for AD using a commercial ELISA kit. A fixed value of 95% was used for test sensitivity, and the specificity was modeled with a minimum, most likely and maximum of 95, 97 and 99%, respectively. The within-herd prevalence and herd prevalence was modeled using Pert and Triang distributions, respectively with a minimum, most likely and maximum point values. In all calulations, population size of 1,000 was used due to lack of representative information. The mean number of infected herds and true test-positives was estimated to be 27 herds (median=25; 95% percentile 44) and 214 pigs (median=196; 95% percentile 423), respectively. When testing 20 pigs (mean of 2006 survey) in each herd, there was a 3.3% probability that the potential for false-positive reactions due to less than 100% specificity of the ELISA test would be detected. It was found that the model showed prevalence of 0.21% (99% percentile 0.50%) and 0.5% (99% percentile 0.99%) at animal- and herd-level, respectively. These rates were much similar to data from the 2006 survey (0.62% versus 0.83%). The overall mean herd-level sensitivity of the 2006 survey for fattening pigs was 99.9%, with only a 0.2% probability of failing to detect at least one infected herd.

This study examined the efficacy of apitoxin for the treatment of otitis externa in dogs. Ten dogs with otitis externa were allocated randomly to two groups. The control group was treated with the susceptible antibiotics and the experimental group was injected with apitoxin into the tragus subcutaneously. There were no significant differences in the clinical scores, blood WBC counts and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratios between the control and experimental groups. By 2 weeks, the bacterial cell counts were significantly lower in the experimental group than the control (p less than 0.05). No adverse reactions were observed in any of the dogs during the study. This suggests that a topical injection of apitoxin is an effective treatment for otitis externa in dogs.

In the present study, ten herbal extracts, Citirus unchiu Markovich, root and stem of Berberis koreana, Morus alba, Dendrobium moniliforme, Aster gramineus, A. scabar, Alisma canaliculatum, Fallopia japonica and Origamum (O.) vulgare were determined to examine anti-mycoplasmal activity. Among them, O. vulgare extract (OVE) showed strong anti-mycoplasmal activity and was analyzed by gas-chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). As the results, OVE was consisted of carvacrol (68.78%), o-cymene (9.80%), terpinene (7.61%) and thymol (4.03%) as main ingredients. To investigate inflammatory activity by intact pathogenic Mycoplasma hyoneumoniae (M. hyo) at 30 ㎍/mL, we examined induced transcription of proinflammatory cytokines such as cyclooxygenase-2, tumor necrosis factor-a, interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6 and inducible nitric oxide synthase in RAW 264.7 cells. With the above results, we further investigated whether OVE could reduce inflammation induced by M. hyo at minimal inhibitory concentration. The result showed that 32 ㎍/mL of OVE inhibited nitric oxide production by 60%. This study also evaluated the combination of OVE with antibacterials against M. hyo for application. Based on these results, it could be concluded that M. hyo induces inflammation in RAW 264.7 cells and OVE protects this inflammation, indicating that OVE may be useful for industrial animals.

A 6-year-old, neutered male, Schnauzer was presented with a one year history of weight loss and exercise intolerance. Physical examination revealed abdominal distention and ecchymosis on the abdominal skin. CBC and serum chemistry profiles revealed anemia and increased serum liver enzymes. Postmortem examination revealed primary hepatic hemagiosarcoma. The tumor had extended to the mesentery and diaphragm, but distant metastasis was not found. This case report describes primary hepatic hemangiosarcoma which is very rare in a dog.

This research aimed to investigate the time-course effect of epichlorohydrin (ECH) on epididymal histopathology in Sprague-Dawley rats. Twenty-four male rats were randomly assigned to four groups with 6 rats in each group and were administered a single oral dose of ECH (70 mg/kg) or its vehicle. Six animals each were sacrificed on days 0 (control), 1, 2, and 7 after treatment. During the study period, clinical signs, body weights, reproductive organ weights, testicular spermatid count, epididymal sperm count, motility and morphology, and histopathology were examined. No treatment-related effects on body weights and reproductive organ weights were noted at any time point. On the contrary, sperm motility decreased slightly on days 1 and 2 after treatment and then decreased significantly on day 7 after treatment. The first signs of histological changes were the appearance of cell debris in the ducts and vacuolization of the epithelial cells observed in the proximal caput epididymis on day 1 after treatment. The incidences and grades of the histological changes including cell debris in the ducts, epithelial vacuolization, oligospermia, and epithelial disruption increased on day 2 and then decreased slightly on day 7 after treatment. These results show that a single oral dose of 70 mg/kg ECH to male rats results in cell debris in the ducts and vacuolization of the epithelial cells in the proximal caput epididymis, followed by reversible oligospermia, epithelial disruption, and decreased sperm motility.

This study was performed to investigate the possibility of superfecundation by surgical intrauterine artificial insemination in dogs of confirmed genetic pedigree. Artificial insemination was performed on 3 days after ovulation with 1.3×10∨8 spermatozoa. Five puppies were delivered on 60 days after insemination. The ratio of the number of newborns to the number of corpora lutea was 83.3% (5/6). Parentage analysis with 10 canine-specific microstatellite markers demonstrated that one puppy was genetically relative to the sire-A family and four puppies were genetically relative to the sire-B. The present study demonstrated that two kinds of puppies with different genetic pedigree can be produced by surgical uterine insemination of semen of individual dog into each uterine horn of a bitch.