In this study, we isolated 12 of Brucella (B.) spp. from cattle, which have been positive in Rose Bangal test and tube agglutination test in Gyeongbuk province in 2009. According to AMOS PCR analysis, isolated 12 strains were identified as B. abortus. Murine derived macrophage, RAW 264.7 cells, were infected with isolated 12 strains or reference strain (B. abortus 544), and bacterial internalization were characterized. According to these results, we divided the isolated strains into the following three groups: class Ⅰ, lower internalization than that of B. abortus 544; class Ⅱ, similar internalization to that of that of B. abortus 544; class Ⅲ, higher internalization than that of B. abortus 544 within RAW 264.7 cells. Furthermore, intracellular growth, bacterial adherent assay, LAMP-1 colocalization, virulence in mice and surface protein pattern were characterized. From these results, representative strains of class Ⅲ showed lower LAMP-1 colocalization, higher adherent efficiency, higher virulence in mice than those of B. abortus 544, and showed different pattern of surface proteins. These results suggest that B. abortus field strains, isolated from cattle in Korea, possess various virulence properties and higher internalization ability of field strain may have an important role for its virulence expression.

Lack of hygiene and puerperal mastitis are common causes of bacterial diseases in nursing neonates. The aim of this study was to isolate microorganisms from milk samples of healthy female Jindo dogs with suckling puppies and to investigate antimicrobial susceptibility against the isolated bacteria. Milk samples were collected from 120 udders of 12 lactating Jindo dogs that were 2~4 years old without any clinical diseases including mastitis. Bacteria were isolated from 64 milk samples (53.3%), either singly (76.6%) or in combination (23.4%). Staphylococcus (S.) spp. was the most common microorganisms (74.7%) isolated from canine milk, followed by Haemophillus spp. (10.9%), Streptococcus spp. (9.6%), Gardnerella spp. (2.4%) and Moraxella spp. (2.4%). The most frequently isolated organism was S. warneri (31.3%). Antimicrobial susceptibility of these bacteria was tested with 17 antimicrobial agents by Kirbyand Bauer standardized disc diffusion method. Results indicated that bacteria isolated from healthy canine milk were mostly susceptible to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, cephalothin and ceftiofur, but were resistant to erythromycin, neomycin and tetracycline.

The prevalence of Toxoplasma (T.) gondii was surveyed using a latex agglutination test (LAT) in native Korean cattle. A blood sample was collected from female 105 cattle in the Daejeon area of Korea. All cattle were asymptomatic and had not received any prophylactic treatment for T. gondii. Blood samples were collected via the caudal vein. The cattle ranged in age from 2~6 years (mean 3.7 years). LAT detected antibody to T. gondii in four of 105 (3.8%) cattle. However, the hazard analysis and critical control point protocol has been applied to cattle farms and beef traceability has been strengthen.

Supernumerary ectopic limb(s) (SEL) is a congenital anomaly defined as the presence of accessory limb(s) attached to various body regions. This paper describes a case of SEL with ectopic lung and ectopia cordis in a newborn calf, based on macroscopic, microscopic and radiographic findings. External features of multiple congenital anomalies included an ectopic lung growing over the middle of the backbone and covered with normal haired skin. Ectopia cordis was found in the abdominal cavity and attached to the liver. Two extra abnormal limbs originated separately from within the ectopic lung. Most of the abdominal organs were exposed to the outside through the opened abdominal cavity. Microscopically the ectopic lung tissue had edema in the connective tissue around the bronchus and artery. Changes in other organs included congestion of the renal medulla, infiltration of inflammatory cells (lymphocytes and eosinophils) around the hepatic portal tract, and edema surrounding blood vessels and neurons in the brain. The rudimentary humerus of the forelimb was attached to the thoracic spine, as viewed radiographically. The hindlimb was consisted of an irregularly shaped femur, short tibia and fibula, two tarsal bones, one metatarsal bone, and three phalanges. This is the first description of congenital anomalies involving the SEL, ectopic lung and ectopia cordis in a calf.

Eosinophilic granuloma is a common hypersensitive inflammatory skin disease in cats, and rare in dogs and horses. The skin biopsies of 5 years old female Cocker spaniel and 2 years old female mixed dog had the clinical signs of skin nodules with alopecia were submitted for diagnosis. Solitary skin nodules and papillary nodules were presented on the left external ear and back of Cocker spaniel and on the external ear of mixed dog, respectively. Histopathologically, epidermis of skin showed mild to severe hyperplasia with multifocal ulceration. Small to large irregular, brightly eosinophilic foci with degenerating eosinophils and homogeneous degenerated collagens were existed in the dermis of both ear and back skin. Typical 'flame figures', a mixture of degenerated collagen and degranulated eosinophils, were observed in both cases. Based on the histopathologic findings and special staining characters, 2 cases were diagnosed as canine eosinophilic granuloma. This is the first report for the eosinophilic granuloma of dogs in Korea.

