Rabbit hemorrhagic disease is a highly acute and fatal viral disease caused by rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV). Since first outbreak in Korea 1987, RHDV has been continually affected in the country, but the pattern of outbreak seem to be changed. In this study, to understand the pathogenesis of the new RHDVa serotype, we therefore carried out to inoculate RHDVa to rabbits, and to examine the sequential histopathologic changes and viral distribution. Macroscopically, various sized dark red or white spots or appearance were observed in the liver, lung, kidney uterus and ureter. In euhanized rabbits, significant pathologic findings such as infiltration of heterophils and mononuclear cells were observed at 24 hours after inoculation (HAI), and these were sequentially extended periportal to centrilobular area. However, in dead rabbits, severe hepatic degeneration and/or necrosis with relatively weak inflammatory responses were observed. RHDV antigens began to detect in liver, spleen, and lung from 12 HAI by PCR. Immunohistochemically, RHDV positive cells were seen in only liver from 24 HAI, and the degree of immunogen reactivity was stronger in dead rabbits than in euthanized ones. In conclusion, RHDVa caused the subacute or chronic infection accompanying low mortality and moderate to severe inflammatory reaction in rabbits, suggesting the possibility that RHD could become endemic.

Probiotics colonize the intestines and exert an antibacterial effect on pathogens. Therefore, probiotics could be used as a preventive agent against lethal infections. To isolate probiotic microorganisms, 116 bacterial strains were isolated from healthy cow's milk and were subjected to Gram-stain, morphology and biochemical analyses, Vitek analysis, and 16S rRNA analysis. One of the strains identified as Bacillus (B.) thuringiensis 87 was found to grow very well at pH 4.0~7.0 and to be resistant to high concentrations of bile salts (0.3~0.9% w/v). B. thuringiensis was susceptible to the antibiotics used in the treatment of bovine mastitis, yet it exhibited an antimicrobial effect against Staphylococcus (S.) aureus 305. Moreover, it protected mice from experimental lethal infections of E. coli O55, Salmonella typhimurium 01D, and S. aureus 305 through a significant induction of interferon-γ, even at four-week post-administration of B. thuringiensis. Although oral administration of B. thuringiensis 87 did not provide significant protection against these lethal challenges, these results suggest that B. thuringiensis 87 could be a feasible candidate as a probiotic strain.

Actinobacillus (A.) pleuropneumoniae is the causative agent of pleuropneumonia which is one of the most important respiratory diseases in pigs worldwide. A total of 32 A. pleuropneumoniae isolates from diseased pigs during 2008 to 2010 were serotyped by polymerase chain reaction method. The susceptibility of the isolates to 13 antimicrobial agents were determined by disk diffusion test. In all the 32 isolates examined in this study, serotype 5 (16 isolates: 50%), 1 (7 isolates: 21.9%), 2 (5 isolates: 15.6%) and 12 (1 isolate: 3.1%) were found. Of all tested antimicrobial agents, resistance to oxytetracycline was found in 96.9% of isolates, followed by resistance to amikacin (81.2%), neomycin (68.7%), kanamycin (53.1%), penicillin (50.0%), gentamicin (43.7%), florfenicol (25.0%), ampicillin (18.7%), colistin (9.4%), trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, ceftiofur (8.3%), amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (3.1%) and enrofloxacin (0%). Oxytetracycline or florfenicol-resistant isolates were examined for the presence of resistance gene. Among the 31 oxytetracycline-resistant isolates, tetB, tetH and tetO genes were detected in 22 (71%), 8 (26%) and 1 (3%) isolates, respectively. The floR genes were detected in 8 (100%) of the 8 florfenicol-resistant A. pleuropneumoniae isolates.

The maintenance of peripheral immune tolerance and prevention of chronic inflammation and autoimmune disease require CD4+CD25+ T cells (regulatory T cells). The transcription factor Foxp3 is essential for the development of functional, regulatory T cells, which plays a prominent role in self-tolerance. Retroviral vectors can confer high level of gene transfer and transgene expression in a variety of cell types. Here we observed that following retroviral vector-mediated gene transfer of Foxp3, transductional Foxp3 expression was increased in the liver, lung, brain, heart, muscle, spinal cord, kidney and spleen. One day after vector administration, high levels of transgene and gene expression were observed in liver and lung. At 2 days after injection, transductional Foxp3 expression level was increased in brain, heart, muscle and spinal cord, but kidney and spleen exhibited a consistent low level. This finding was inconsistent with the increase in both CD4+CD25+ T cell and CD4+Foxp3+ T cell frequencies observed in peripheral immune cells by fluorescence-activated cell-sorting (FACS) analysis. Retroviral vector-mediated gene transfer of Foxp3 did not lead to increased numbers of CD4+CD25+ T cell and CD4+Foxp3+ T cell. These results demonstrate the level and duration of transductional Foxp3 gene expression in various tissues. A better understanding of Foxp3 regulation can be useful in dissecting the cause of regulatory T cells dysfunction in several autoimmune diseases and raise the possibility of enhancing suppressive functions of regulatory T cells for therapeutic purposes.

