The obligatory intracellular protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii is a major world wide cause of infectious ovine abortion. In some different diagnostic techniques that are being used to detect this pathogen in ovine fetuses, immunohistochemistry (IHC) is a very sensitive and expensive one. Histopathology is not truly a specific and sensitive test for Toxoplasma infection but it can be helpful to choose some suspected tissues for IHC. In this study 9.5% of 200 samples (aborted ovine fetuses internal organs such as brain, liver, heart, lung, kidney, spleen) (4.6~14.4% with 95% CI) were positive in IHC with a very good logical agreement among different diagnostic techniques (κ = 0.73, 0.8) and with no significant difference among different fetal age groups (p 0.05).

To develop a live vaccine candidate using an attenuated strain of Salmonella Typhimurium (ST), biochemical properties, plasmid profile, PFGE patterns and pathogenic analysis of the ST isolate were carried out after sequential passage of the ST isolate in porcine neutrophils. By the passage, the ability of the neutrophil-adapted isolate to utilize d-xylose was lost, while the ability of the strain to ferment trehalose was delayed after 2 or more days of the culture. Also, changes including deletion of the gene fragments were observed in PFGE analysis of the neutrophil-adapted isolates. Two plasmids, 105kb and 50kb, were cured in the strain passaged over 15 times in porcine neutrophils. The 50% of lethal dose (LD50) of the parent strain was changed from 1 × 105 LD50 to 6 × 106 LD50 by the passage in intraperitoneal injection of the strains into mice. These results suggested that bacterial genotypic and phenotypic responses might be globally altered depending on the inside environment of neutrophils.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have ability to differentiate into multi-lineage cells, which confer a great promise for regenerative medicine to the cells. The aim of this study was to establish a method for isolation and characterization of adipose tissue-derived MSC (pAD-MSC) and bone marrow-derived MSC (pBM-MSC) in pigs. Isolated cells from all tissues were positive for CD29, CD44, CD90 and CD105, but negative for hematopoietic stem cell associated markers, CD45. In addition, the cells expressed the transcription factors, such as Oct4, Sox2, and Nanog by RT-PCR. pAD-MSC and pBM-MSC at early passage successfully differentiated into chondrocytes, osteocytes and adipocytes. Collectively, pig AD-MSC and BM-MSC with multipotency were optimized in our study.

Commercial bivalent killed Salmonella vaccine Salenvac-T has been used in several countries in order to prevent salmonellosis with Salmonella enterica serovars Enteritidis (SE) and Typhimurium (ST) in poultry. However, this vaccine has not been used in poultry farms in South Korea. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of Salenvac- T vaccine to protect against the challenge of virulent SE and ST, and the effect of the vaccine on egg production and mortality in layer hens. The colonization of liver, spleen and cecum with challenged SE and ST was reduced in vaccinated chickens compared with that of unvaccinated control group. The twice vaccination with Salenvac-T induced elevated antibody responses against both SE and ST detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The higher average hen-day production was observed in the vaccinated layer hens than in the unvaccinated layer hens without significance. The average mortality was lower in the vaccinated layer hens during the experiment period. The antibody responses to both SE and ST were persistently detected in the vaccinated layers. In summary, vaccination with Salenvac-T reduces colonization of internal organs and induces good antibody responses, thereby results in higher performance and lower egg contamination with SE and ST in layer hens.

The vomeronasal organ (VNO) plays an important role in reproduction and social activities in ruminants including goats. A morphological study on the structure of VNO and its epithelial cells was carried out in Korean black goats. Grossly, the VNO of Korean goats opens into mouth through incisive ducts. Microscopically, the epithelium of VNO consisted of medial sensory epithelium and lateral non-sensory epithelium. Several blood vessels and nerve bundles were observed in the lamina propria encased by vomeronasal cartilage. Immunohistochemical staining showed that protein gene product (PGP) 9.5 was immunostained in the receptor cells of the sensory epithelium and in some cells of the non-sensory epithelium. Galectin-3 was mainly observed in the supporting cells of sensory and non-sensory epithelium. Lectins including wheat germ agglutinin, Ulex europaeus agglutinin, Bandeiraea simplicifolia lectin Isolectin B4, Dolichos biflorus agglutinin and soybean agglutinin used in this study were bound in VNO sensory, non-sensory epithelia as well as in the lamina propria with varying intensity. Collectively, this is a first descriptive morphological study of VNO of Korean black goat with special reference to lectin histochemistry.