A 6-year old, female, Schnauzer dog with chief complaint of tetraparesis was referred to the Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital of Chungnam National University. On physical examination, neulologic examinations and magnetic resonance imaging, this patient was diagnosed into fibrocartilaginous embolic myelopathy. Although conventional treatment such as prednisolone, cefotaxime and enrofloxacin revealed no improvement, this patient showed favorable therapeutic response by combined therapy with aquapuncture with prednisolone, modified moxibustion, herbal medicine and massage.

This study surveyed the prevalence of traumatic reticular diseases (TRD) of slaughter cattle in Korea, the typology of the causative foreign bodies and the effects on beef quality and carcass weight. The overall prevalence of TRD in 3,121 slaughter cattle was 5.5%. However, the prevalence was significantly higher in Korea indigenous cattle Hanwoo (5.8%, p less than 0.05) and female cattle (20.75%, p less than 0.001). The prevalence significantly increased in aged cattle (p less than 0.001). Major lesions related to foreign bodies were reticulitis (96%) and peritonitis (86%). Most causative foreign bodies were made of iron including nails, wires, steel rods, screw nails, and syringe needles. Cattle affected with TRD produced significantly lower grade quality of beef compared to normal cattle (p less than 0.0001), but TRD did not affect carcass weight. The data will be useful in the management of TRD, with the aim of increasing beef productivity in Korea.

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is an inflammatory disease in the murine central nervous system (CNS) and has long been used as an animal model for human multiple sclerosis. Development of EAE requires coordinated expression of a number of genes that are involved in the activation and effector functions of inflammatory cells. Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is a member of the beta-galactoside-binding lectin family and plays an important role in inflammatory responses through its functions on cell activation, cell migration or inhibition of apoptosis. We investigated the functional role of Gal-3 in EAE mice following immunization with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)∧35-55 peptide. During the peak stage of EAE, the localization of Gal-3 in inflammatory cells markedly increased in subarachnoid membranes and perivascular regions of CNS. In contrast, Gal-3 was weakly detected in cerebrum and spinal of the recovery stage of EAE. Consistent with this finding, western blot analysis revealed that Gal-3 expression was significantly increased at the peak stage while it was slightly decreased at the recovery stage in the CNS. In addition, the population of CD11b+ macrophage expressing Gal-3 in spleen of EAE mice was markedly increased compared with control mice. In fact, most of activated macrophages isolated from spleen of EAE mice expressed Gal-3. Taken together, our results demonstrate that the over-expression of Gal-3 in activated macrophages may play a key role in promoting inflammatory cells in the CNS during EAE.

The study evaluated whether a transgenic carrot vaccine could induce a K88-specific immune response in sows and whether the resultant maternal antibody could protect piglets against enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) K88ac infection. Sows (n = 15) selected randomly from a farm in Korea were assigned to three groups (n = 5 per group: control [untreated]), group A (orally inoculated with a non-transgenic and transgenic carrot vaccines at 2 and 4 weeks ante partum, respectively), and group B (conventionally vaccinated according to the manufacturer’s instructions). After 7 days of lactation, 5 piglets selected randomly from each group were challenged with 1 × 10∨10 colony forming units/mL ETEC K88ac. Group C had the lowest mean fecal consistency score on post-challenge days 1 and 7. Histiologically, On post-challenge day 7, group C showed an increased duodenum and ileum villus:crypt ratio, compared to group A in the duodenum, with group B displaying the highest ratio. Groups B and C had more increased villus width than group A in the jejunum. Group C displayed the greatest increase in villus width in the ileum. The colostrums and serum from groups B and C displayed higher concentrations of IgA and IgG against ETEC K88, compared to group A. Based on the results, it was concluded that the transgenic carrot vaccine in sow per oral may have an effect on preventing piglet diarrhea as good as commercial recombinant vaccine.

Alcohol abuse and its medical and social consequences are a major health problem in many areas of the world. Korean red ginseng (KRG) has been traditionally used for the treatment of liver disease. This study was conducted to evaluate the hepatoprotective effects of KRG against hepatotoxicity in Sprague-Dawley rats treated with ethanol (EtOH). Administration of EtOH for 20 days induced significant changes in serum biochemical parameters (aspartate aminotransferase, alanine transaminase, and glucose) accompanied by histological changes in the liver tissue. Treatment with KRG prior to administration of EtOH inhibited the EtOH-induced biochemical and histological changes of the liver. In perfused rat livers, administration of EtOH caused an increase in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release into the perfusate and activated the pro-apoptotic Bax protein but inhibited the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein. Pretreatment with KRG prior to administration of EtOH decreased the EtOH-induced LDH release and inhibition of Bcl-2 protein. These results suggest that KRG exerts anti-apoptotic effects and alleviated EtOH-induced liver injury in rats.