Avian chlamydiosis is caused by Chlamydophila psittaci and considered as one of an important zoonotic disease throughout the world. Among more than 400 avian species including poultry and pet birds susceptible to the disease, psittacine birds were known to be mostly susceptible hosts. In Korea, no outbreak of the disease and genetic analysis of the agent in poultry and pet birds have been reported. With histopathological findings and genetic identification of a causative agent, avian chlamydiosis was identified in parrots submitted from the same pet bird farm in 2006 and 2009 for the diagnosis. Based on genetic sequences and phylogenetic analysis of ompA gene, the two isolates of Chlamydophila psittaci showed 100% of genetic similarity and belonged to genotype A, suggesting that the same agent might be continuously circulated in the farm. This result indicates that serological survey of the disease in pet bird farms and impact of the disease on significance in public health may be further studied.

Endocrine test data from a 13-year old intact female Maltese was indicative of the presence of an insulinoma, however ultrasonography identified a pancreatic mass only after 10 months after the first admission. Following identification of both pancreatic tumor and hepatic metastasis on computed tomography (CT), surgical excision of the mass was attempted. However, total excision failed because of tumor adhesion to adjacent large vessels. The pancreatic mass was monitored over the next 25 months via ultrasonography, CT, and positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT). Histopathological and immunohistochemical data confirmed the diagnosis of insulinoma with hepatic metastasis.

A 5-year-old castrated male Shih-tzu dog and a 9-year-old intact female Schnauzer dog were presented with anorexia and depression. These 2 dogs were diagnosed based on which criteria as primary immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA). Blood examination showed anemia, spherocytosis, auto-agglutination and total bilirubinemia in 2 cases. These dogs were recovered by treatment of mycophenolate mofetil and prednisolone, and showed good prognosis until now. Mycophenolate mofetil is recommended as initial treatment in canine IMHA.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of Brachyspira species and antimicrobial susceptibility of Brachyspira (B.) hyodysenteriae isolates in Korea. A total of fifty-five Brachyspira species were isolated; five (1.0%) beta-hemolytic Brachyspira species and 50 (10.4%) weak hemolytic Brachyspira species from 116 different diarrheic pig samples and 367 apparently normal pig samples. In farm level, beta hemolytic and weak hemolytic Brachyspira species were detected in 7.4% (5/68) and 19.1% (13/68) of tested pig farms, respectively. By phenotypic and genotypic characterization, all beta hemolytic Brachyspira isolates was classified as group Ⅰ (B. hyodysenteriae), whereas weak hemolytic Brachyspira species isolates were group Ⅲ (B. innocens or B. murdochii). B. hyodysenteriae isolates showed high level of minimum inhibition concentrations to macrolide antimicrobials. This study shows that the prevalence of pathogenic B. hyodysenteriae in pigs is low but antimicrobial resistance of the pathogens is high in Korea. This is the first report of the prevalence of Brachyspira group Ⅲ and antimicrobial susceptibility of B. hyodysenteriae in pigs in Korea. Our results could provide basic data for the management and treatment guidelines of Brachyspira infection.

The kiwi (Actinidia deliciosa) is well known to contain anti-oxidants. In this study, we investigated the anti-oxidant effects of kiwi extract on carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) induced liver injury in BALB/c mice. The radical scavenging effect of 80% methanol extract of Halla-Gold kiwi was observed. For the animal study, mice were randomly divided into four groups: normal group, CCl₄-induced model group, kiwi extract administered group, and silymarin treated group. The kiwi extract was provided daily for 10 days. At the 24 h after last administration, CCl₄ was injected. The kiwi extract showed strong inhibitory effect of DPPH radicals and superoxide scavenging. In animal study, administration of CCl₄ resulted in significantly elevated plasma levels of ALT and AST but they decreased in kiwiextract pretreated group. Anti-oxidant enzymes such as GSH-px and GSH-rd were restored in the kiwi extract treatment group. Histopathological degeneration was also prevented in the kiwi extract treated group compared with of the control group, which exhibited CCl₄-induced hepatotoxicity. On the basis of the obtained results, it can be concluded that kiwi extract showed protective effects, not only as anti-oxidant effects, but also in the protection of hepatotoxicity in CCl₄-intoxicated mice.

An 8-year-old female, German Shepherd dog was presented with history of dyspnea and seizure. One Year Previously a lumpectomy had been performed for surgical resection of mammary mass. In serum chemistry, severe hypoglycemia and elevation of aspartate aminitransferase and creatine kinase were shown. In thoracic radiography, there were variable sized nodules in the overall lung field. On computed tomography examination, the mass was shown in left longissimus lumborum muscle. Histopathological examination revealed adenocarcinoma derived from the mammary gland. Muscular metastasis of mammary gland tumor is uncommon. This is a rare observation and could easily be overlooked or misinterpreted.