Although power analysis is of important tool research, investigators in veterinary medicine are unaware of the concepts of the statistical power. Two types of error occur in classical hypothesis testing and, those errors should be avoided, if possible. Since power is highly dependent on the sample size, whenever declaring non-statistically significant result they should consider the potential for committing a Type Ⅱ error in their studies, which refers to the probability of falsely stating that two treatments are equivalent despite true difference between them. Also, sample size determination is one of the most important tasks facing the researcher when planning a diagnostic study, and provides valuable information on the characteristics of a test performance. This type of analysis forms the basis for proper interpretation of test results. The aim of this article was to re-evaluate some selected studies on diagnostic test reported in the domestic veterinary publications to determine the power and necessary sample size for inequality testing to ensure the desired power. Power calculations were illustrated using real-life examples of comparison of a new test and a reference test for detecting antibodies of various animal diseases. Factors affecting to the power were also discussed.

A neutered male, 8-year-old, Pekingese, weighing 4.3 kg with a history of anorexia, sneezing, nasal discharge, and epistaxis for one month was referred. Soft tissue swelling around the nasal bone and small defects of the hard palate with a tiny round dark red mass were found on physical examination. The laboratory tests represented mild leukocytosis. On skull radiographs, soft tissue swelling and osteolytic change of the incisor bone, nasal bone, and maxilla were found. On computed tomography scan images, there was soft tissue attenuating opacity with calcified spots in the bilateral nasal cavities and frontal sinuses. Loss of nasal turbinate pattern and nasal septum was found. And destruction of the insicor bone, nasal bone, maxilla, hard palate, perpendicular palatine bone, and cribriform plate were identified. Nasal malignant melanoma was confirmed by nasal biopsy.

Hips of the Golden and Labrador retrievers in Korea were evaluated with the University of Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Program (PennHIP) and the severity of joint laxity and degenerative joint disease (DJD) were compared to the PennHIP database. The distraction index (DI) of domestic Golden and Labrador retrievers was significantly higher than the DI of the PennHIP database. In the two breeds, the Prevalence of DJD increased according to the DI. However, the severity of DJD did not show a positive correlation with the DI. Overweight dogs and dogs kept indoors showed more severe DJD and more prevalence of clinical signs. This report is thought to be the first case presentation of a large population of Golden and Labrador retrievers in Korea and the findings are representing the overall level of canine hip dysplasia (CHD) of domestic Retrievers, as the PennHIP method was not available in Korea until 2001. We can respect that the stock of retrievers can have a tighter hip joint through control of CHD using an accurate diagnostic method keyed to a phenotype especially concern for joint laxity using PennHIP method and an organized screening program. The clinical manifestation of dysplastic dog can be reduced through control of bodyweight and the environment with regular monitoring the hips with concern for joint laxity using PennHIP method.

It was previously found that PG102, a water-soluble extract derived from Actinidia arguta, was able to modulate Th1/Th2 pathways and suppress IgE production resulting in dramatic amelioration of atopic dermatitis in NC/Nga mouse and hairless rat models. In order to evaluate the subacute toxicity of PG102, female and male SD rats were daily fed with various doses of PG102 for 4 weeks. Six week old SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups and orally administrated with 100-, 300-, and 1,000-mg/kg of PG102 as well as the vehicle only. At the end of the study, no significant differences in the body and organ weights were observed between control and treated rats of both genders. Hematological and blood chemical analysis showed little differences between the animal groups. Neither gross abnormalities nor histopathological changes were found. PG102 produced little or no subacute toxicity and could be used as a safe nutraceutical for the treatment of individuals with allergic diseases including atopic dermatitis.

Throughout the world, rotavirus infections cause extensive morbidity in human infants and diarrhea in animals such as white scour caused by bovine rotavirus in calves. We isolated three rotavirus strains designated KV0407, KV0418, and KV0426 from 103 fecal samples of diarrheic calves. The genes coding for proteins VP4, VP6, VP7, and NSP4 from strain KV0407 were sequenced and compared with the nucleotide sequences of other known strains of rotavirus. The KV0407 VP4 gene was highly homologous to the OSU (99.4%) and JL94 (99.4%), but not the B223 (62.4%) and K33 (62.4%) VP4 genes. The KV0407 and KV0418 VP7 genes were most similar to the OSU and super-short type VMRI VP7 genes. Based on nucleotide sequence analysis, the KV0407 strain was tentatively assigned to A serogroup (SG I), G5P[7], NSP4 genotype B and the KV0418 and KV0426 strains were assigned to A serogroup (SG I), G6P[5], NSP4 genotype A. The genetic characterization of these bovine rotavirus isolates could be useful for the diagnosis and prevention of diarrhea in calves.

