The objective of this study was to determine the capsular serotypes and potential virulence factors of Streptococcus suis isolated from pigs with polyserositis. Among the 24 isolates evaluated, serotype 3 [7 (29%) of the isolates] and serotype 4 [5 (21%)] were the most common. The isolates were also studied for the presence of the genes mrp, epf, and sly, which encode muramidase-released protein (MRP), extracellular factor (EF), and suilysin (SLY), respectively. Of the 24 isolates, 8 carried mrp: 4 of serotype 3, 2 of serotype 2, and 2 of serotype 4. One mrp+ isolate (serotype 2) also carried the epf gene. All 24 isolates carried the sly gene. The serotype and genotype distribution greatly differed from that reported for isolates from pigs with other clinical manifestations of S. suis infection in other countries.

The objective of this project was to develop and implement an active surveillance program for the early and rapid detection of equine influenza viruses in Ontario. For this purpose, from October 2003 to October 2005, nasopharyngeal swabs and acute and convalescent serum samples were collected from 115 client-owned horses in 23 outbreaks of respiratory disease in Ontario. Sera were paired and tested for antibody to equine influenza 1 (AE1-H7N7), equine influenza 2 (AE2-H3N8), equine herpesvirus 1 and 4 (EHV1 and EHV4), and equine rhinitis A and B (ERAV and ERBV). Overall, the cause-specific morbidity rate of equine influenza virus in the respiratory outbreaks was 56.5% as determined by the single radial hemolysis (SRH) test. The AE2-H3N8 was isolated from 15 horses in 5 outbreaks. A 4-fold increase in antibody levels or the presence of a high titer against ERAV or ERBV was observed in 10 out of 13 outbreaks in which AE2-H3N8 was diagnosed as the primary cause of disease. In conclusion, AE2-H3N8 was found to be an important contributor to equine respiratory viral disease. Equine rhinitis A and B (ERAV and ERBV) represented an important component in the equine respiratory disease of performing horses.

The humoral and cell-mediated immune (CMI) response to 2 commercial killed Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) vaccines (Layermune and MBL SE4C) was evaluated in laying hens. Layers were distributed in 2 experimental groups. The first received a single immunization at 16 wk of age, while the second experimental group was immunized at 12 wk of age and again at 18 wk of age. Serum immunoglobulin (Ig)G antibodies were measured using a commercial SE ELISA kit and showed persistent levels from 3 to 32 and 34 wk post-vaccination. The vaccination protocol using 2 immunizations showed a higher seroconversion level than the single vaccination. However, our results for bacterial intracellular survival indicated that IgG titers were not linked with bacterial killing. Local IgA production was measured in the intestines and oviducts with an in-house SE whole cell antigen ELISA. Only the MBL SE4C vaccine elicited IgA antibody production when tested on intestine and oviduct mucosal secretions, 3-weeks post-vaccination in both immunization protocol groups. To evaluate the CMI response, the splenic T-cells and B-cells populations were analyzed using flow cytometry. The CD3/B-cell ratio decreased 3 wk after the second immunization in the twice vaccinated Layermune group due to an increase in B-cells.

This report describes the genetics of the prion protein gene (PRNP) at codons 136, 154, and 171 for sheep diagnosed with naturally acquired classical scrapie in Canada between 1998 and 2008. Genotyping analysis was performed on 249 sheep with confirmed classical scrapie infection representing 98 flocks from 6 provinces. A further case-control analysis of 3 of these flocks compared the genotypes between infected sheep (n = 72) and those of their healthy flockmates (n = 1990). The incidence of classical scrapie in the Canadian sheep population was highly associated with the ARQ haplotype (91.8%) and the ARQ/ARQ genotype (91.6%). In addition, the ARQ haplotype was found at significantly higher frequency in scrapie-infected sheep when compared with their healthy flockmates. Comparison with other published data suggests that the scrapie risk of PRNP genotypes differs between Canada and countries where the VRQ allele is associated with the highest susceptibility to infection.

