This study was performed to detect Neospora caninum in blood of 61 Korean native cattle and 50 dairy cows in Chungnam province. All of them were healthy and did not show any clinical signs. DNA was isolated from blood samples and a 328 bp fragment was amplified by PCR using primer pair Np21 and Np6. The PCR positive rate was 14.8% in Korean native cattle and 0% in dairy cows. Cows with 15.6% were a little higher than bulls with 12.5% in gender. The detection rate of over 3-year-old Korean native cattle was 28.6% in age. The results demonstrate that N. caninum DNA can be detected in blood by PCR. PCR analysis in blood may be useful to annually screening test for N. caninum infection in clinically healthy cattle.

A four-month-old intact femlae Abyssinian cat was present for routine health evaluation, because her littermate was recently died of ventricular septal defect. Diagnostic imaging studies showed a large caudal paracardiac mass in thoracic radiography and homogenous mass adjacent to heart in the echocardiography. Further echographic study revealed that the mass was liver and the diaphragmatic line was intact. The positive contrast celiogram revealed that no extravasation of the contrast media across the diaphragm and the prolapse of diaphragm into the pleural cavity. Based on our diagnostic imaging studies, the case was diagnosed as diaphragmatic deformity in a cat mimicking a cardiac mass.

A 2-year-old, female, Maltese dog (3.2 kg of body weight) was referred to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, Chungnam National University with vomiting, anorexia and depression. Twelve hours prior to the onset of clinical signs, the dog ingested some grape skins (about 60 g). Physical examination at the time of presentation showed peripheral edema and mucous pallor. Blood and blood chemical analysis revealed anemia and moderate azotemia with elevated blood urea nitrogen (107.2 mg/dl), creatinine (6.3 mg/dl) and hyperphosphatemia (11.3 mg/dl). Echogenicity of renal cortex were observred by ultrasonography. The dog was diagnosed as acute renal failure occurred by grape skin toxicosis. The dog was treated with supportive care such as fluid therapy, diuretics (furosemide) and phosphorus binder (almagate). A normal condition of blood and blood chemical findings and clinical signs was observed at five days after treatment, and prognosis is good to date.

We report the electrocution of Korean native cattle by a fallen electric wire, which caused the death of thirteen animals. The owner of the cattle felt an electric shock on touching the steel pen and found a fallen 220-V wire on the roof of the barn; additionally, the roof was singed. Clinically, the animals developed spasm, difficulty breathing, and excessive salivation. Histopathologically, many visceral organs revealed severe congestion or hemorrhage, which is consistent with previous reports. This study revealed that the proper installation of electric wires on farms is essential to prevent economic loss by electrocution.

A six-year-old, female Jin-do dog was referred for the recurrence of vaginal prolapse. Less than 7 months previously, the dog with the vaginal prolapse had been treated with hormone therapy because ultrasonography had identified a single follicular cyst in the left ovary. Three months after the first visit, the dog came into heat and the vaginal prolapse recurred. Ultrasonography showed multiple follicular cysts in both ovaries and radioimmunoassay detected a plasma estradiol-17β concentration of 13.3 pg/ml. Treatment involved the repositioning of the vaginal prolapsed, ovariohysterectomy and the resection of the protruding tissue. The dog had been completely recovered two months later after the treatment.

The neurotoxicity of C-terminal fragments of amyloid precusor protein (CT) is known to play some roles in Alzheimer's disease progression. In this study, we investigated the effects of the recombinant C-terminal 105 amino acid fragment of amyloid precusor protein (CT105) on cholinergic function using CT105-injected rat. To study the effects of CT105 on septohippocampal pathway, choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) positive neurons were examined in the medial septum and in the diagonal band after an injection of CT105 peptide into the lateral ventricle. Immunohistological analysis revealed that the number of ChAT-immunopositive cells decreased significantly in both medial septum and diagonal band. In addition, CT105 decreased ChAT-immunopositive cells in the hippocampal area, particulary in the dentate gyrus. To study the effect of amyloid beta peptide (Aβ) and CT105 on the cholinergic system, each peptide was injected into the left lateral ventricle, and acetylcholine (ACh) levels were monitored in hippocampus. ACh level in the hippocampal area was reduced to 60% of control level in Aβ-treated group, and the level was reduced to 15% of control level in CT105-treated group, at one week after the injection. ACh level was further reduced to 35% of control in Aβ-treated group, whereas the level was slightly increased to 30% of control in CT105-treated group at 4 weeks after the injection. Taken together, the results in the present study suggested that CT105 impairs the septohippocampal pathway by reducing acetylcholine synthesis and release, which results in damage of learning and memory.

