The present study was designed to assess and compare three different formulations of the new Onderstepoort infectious coryza (IC) quadrivalent vaccine, which contain an NAD-independent strain of Avibacterium paragallinarum (previously known as Haemophilus paragallinarum), and a commercial IC vaccine, not containing an NAD-independent strain, for their safety and ability to protect chickens of varying ages against virulent challenges with four different serovars of A. paragallinarum, including the NAD-independent strain of the C-3 serovar. Four groups of 140 chickens each were vaccinated at the age of 17 weeks and revaccinated at the age of 19 weeks with each of the four vaccine formulations. A similar sized group of non-vaccinated chickens was used as control. Two rounds of challenge were conducted: a group of chicken in each vaccination group was challenged between 31 and 35 weeks of age, while another group was challenged between 51 and 55 weeks of age. The "in-contact" challenge model was used in this experiment. For each vaccination group, the four challenge strains representing four local serovars were used in each challenge round. The efficacy of the vaccines was compared based on overall protection levels obtained and the duration of protection. The safety of the different vaccines was determined by the severity of post-vaccination reactions. The need for the incorporation of the NAD-independent strain in the vaccine was evidenced by the low protection level against NAD-independent challenge recorded in the group of birds vaccinated with the commercial vaccine. The results obtained confirmed not only the variation in virulence of different South African serovars, with serovar C-3 being the most virulent and serovar B having almost no virulence but also the age related increase in susceptibility. The importance of a suitable formulation of the vaccine is discussed.

When large numbers of crocodile skins were downgraded because of the presence of small pin pricklike holes, collapsed epidermal cysts were found deep in the dermis of juvenile crocodiles while forming cysts were observed in hatchlings. Histopathology of these forming cysts showed the presence of intracytoplasmic inclusions in proliferating and ballooning epidermal cells. Pox virions were seen in electron microscope preparations made from the scabs of such early lesions. The partial sequencing of virus material from scrapings of these lesions and comparison of it with the published sequence of crocodile poxvirus showed the virus associated with the deep lesions to be closely related, but different. To differentiate between the two forms of crocodile pox infection it is suggested that the previously known form should be called "classical crocodile pox" and the newly discovered form "atypical crocodile pox". The application of strict hygiene measures brought about a decline in the percentage of downgraded skins.

The QRS response of the electrocardiogram to bleeding has been a source of interest to the physiologist for more than a century. Studies in the dog, cat and chicken have shown a reduction in QRS amplitude in response to bleeding. This effect has been explained by the so-called Brody effect, in which the intraventricular mass of blood acts as a conducting medium, augmenting radial conduction, thus resulting in the subsequent reduction in QRS amplitude in conditions where the intraventricular mass of blood is reduced. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the Brody effect will be present in the ovine heart and, furthermore, to evaluate if the right and left ventricles will demonstrate the same QRS change if the Brody effect is indeed present. This study clearly demonstrated that the Brody effect is present in the ovine heart. Furthermore, two unique aspects emanating from this study are firstly the fact that this is the first study to show that premature ventricular complexes are able to induce the Brody effect and, secondly that there is a very clear difference in the response of the right and the left ventricles when the Brody effect is induced in the ovine heart.

The best technical package for the future comprises trypanocidal drugs for temporary relief and the use of insecticide-treated cattle, artificial baits and aerial spraying to attack the vector, to so give more lasting security. Whether this can speed the previously slow progress will depend on overcoming past hindrances to tsetse control: sporadic support, disputes over its desirability, difficulties of sustaining international operations, and poor planning in some instances. The Pan-African Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Campaign intends to speed the progress but will fail unless it improves its image by breaking its association with the sterile insect technique and quickly executing some cheap and effective operations in large areas. Even then, there could be severe brakes due to Africa's political and financial instability. Overall, the pace of control is likely to increase, but perhaps only a little.

Sir Arnold Theiler's research in 1908/09 led to the discovery of the first rickettsial pathogen, Anaplasma marginale, and set the stage for his development and implementation of an effective live vaccine based on a less virulent strain, A. marginale ss. centrale. His 1910 report, describing A. marginale, is among the classic monographs in infectious disease research, presenting not only observations in exacting detail but also highlighting the deductive reasoning leading to association of a new pathogen with a specific disease. With a centennial perspective and both conceptual frameworks and molecular tools unimaginable in Theiler's time, the significance of several observations in the original report- cyclic bacteremia, strain superinfection, and taxonomic position-is now clear and highlight the broad applicability of key principles of pathogen biology.

