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 3-year-old spayed female Persian feline with non regenerative anemia showed persistent autoagglutination in EDTA anticoagulated blood. Primary immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) was suspected and the underlying causes for IMHA were excluded by radiologic, sonographic, serologic and molecular studies. Cytologic examination of the bone marrow revealed that dysmyelopoiesis and dysplastic changes were prominent in the erythroid cells. These changes included asynchronous maturation of the nucleus and cytoplasm, binucleation, trinucleation, fragmented or lobulated nuclei and multilineages. Mild dysgranulopoiesis and dysmegakaryocytopoiesis were also detected including pseudo Pelger-Huet anomalies, giant band neutrophils, asynchronous maturation of the nucleus and cytoplasm in granulopoiesis and large hypolobulated forms as well as dwarf megakaryocytes in megakaryocy-topoiesis. Myelodysplastic syndrome and congenital dysmyelopoiesis was ruled out by the low number of blast cells. Finally, secondary dysmyelopoiesis associated with IMHA was diagnosed and immuno-suppressive treatment was successfully responsive.

This study describes thoracic radiographic features of normal premature minipigs at the age of 4, 8, 12 and 20 weeks. The evaluation for appearance, shape, contour, location and extent of distribution of thoracic organs was recorded through right lateral and ventrodorsal thoracic radiographs. The size of the tracheal diameter, cranial mediastinum, and the heart were measured, and information about the correlation of each organ in their thoracic conformation could be obtained. Although there were limitations with plain thoracic radiographs, basic characteristics and data for thoracic radiographs of normal premature minipigs according to each age were useful.

The cDNA of the aquabirnavirus, GC-1 isolated from rockfish Sebastes schlegeli in Korea, was synthesized using the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. The nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences were determined from cDNA of the VP2-NS-VP3 coding region of genome segment A. The nucleotide sequences of the segment A were 3,086 base pairs (bp) in length and contained large open reading frame (ORF) and terminal sequences. The large ORF was comprised of 2,916 bp nucleotides and composed of 972 deduced amino acid sequences. Pairwise comparisons were made with other aquabirnavirus sequences published previously. The study of genetic relationships between GC-1 and aquabirnaviruses in the large ORF and VP2 coding regions demonstrated that the GC-1 has the nearest genetic relationship with the marine birnaviruses (MABV strains), and the GC-1 and MABV strains can be clustered as the same genogroup. GC-1 can be included in MABV, which is the 7th genogroup of family Aquabirnaviridae.

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.

This study was performed to examine the effect of 2,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB#118) on testis of male rats. PCB#118 (20 mg/kg/week) in corn oil was intraperitoneally injected to adult male rats for 2, 5, 8 weeks. The body and testicular weights were measured at 3, 6, 9 weeks of PCB treatment. The morphological changes in the rat testes were then analyzed by light microscopy (LM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results showed that PCB#118 caused significant change in the body weights and testicular weights. Moreover, the morphological studies that were conducted on the PCB-treated rats revealed that the number of spermatocytes and spermatids in their seminiferous tubules decreased than control group (LM). The nuclear membrane was damaged when PCB was administered to them for 9 weeks (TEM). These results suggest that the reproductive function of the adult male rats is sensitive to PCB#118, and that may affect the testicular morphology of adult male rats.

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 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.

Glycophorins are the major sialoglycoproteins in red blood cell membranes, possessing various physiological and pathological roles. We examined membrane glycoproteins in canine red cells and cloned cDNAs for two major glycophorins, glycophorins A (GPA) and C (GPC) from bone marrow cells. Periodic acid-Schiff staining and immunoblotting analyses showed that canine red cell membranes contained several glycoproteins immunoreactive to an anti-bovine GPC antibody, whereas the most abundant sialoglycoproteins, the candidates for GPA, did not react with an anti-human GPA antibody. The amino acid sequences of the extracellular domains of GPA and GPC had no significant homology to those from other mammalian species, including humans, and had O-linked and/or N-linked glycosylation sites. On the other hand, the C-terminal cytoplasmic domain and/or the transmembrane helices of GPA and GPC were conserved among species, indicating some functional significance of those regions in red cell membranes that include dimerization of GPA in the membrane-spanning region, and association of GPC with membrane skeletal proteins through binding with protein 4.1 and p55 in the cytoplasmic domain. These findings provide insights for clinical studies to evaluate the involvement of GPA and GPC in the pathogenesis of red cell diseases.

The sudden emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) at the end of 2002 resulted in 774 reported deaths from more than 8000 cases worldwide. As no effective vaccines or antiviral agents are available, the most effective measure to prevent the expansion of a SARS epidemic is the rapid diagnosis and isolation of SARS patients. To establish specific diagnostic methods, we generated nine clones of monoclonal antibodies to nucleocapsid protein (NP) of SARS-coronavirus (SARS-CoV). On immunofluorescent antibody assay and Western blotting analysis, none of the monoclonal antibodies showed cross-reactivity to authentic and recombinant NPs of human coronavirus (HCoV) 229E strain. To determine the region on the NP molecule where the monoclonal antibodies bind, we generated four truncated recombinant NPs and analyzed the reactivity between monoclonal antibodies and truncated NPs. Two monoclonal antibodies reacted with a truncated NP covering from amino acid residues 111 to 230, and seven reacted with another truncated NP covering from amino acid residues 221 to 340. Epitope mapping analysis indicated that monoclonal antibody SN5-25 recognized the amino acid sequence Qsup(245)TVTKKsup(250) on SARS-NP. Within the epitope, Q245, T246, V247, K249, and K250 appeared to form an essential motif for monoclonal antibody SN5-25 to bind. The information about binding sites and epitopes of monoclonal antibodies may be useful for the development of new diagnostic methods for SARS and for analyzing the function of N protein of SARS-CoV.