A 7-year-old female Shih Tzu dog with lots of masses in the whole mammary gland was presented to the surgery department of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital in the Cheju National University. After surgical excision. all mammary samples were referred to Pathology Department of Veterinary Medicine. Grossly, masses were measuring up to 6.5 × 4 × 1 cm and on the cut surface of masses in right 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th and left 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th mammary masses were well delineated and firm, sulphur yellow, solid round to oval shape. Microscopically, most neoplastic sweat glands were severely proliferated in dermis and subcutis. Most tubules were lined by round to oval shaped epithelium with eosinophilic cytoplasm, hyperchromatic nuclei with high mitotic figures and severe central necrosis. The neoplastic epithelium also had PAS-positive diastase-resistant cytoplasmic granules, but negative with Perls iron stain. The left 2nd mass was well delineated, and had several dark brown areas and yellowish white glittered areas. Mass was well circumscribed with dense connective tissue. Neoplastic areas contained irregular sized mammary gland with papillary grown luminal epithelial cells in single or double cells layer with mitotic figures and small amounts of proliferated myoepithelial cells. Proliferated myoepithelial cells also produced slightly basophilic mucinous materials. Based on the gross, histopathologic and special staining characteristics, this dog was diagnosed as 90% of apocrine sweat gland aenocarcinoma and 10% mammary complex adenomas in mammary masses. In our best knowledge, this is the first report for concurrent occurrence of apocrine sweat gland adenocarcinoma and mammary gland complex adenoma in mammary masses of the same dog.

Four 5 month old calves were died after showing respiratory distress after long-distance transportation at winter season. They were diagnosed as fibrinous lobar pneumonia caused by Mannheimia (M.) haemolytica. Grossly, lungs were attached onto the pleura by fibrin, with a rich yellowish fluid in thorax. The cut surface of the lung was showed marbled pattern of the reddish or greyish consolidation and widened interlobular septa by fibrin depositional. Histopathologically, parenchymal necrosis was delineated by a band of the degenerated inflammatory cells, and distended interlobular septa with serofibrinous exudates and vascular thrombosis with alveolar capillaries degeneration and abundant serofibrinous exudates in alveoli. M. hemolytica were isolated from all calves, and bovine viral diarrhea virus and parainfluenza type 3 virus in one calf were detected by RT-PCR. Thus, it was concluded that this case was diagnosed as pneumonic mannheimiosis suggested by complex infection with viruses after long-distance transportation and coldness.

There are accumulating evidences that high levels of dietary iron may play a role in colon carcinogenesis. Elevated iron status has been associated with oxidative stress. Phytic acid (PA) functions as an antioxidant by chelating divalent cations and prevents formation of reactive oxygen species responsible for cell injury and carcinogenesis. The protective effect of PA was investigated on formation of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) induced by azoxymethane (AOM) in iron-overloaded male F344 rats. After acclimation with AIN-93G purified diet (35 ppm Fe, normal control diet) for one week, animals were fed iron-overloaded diet (350 ppm Fe) and PA (0.5% or 2% PA in water) for 8 weeks. Animals received two (1st and 2nd week) injections of AOM (15 mg/kg b.w.) to induce colonic ACF. The colonic mucosa was examined for the total numbers of aberrant crypt (AC) and ACF after staining with methylene blue. The blood and serum were analyzed with a blood cell differential counter and an automatic serum analyzer. Iron-overloaded diet increased the concentration of iron in liver of the rats. But iron-related parameters in blood were not changed among experimental groups. The numbers of ACF per colon and AC per colon were 178.8 ± 33.2 and 448.4 ± 110.2 in the iron-overloaded F344 rats. The total AC was significantly increased, compared with normal-diet AOM control group (p less than 0.05). The treatments of PA at the dose of 0.5% slightly decreased the number of ACF and AC per colon to 153.6 ± 29.5 and 396.3 ± 107.5. However, there were no significant differences in the total numbers of ACF and AC between the AOM control group and PA (0.5% or 2%)-treated groups. These results suggest that PA may not affect the formation of ACF or AC induced by AOM in iron-overloaded F344 rats.

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a member of the perfluoroalkyl acids that have wide commercial applications, is persistent organic pollutants widely spread throughout the environment and human population. But little is known about the adverse biological effects of the PFOA. In the present study, the toxicological effects of PFOA were investigated in rats. Sprague-Dawley rats (N = 10 in each group) were orally administered with PFOA in drinking water for 4 weeks (0, 100, 200, or 400 ppm in male, and 0, 200, 400, or 800 ppm in female). These female rats given 800 ppm died during the study. PFOA treatment decreased the body weight gain and increased the liver weights in both genders. Serum biochemical investigations revealed significant increases in the aspartate aminotransferase, alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, blood urea nitrogen, total cholesterol, and total bilirubin in male but in female. Serum estradiol (E2) levels were increased in all treated in all treated rats. Histopathologically, hepatocellular hypertrophy around central vein was noted in the liver of treated rats. No significant histopathological change were noted in other organs. In conclusion, PFOA induced toxicological changes in the liver and increased serum E2 level which was not related to histopathological changes of endocrine and reproductive system.