A ten-year-old dog was presented with pancreatitis and increased hepatic enzymes. On necropsy a large firm mass was observed in the liver extending to the gall bladder. Smaller masses with similar texture were found in multiple organs including lung, stomach, pancreas, lymph nodes, omentum, and mesentery. Neoplastic cells were spindle shaped with prominent osteoid production and occasional trabeculae of woven bone. Tumor cell emboli were observed in the blood vessels and lymphatics of the omentum and stomach. Hepatic osteosarcoma with systemic metastasis is very rare and may serve to broaden the diagnostic spectrum of hepatic and pancreatic diseases in dogs.

The aim of this study was to produce a simple and inexpensive technique for estimating the obturator foramen area (OFA) from young calves based on the hypothesis that OFA can be extrapolated from simple linear measurements. Three linear measurements - dorsoventral height, craneocaudal width and total perimeter of obturator foramen - were obtained from 55 bovine hemicoxae. Different algorithms for determining OFA were then produced with a regression analysis (curve fitting) and statistical analysis software. The most simple equation was OFA (mm2) = [3,150.538 + (36.111*CW)] − [147,856.033/DH] (where CW = craneocaudal width and DH = dorsoventral height, both in mm), representing a good nonlinear model with a standard deviation of error for the estimate of 232.44 and a coefficient of multiple determination of 0.846. This formula may be helpful as a repeatable and easily performed estimation of the obturator foramen area in young bovines. The area of the obturator foramen magnum can thus be estimated using this regression formula.

Cancers are mainly sustained by a small pool of neoplastic cells, known as cancer stem cells or tumorinitiating cells. These cells possess the ability to self-renew and proliferate, and are thus able to form the tumor. In the present study cells that correspond to cancer stem cells in mammary and liver cancers in animals were identified by the expression of CD133, CD44, CK7, and OCT4 using immunochemistry. As a result, we found with CD133+ and CD44+ cancer stem cell-like phenotypes in mouse and canine hepatocellular carcinoma and canine mammary gland tumors. However, CK7+ and OCT4+ cells were not identified in animal mammary and liver cancer. CD133+ and CD44+ cells are wellknown stem cell lines and play key roles in development and metastasis in human cancer. These findings suggest that cancer stem cells are involved in animal tumorigenesis and may provide insight into mechanisms in cancer development as well as cancer diagnostics.

Canine Subcorneal pustular dermatosis (CSPD) represents a sterile, superficial, pustular skin disease of unknown cause but may be a variant of pemphigus foliaceus. A 7-year-old, intact female, mixed dog presented with 3-month history of pruritic multiple pustules and crusts. Direct smears from intact pustules revealed numerous nondegenerate neutrophils, some acantholytic cells, and bacterial culture was negative. Histologic examination of lesional skin showed subcorneal pustules filled with neutrophils and acantholytic cells. The direct immunofluorescence tests stained with IgG, IgA, IgM, C3 were negative. Oral administration of dapsone (1 mg/kg/q8h) was initiated and it was reduced to 1 mg/kg/q12h with good control of the lesions.

A 5-year-old, castrated male, Maltese was presented with history of acute flaccid paralysis. The dog was presented with sudden loss of muscle tone and involuntary movements of hind limbs. Neurologic examination revealed reduced postural reaction in the bilateral hind limbs. MRI of brain showed moderate hydrocephalus, but other examination results were normal. Based on the characteristic episodes and examination results, canine cataplexy was suspected. Treatment was initiated with clomipramine as cataplexy control. Clinical signs resolved with 3-month medication. This case demonstrates therapeutic diagnosis of cataplexy. To the author’s knowledge, this is the first report of cataplexy treating with clomipramine.