The ubiquitin-proteasome mediated protein degradation pathway plays an important role in regulating both cell proliferation and cell death. Proteasome inhibitors are well known to induce apoptosis in various human cancer cell lines. We investigated the effect of combined treatment with proteasome inhibitor and TRAIL, and a possible mechanism of the enhancing apoptosis by the both treatment, on TRAIL-resistant non-small cell lung cancer. A549 cells were exposed to the N-Acetyl-Leu-Leu-Norleu-al(ALLN) as a proteasome inhibitor and then treated with recombinant TRAIL protein. In A 549 cells under proteasome inhibition conditions by pretreatment with ALLN, TRAIL treatment significantly decreased cell vibility compared to that ALLN and TRAIL alone treatment. Also, the both treatment induced cell damage through DNA fragmentation and p53 expression. In addition, the combined treatment of both markedly increased caspase-8 activation, especially the exposure for 2h, and Bax expression and induced the dissipation of mitochondrial transmembrane potential in A549 cells. Taken together, these findings showed that proteasome inhibition by ALLN enhanced TRAIL-induced apoptosis via DNA degradation by activated P53 and mitochondrial transmembrane potential loss by caspase-8 activation and bax expression. Therefore, our results suggest that proteasome inhibitor may be used a very effectively chemotherapeutic agent for the tumor treatment, especeally TRAIL-resistant tumor cell.

This study was performed to evaluate repeated-dose oral toxicities of Chelidonium majus extract in Fischer 344/N rats. Chelidonium majus extract was administered orally to rats at dose levels of 0, 25, 74, 222, 666 and 2,000 mg/kg/day. Each group consisted of 10 rats of each gender. The Chelidonium majus extract was given once a day, 5 times a week, for 90 day repeatedly. This study was conducted in accordance with the Protocol of Korea National Toxicology Program (issued by National Institute of Toxicological Research) and The Standards of Toxicity Study for Medicinal Products (issued by Korea Food and Drug Administration). In the present study, There were no toxicologically significant changes in mortality, clinical signs, body weight gains, ophthalmoscopy, urine analysis, hematology, serum biochemistry, necropsy findings, organ weights, histopathology, estrus cycle and sperm examination of all animals treated with Chelidonium majus extract. These results suggest that the oral no observed adverse-effect level of the test item, Chelidonium majus extract, in rats is higher than 2.000 mg/kg/day in both genders. The target organs were not established.

This study examined the therapeutic effects of aromatherapy for the treatment of otitis externa in dogs. Eleven dogs with otitis externa were examined. The control group (5 dogs) was treated with susceptible antibiotics, and the experimental group (6 dogs) was treated with aroma-oil applied topically to the ear canal. The aroma-oil contained 10 ml sweet almond oil, 0.3 ml bergamot oil, 0.2 ml lavender oil, 0.1 ml tea tree oil and 0.1 ml roman chamomile oil. The blended aroma-oil (0.1 ml) was applied to the ear canal twice daily for 2 weeks. The authors examined the changes in the clinical signs, bacterial count in discharges, total WBC count and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratios in the two groups. The bacterial cell counts in the experimental group were significantly lower at one (p less than 0.01) and two weeks (p less than 0.05) after treatment than the control group. These results suggest that aromatherapy is an effective and practical treatment for otitis externa in dogs.

The concept about zoo is changing from the animal exhibition which simply contained the animals to the ecological zoo which has the function of preserving the animal species. At the central point of maintaining such role, the basic principle called the animal welfare lies obviously. Korea has applied the animal welfare principles such as carrying out the enrichment in the zoos since 2003, but there has not been any institutional device to evaluate and examine the application of the animal welfare so far. This study aims to confirm the level of animal welfare in Korea and suggest a developmental direction. For the purpose of the study, 12 zoos in Korea were evaluated according to 68 evaluating categories. 'Five Principles of Animal Welfare' in the Secretary of State's Standards of Modern Zoo Practice were selected and carried out as the evaluation categories, and the result, from the highest to lowest score given, was 'provision of food and water', 'provision of protection from fear and distress', 'provision of health care', 'provision of an opportunity to express most normal behaviours', and 'provision of a suitable enrichment' with the overall score of the entire Korean zoos being 2.86 (± 0.56). It was also confirmed that in order to improve the animal welfare of the Korean zoos, the animal management system must be standardized and organized. The evaluation and feedback, the active practice of animal welfare and its legislative support should be provided to establish an effective institutional device as well.