Brucellosis is one of the most important zoonosis in worldwide. As one of the control measures, attempts have been made to develop new diagnostic methods using filed isolates as a national policy in many countries. Currently, bovine brucellosis in Korea have been received attention in both public health and economical aspects due to sudden increase of outbreak. Based on the situation, we compared standard strain (B. abortus 1119-3) with field isolates to reveal the differences among them. Biological and biochemical charateristics, antibiotic resistance profiles, outer membrane proteins (OMPs) and lipopolysaccharide analysis of the strains were included in this study. For the diagnostic purpose, an attempt was made to find out a novel antigen from the Korean isolates by serological analysis. There were differences about 55 kDa, 36-38 kDa and 20 kDa in analysis of OMPs by SDS-PAGE and Western blot with positive sera (greater-than or equal to 1:400 in SAT titer). Also, a serological diagnostic method, ELISA was conducted using OMPs of the strains as novel antigen. Relationships between O.D. and SAT titer were analyzed using field sera showing different SAT titer. High correlation coefficient was observed between SAT titer and ELISA. Results from this study suggested that a new diagnsotic method should be developed using their own field isolates in each country.

Body weights and blood biochemical values in chickens infected with reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV)-HI, a Korean isolate, were studied. REV-HI causes severe body weight depression in chickens inoculated but not in chicken contact-infected. Body weights of infected chickens in 3, 4, and 5 weeks after infection were 78%, 76% and 65% of those of control respectively. Blood glucose levels in REV-infected chickens were extremely high compared with those in control (226±21 vs. 814±91.3 mg/dl in week 2) during the experiment period. Triglyceride levels in REV-infected chickens were significantly higher in week 2 and 3, whereas in week 4, REV-infected chickens showed significantly lower levels than the control. Blood lipase, amylase and alkaline phosphatase levels of REV-infected chickens in week 2 were significantly higher, whereas cholesterol, magnesium and calcium values in week 4 were significantly lower than the control. Other blood biochemical values such as alkaline aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and γ-glutamyltransferase were nonsignificantly different from the control. These above results suggest that weight depression by REV may be related with increase of blood glucose, which indicated that REV-infected chickens could not use blood glucose as energy source.

Granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis (GME) is a sporadic, idiopathic, non suppurative inflammatory disease of the canine central nervous system. GME appears to have a worldwide distribution and to occur mostly in young to middle-age dogs of small breeds. A 6-year-old female mixed dog with wry neck, ataxia and rolling was submitted to the Cheju National University for diagnosis. Grossly, in the brain, cerebrospinal fluid was mildly increased and dilatation of the subarachnoid blood vessels was observed. Histopathologically, the lesions were characterized by perivascular cuffs of lymphocytes, various numbers of macrophages and plasma cells in the brainstem and cerebral white matter. Numerous granuloma composed of lymphocytes and histiocytes were scattered throughout the brainstem. Two malacic foci characterized by axonal swelling and gitter cell infiltration with hemorrhage were noted in the medulla oblongata and cerebellum. Special stains failed to demonstrate any infectious agents. Immunohistochemically, the infiltrated cells demonstrated strong positive reactions for CD3, a marker for T lymphocytes origin. Based on the clinical signs, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry, this case was diagnosed as GME in a mixed dog.

A high incidence of Anisakiasis has been reported in many countries where people eat frequently raw or undercooked seafood. Anisakis spp. larvae were obtained from the mackerel acquired from a fish market of Cheongju city. They were divided into several groups and placed in culture dishes containing RPMI-1640 (culture media), in the presence or absence of different concentrations of herbal extracts (Meliae ezadarach, Dryopteris crassirhizoma, Quisqualis indica var villosa). The objective of the present study was to investigate the activity of larval migration inhibition in vitro. Meliae ezadarach at the concentrations of 7.5, 15, and 30 mg/ml effectively inhibited the larvae migration in time-dependent manner during experimental period of 0-24 h. Treatment of Meliae ezadarach at the three concentrations completely inhibited the larvae migration in vitro. Dryopteris crassirhizoma at the concentrations of 5, 10, and 20 mg/ml also effectively inhibited the larvae migration in a time-dependent manner. The treatment of Dryopteris crassirhizoma for 12 h completely inhibited the larvae migration. The inhibitory effect of Dryopteris crassirhizoma was stronger than that of Meliae ezadarach. Although Quisqualis indica var villosa also showed the inhibitory effect on larvae migration, its inhibitory efficacy was the weakest among tested herbal extracts. These results indicated that some herbal extracts may be useful in controlling human anisakiasis.

A 17-month-old intact male Cocker Spaniel was presented with primary complaints of severe ascites, exercise intolerance, and diarrhea. Diagnostic studies revealed tricuspid and pulmonic regurgitation on phonocardiogram, right ventricular enlargement on the electrocardiogram, typical right cardiac enlargement signs on the thoracic radiography and tricuspid valve malformation and marked enlargement of the right atrium and right ventricle on the echocardiography and tricuspid and pulmonary regurgitation on the color spectral echocardiography, suggesting tricuspid valve dysplasia and pulmonary hypertension. Using angiography and cardiac catheterization, pulmonary hypertension was ruled out. Further echocardiographic study revealed membranous valvular structures cranial to pulmonary annulus causing pulmonary regurgitation. Based on these findings on the diagnostic investigation, the case was diagnosed as tricuspid valve dysplasia complicated with pulmonic regurgitation. The dog was medically managed with furosemide, enalapril, nitroglycerine transdermal patch and pimobendan after the ascitic fluid removal.