The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of barley and barley bran contaminated with Fusarium spp on growth performance and feed efficiency of fattening and growing pigs. In experiment 1, total 48 fattening Landrace pigs were used in a fattening trial for 71 days. Pigs weighing around 75 kg were allocated into different substitution groups containing 0, 10, 20 and 30% of barley contaminated Fusarium spp. In experiment 2, total 16 growing Landrace pigs were used in a growing trial for 45 days. Pigs weighing around 29.4 kg were allocated into different substitution groups containing 0, 5, 10 and 20% of barley bran contaminated Fusarium spp. Mycotoxin concentrations of barley and barley bran contaminated with 30% Fusarium spp were 0.452 and 1.049 ppm for deoxynivalenol, 8.125 and 17.646 ppm for nivalenol and 0.023 and 0.029 ppm for zearalenone, respectively. In experiment 1, no differences were found in weight gain and feed intake between control group (0%) and 10 or 20% substitution groups, but in 30% substitution group, weight gain and feed intake were significantly lower (p less than 0.05) than those in control group. After slaughtering, the extended haemorrhage of the fundus region in stomach was observed in 20 or 30% substitution groups. In experiment 2, weight gain and feed intake were not significantly different among treatment groups. After slaughtering of experimental pigs, the extended haemorrhage of the fundus region in stomach was observed in pigs fed diet with 20% substitution group. These results suggest that the feeding of diet with contaminated highly levels of Fusarium spp was negative effect on growth and feed efficiency in growing and fattening pig.

Dirofilaria (D.) immitis is an important canine parasitic nematode in dogs. D. immitis parasitizes the right ventricle and pulmonary artery of dogs. An ivermectin and pyrantel pamoate compound (IPPC) was administered to dogs naturally infected with this parasite. IPPC is composed of 68.0, 136.0 and 272.0 ㎍ of ivermectin and 57.0, 114.0 and 227.0 mg pyrantel pamoate for small, middle, and large animals. Ivermectin has activity against nematodes and ectoparasites in dogs. Pyrantel pamoate is also effective against nematodes in dogs. Our results showed that this drug combination has good efficacy in D. immitis infected dogs.

In this study, we investigate the status of calcium (Ca) homeostasis at parturition in three dairy farms (Ⅰ, Ⅱ, and Ⅲ), Heilongjiang, China. Twenty multiparous Holstein cows from each farm were randomly assigned to this experiment. The dietary cation-anion difference (DCAD) was 91 mEq/kg of DM for farm Ⅰ, 152 mEq/kg of DM for farm Ⅱ, and 85 mEq/kg of DM for farm Ⅲ. Incidence of hypocalcemia was above 75% and urine pH was above 7.25 at calving in each farm. Compared to other farms, cows in farm Ⅱ that fed the greatest positive DCAD had the lowest concentration of serum Ca, the highest concentration of serum PTH, and the greatest urine pH at calving (p less than 0.05). However, there was not significant difference in serum 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D and hydroxyproline concentration of the cows among three farms. This is the first study to confirm that hypocalcemia is very prevalent at calving in Chinese dairy farms, and the high positive DCAD is a major risk factor that results in hypocalcemia at calving, which may reduce ability of the cow to maintain Ca homeostasis.

This study evaluated the epizootiological characteristics of equine coital exanthema (ECE) in South Korea. A PCR test was used to determine the equine herpesvirus 3 (EHV-3) release period, excretion by suckling foals, morbidity rate, effect on fertility, and onset of breeding partner after treatment. The morbidity rate of ECE based on clinical symptoms was 8.3% (2/24) for stallions and 10.8% (45/416) for mares, and 29 of 45 (64.4%) animals were positive on the PCR test. Ten (22%) broodmares had symptoms before breeding, while 26 (58%) had symptoms after breeding. Nine (20%) mares had uncertain coverage periods and occurrence times. Suckling foals had no clinical findings and EHV-3 was not detected in their nostrils, although it was detected on teasers. No lesions were observed in the clitoral fossa on broodmares, although EHV-3 was detected by PCR. The period of EHV-3 emission was 22~23, 18~19, 6, and 58 days in stallions, broodmares, teasers, and mares with a mixed E. coli-like infection, respectively. ECE had no negative effects on the breeding capability of stallions and no symptoms were observed in broodmares after recovering from ECE.

The analytical method of trace toxic metals in livestock products was confirmed and validated through certified reference material (CRM) and the international proficiency tests. There are some difficulties to determine low levels of toxic metals in livestock products because of interferences due to the matrix. The recoveries of CRM (NIST 1577c) ranged from 73.9 to 119% for lead and from 86.4 to 111% for cadmium in bovine liver. The international proficiency tests were carried out with the milk powder and cocoa powder samples including metals provided by Food Analysis Performance Assessment Scheme (FAPAS∨®, UK). The test samples were prepared by microwave digestion using solution of HNO₃: H₂O₂ : H₂O (v/v/v = 5 : 2 : 4) and analyzed by ICP/MS. The analytical result of cadmium in milk powder was 121 ㎍/kg with .0.3 of the z-score compared to the assigned value of 131 ㎍/kg by FAPAS∨®. The analytical results of lead and cadmium in cocoa powder were 29.2 ㎍/kg and 97.6 ㎍/kg, respectively, which satisfied the assigned values of 34.2 ㎍/kg for lead and 126 ㎍/kg for cadmium by FAPAS∨®. It is verified that the analytical method is accurate and reliable to determine trace lead and cadmium in livestock products by microwave digestion and ICP/MS.

