This study was conducted to investigate the pathogenicity of Paenibacillus (P.) polymyxa JB115 and single oral dose toxicity of culture broth containing β-glucan (CBG-JB115) produced from P. polymyxa JB115 in Sprague-Dawely rats of both sexes for 14 days. After oral administration of P. polymyxa JB115 into rats, we could not find any abnormal clinical signs and variation in the body weight and temperature as compared with control group. We also investigated the acute toxicity of CBG-JB115. As the results, there were no clinical signs and variance in the body weight and temperature related with CBG-JB115 in comparison with the control group.

In this study, the levels of aflatoxin M₁(AFM₁) in milk were determined by HPLC with derivatization method. Milk samples were purified using C∧18 disposable cartridge followed by derivatization with trifluoroacetic acid and analysed using HPLC with fluorescence detection. The recoveries of AFM₁ from milk samples added AFM₁ at a level of 0.025~0.1 ng/ml were 94.7~98.0% with detection limit of 0.009 ng/ml. The amounts of AFM₁ were determined below 0.05 ng/ml for all tested samples of commercial milk collected in 1999 and 2000.

Cause of high lethality and dissemination to human being, new development of rapid method for the detection of highly pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus (AIV) is still necessary. For the detection of AIV subtype H5N1, typical pathogenic AIV, new method to confirm sub-typing of this virus is also needed. For the purpose of ultra-rapid detection and sub-typing of hemagglutinin and neuraminidase of AIV, this study was planned. As the results we could demonstrate an ultra-rapid multiplex real-time PCR (URMRT-PCR) for the detection of AIV.

An eight years old female barbary sheep (Ammotragus lervia), which bred at the Gwangju Uchi Park Zoo had shown anorexia, depression,. respiratory problem for several weeks after parturition. In necropsy, extensive necrotizing pneumonia was found with severe immunocytes infiltration in the alveolar spaces and bronchioles. Pulmonary pleura were thickened with fibrin and inflammatory cells. Bacteria were isolated from lung and identified as Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus (SEZ) by biochemical tests and PCR on sodA and gusA genes, though seeⅠgene was not detected.

Serological surveillance programs in animal populations are becoming increasingly important to estimate prevalence of a specific disease and subsequently to document disease-free status in a region or a country. For these purposes, the programs need to be based on both theoretical and economical aspects from the designing phase. From Aujeszky's disease (AD)-eradication program point of view, group of animals (aggregates, herds) not individual animal is the more important sampling unit of concern.

From January to June 2006, 54 suckling pigs had been submitted in virology lab., College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University. All pigs had suffered from various symptoms such as respiratory, sign, enteric signs, neurologic signs, etc. Among 54 pigs, 24 pigs (44.4%) were positive for porcine hemagglutinating encephalomyelitis virus (HEV) through reverse transcription-nested polymerase chain reaction. According to this result, HEV infections seemed to be prevalent and widespread in Korean swine farms, and the infection is associated with respiratory signs and neurologic signs more than enteric signs.

Objective--To evaluate antimicrobial activity of bovine bactericidal permeability-increasing protein (bBPI)-derived synthetic peptides against mastitis-causing gram-negative bacteria. Sample Population--Bacterial isolates from the milk of cows with clinical mastitis. Procedures--3 peptides were synthesized with sequences corresponding to amino acids 65 to 99 (bBPI6599) or 142 to 169 (bBPI142169) or the combination of amino acids 90 to 99 and 148 to 161 (bBPI9099,148161) of bBPI. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of these peptides against bacterial isolates from cows with mastitis were determined by use of a standardized broth microdilution assay. The ability of these peptides to retain their antimicrobial activity in serum and milk was also evaluated. Finally, bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-neutralizing activity of these peptides was assayed with the Limulus amebocyte lysate test. Results--Of the 3 peptides tested, bBPI9099,148161 had the widest spectrum of antimicrobial activity, with MIC and MBC values ranging from 16 to 64 Mg/mL against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Enterobacter spp and from 64 to 128 Mg/mL against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. None of the peptides had any growth-inhibitory effect on Serratia marcescens. The antimicrobial activity of bBPI9099,148161 was inhibited in milk, but preserved in serum. Finally, bBPI142169 and bBPI9099,148161 completely neutralized LPS. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance--bBPI9099,148161 is a potent neutralizer of the highly proinflammatory molecule bacterial LPS and has antimicrobial activity against a variety of gram-negative bacteria. The ability of bBPI9099,148161 to retain antimicrobial activity in serum suggests a potential therapeutic application for this peptide in the management of gram-negative septicemia.

Koch (1844) originally described only the male of Haemaphysalis (Rhipistoma) elliptica (Koch, 1844), which he named Rhipistoma ellipticum. For the past century, however, this name has been considered a junior synonym of Haemaphysalis (Rhipistoma) leachi (Audouin, 1826), or a nomen nudum. We redescribe here the male and larva of H. (R.) elliptica and describe the female and nymph for the first time. Our redescription is based on the male holotype, plus numerous specimens from southern and East Africa. The adults of this tick parasitize domestic and wild carnivores, and the immature stages infest rodents in these regions. For comparative purposes redescriptions of all parasitic stages of H. (R.) leachi are provided. It parasitizes the same hosts as H. (R.) elliptica in Egypt, and in northeastern, Central, West and East Africa.

Between January 1999 and December 2000 faecal samples from 16 264 cattle at 12 dipping sites in the highveld and nine in the lowveld communal grazing areas of Zimbabwe were examined for gastrointestinal (GI) nematode and cestodes eggs, and coccidia oocysts. Strongyle larvae were identified following culture of pooled faecal samples collected at monthly intervals. The effects of region, age, sex and season on the prevalence of GI nematodes, cestodes and coccidia were determined. Faecal egg and oocyst counts showed an overall prevalence of GI nematodes of 43 %, coccidia 19.8 % and cestodes 4.8 %. A significantly higher prevalence of infection with GI nematodes, cestodes and coccidia was recorded in calves (P < 0.01) than in adults. Pregnant and lactating cows had significantly higher prevalences than bulls, oxen and non-lactating (dry cows) (P < 0.01). The general trend of eggs per gram (epg) of faeces and oocysts per gram (opg) of faeces was associated with the rainfall pattern in the two regions, with high epg and opg being recorded during the wet months. The most prevalent genera of GI nematodes were Cooperia, Haemonchus and Trichostrongylus in that order. Strongyloides papillosus was found exclusively in calves. Haemonchus was significantly more prevalent during the wet season than the dry season (P < 0.01). In contrast, Trichostrongylus was present in significantly (P < 0.01) higher numbers during the dry months than the wet months, while Cooperia and Oesophagostomum revealed no significant differences between the wet and dry season. These findings are discussed with reference to their relevance for strategic control of GI parasites in cattle in communal grazing areas of Zimbabwe.

The present work was conducted on 25 hearts of healthy donkeys of both sexes. Three methods were adopted to clarify the musculature of the ventricles; nitric acid method, acetic acid method and flour paste method. The ventricular myocardium was arranged into three layers: superficial, middle and deep. The superficial layer consists of eleven bundles arranged longitudinally from the base to the apex of the heart. Moreover, a thin subepicardial layer separated it from the epicardium. The middle layer on the right ventricle was horizontally oriented, while on the left ventricle it was represented by three bands; (A), (B) and (C). The deep layer on the right ventricle was formed of two bands (A) and (B) while on the left ventricle consisted of a single band (C), in addition to some fibers derived from the superficial layer. The intervrentricular septum was formed from fibers extended from the middle and deep layers. The papillary muscles were four in the right ventricle and two in the left one.