In this study, a medicinal herbal plant, Meliae fructus, was examined and screened for anti-Helicobacter (H.) pylori activity. Seventy percent ethanol was used for herbal extraction. For anti-H. pylori activity screening, inhibitory zone tests as an in vitro assay and in vivo study using a Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) model were performed. Also, the safety of herbal compounds was evaluated by animal study. As a result of inhibitory zone test, Meliae fructus extract demonstrated strong anti-H. pylori activities. Also, as results of in vivo animal studies, Meliae fructus demonstrated strong therapeutic effects against H. pylori infection according to the criteria of histological examination and rapid urease test. As results of the safety study, after 28 days treatment of the Meliae fructus extract, the animals were not detected any grossly and histological changes. These results demonstrate that it can be successfully cured against H. pylori infection and protected from H. pylori-induced pathology with Meliae fructus. It could be a promising native herbal treatment for patients with gastric complaints including gastric ulcer caused by H. pylori.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of cancer death in western countries or in the developed countries. Zinc intake has been associated with decreased risk of CRC. We investigated the effect of zinc on the formation of colonic aberrant crypt foci (ACF) induced by azoxymethane followed by dextran sodium sulfate in mice. Five-week old ICR mice were fed with the different zinc levels (0.01, 0.1, 1 ppm) for 12 weeks. The numbers of ACF were measured in the colonic mucosa. The ACF number of HZn group was significantly low compared with LZn group or MZn group. Cytosolic superoxide dismutase activity was the highest in HZn group, while thiobarbituric acid reactive substance level for lipid peroxidation was the highest in LZn group. There was no difference in number of PCNA-positive proliferative cells among the groups. TUNEL-positive apoptotic cells were increased in HZn group compared with LZn group. The HZn group exhibited a decrease of β-catenin immunostaining areas compared with the LZn or MZn group. These findings indicate that dietary zinc might exert a protecting effect against colon carcinogenesis by inhibiting the development of ACF in the mice.

Rabbit hemorrhagic disease is a highly acute and fatal viral disease caused by rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV). Since first outbreak in Korea 1987, RHDV has been continually affected in the country, but the pattern of outbreak seem to be changed. In this study, to understand the pathogenesis of the new RHDVa serotype, we therefore carried out to inoculate RHDVa to rabbits, and to examine the sequential histopathologic changes and viral distribution. Macroscopically, various sized dark red or white spots or appearance were observed in the liver, lung, kidney uterus and ureter. In euhanized rabbits, significant pathologic findings such as infiltration of heterophils and mononuclear cells were observed at 24 hours after inoculation (HAI), and these were sequentially extended periportal to centrilobular area. However, in dead rabbits, severe hepatic degeneration and/or necrosis with relatively weak inflammatory responses were observed. RHDV antigens began to detect in liver, spleen, and lung from 12 HAI by PCR. Immunohistochemically, RHDV positive cells were seen in only liver from 24 HAI, and the degree of immunogen reactivity was stronger in dead rabbits than in euthanized ones. In conclusion, RHDVa caused the subacute or chronic infection accompanying low mortality and moderate to severe inflammatory reaction in rabbits, suggesting the possibility that RHD could become endemic.

Antimicrobial resistance is one of the most concerns in pig industry. Escherichia (E.) coli have been used for the indicator to monitor the antimicrobial resistance. In this study, 321 E. coli from diarrheic and non-diarrheic piglets were tested for antimicrobial resistance and frequency of Bla∧TEM. In non-diarrheic piglets, they were resistant to oxytetracycline (93%), streptomycin (92%) and sulfadiazine (90%) but susceptible to ceftiofur (99%), colistin (97%), and enrofloxacin (82%). The isolates from diarrheic piglets were resistant to enrofloxacin (72.9%), ceftiofur (17.6%), and colistin (11.3%), whereas the resistance was 1%, 18% and 3% in case of non-diarrheic piglets, respectively. The resistance for amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (54.1%) and ceftiofur (22%) was high in isolates from post-weaning piglets. The resistance for colistin was 15.2% in nursery piglets. Seventy-three percent of isolates from diarrheic piglets showed high multidrug resistance profile (more than 13 antimicrobials) compared to those from non-diarrheic pigs in which 71% of isolates showed moderate multidrug resistance profile (7 to 12 antimicrobials). The frequency of Bla∧TEM in E. coli from non-diarrheic and diarrheic piglets was 57% and 69%, respectively. The results might provide the basic knowledge to establish the strategies for treatment and reduce antibiotic resistance of E. coli in piglets.

Calving records of Holstein dairy cows from 2005 to 2010 comprising Goyang and Paju cities herd with 2,362 calving events representing 240 twin births were used to evaluate the effect of abomasal displacement and retained placenta after single or twin births on fertility. In retained placenta cows, the period of twin pregnancy (mean 270.5 days) was shorter than that of single pregnancy (mean 274.8 days), however first artificial insemination period (twin: mean 107.4 days, single: mean 92.0 days), non-pregnant period (twin: 154.8 days, single: 132.2 days), and number of insemination (twin: mean 2.00 times, single: mean 1.87 times) of twin pregnancy were increased as compared with single pregnancy. In abomasal displacement cows, first artificial insemination period (twin: mean 122.9 days, single: mean 106.0 days), non-pregnant period (twin: 172.4 days, single: 152.0 days), and number of insemination (twin: mean 2.16 times, single: mean 1.89 times) of twin pregnancy were increased as compared with single pregnancy. The prevalence of complication such as retained placenta, abomasal displacement with single or twin births increased first artificial insemination period, non-pregnant period, and number of insemination period.