Linear and non-linear regressions were used to derive the calibration function for the measurement of roxithromycin plasma concentration. Their results were compared with weighted least squares regression by usual weight factors. In this paper the performance of a non-linear calibration equation with the capacity to account empirically for the curvature, y = ax∨b + c (b not equal to 1) is compared with the commonly used linear equation, y = ax + b, as well as the quadratic equation, y = ax²+ bx + c. In the calibration curve (range of 0.01 to 10 ㎍/mL) of roxithromycin, both heteroscedasticity and nonlinearity were present therefore linear least squares regression methods could result in large errors in the determination of roxithromycin concentration. By the non-linear and weighted least squares regression, the accuracy of the analytical method was improved at the lower end of the calibration curve. This study suggests that the non-linear calibration equation should be considered when a curve is required to be fitted to low dose calibration data which exhibit slight curvature.

Caseous lymphadenitis (CLA) is a chronic and contagious disease of sheep and goats caused by Corynebacterium (C.) pseudotuberculosis. A four-year-old female Saanen dairy goat was submitted to the Animal Disease Diagnostic Center at National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service. The clinical signs of the goat were emaciation, abortion and quadriplegia. The multifocal nodules of lymph nodes were encapsulated and filled with whitish caseous contents on the cut surface. Histopathologically, lymph nodes displayed suppurative and necrotizing granulomas. Caseous necrosis was diffusely observed in the center of the lymph nodes. Gram positive bacilli were shown in the lesions. C. pseudotuberculosis was isolated and confirmed by the biochemical tests and PCR assay. Based on clinical signs, histopathological examination and bacterial isolation, we diagnosed this case as CLA. To our knowledge, this is the first report of CLA in a Saanen dairy goat in Korea.

Yersinia (Y.) ruckeri has been recognized as a serious bacterial pathogen to several kinds of fish, including rainbow trout. However, there are no reports about the characteristics and pathogenicity of Y. ruckeri isolated from farm-cultured eels. In this study, we isolated and characterized Y. ruckeri from the farm-cultured eel Anguilla japonica in Korea. We investigated the phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of Y. ruckeri and tested the virulence of Y. ruckeri isolates on experimentally infected eels. Examination of the flagellar morphology of Y. ruckeri by electron microscopy showed peritrichous flagella in its cell body. Biochemical reaction studies showed overall identical profiles between the isolates and the reference strain of Y. ruckeri in API 20E and API ZYM tests. We sequenced the 16S rRNA of the Y. ruckeri (1,505 bp) for the genotypic characterization (National Center for Biotechnology Information accession number EU401667). Comparison of the 16S rRNA sequences with previously reported Y. ruckeri strains revealed similar phylogenetic relationships. In the virulence assay of the Y. ruckeri on eels, the eels exhibited listlessness, but Y. ruckeri was reisolated from those of the gills and kidneys.

A Persian chinchila (2 years old, intact female) and a Korean domestic shorthaired cat (3 months, intact male) were referred to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital of Chungnam National University with tachypnea. The two cats were diagnosed as feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) by blood and blood chemical examination, radiographic examination, RT-PCR and electrophoresis analysis of pleural effusion. Thromboxane synthetase inhibitor (Ozagrel HCl, 5 mg/kg, twice a day) was administered to the Persian chinchila and Korean domestic shorthair for 13 days and 16 days, respectively. Pleural effusion disappeared after treatment with Ozagrel HCl. Further study is needed to establish a new application protocol of Ozagrel HCl for FIP cases.

The molecule possessing ankyrin-repeats induced by lipopolysaccharide (MAIL) protein is a novel member of the Ikappaβ family. In the present study, we examined the effect of norepinephrine (NE) on MAIL mRNA expression in primary cultured mouse hepatocytes and non-parenchymal liver cells. MAIL mRNA expression in hepatocytes and non-parenchymal liver cells was not directly influenced by NE. However, MAIL mRNA expression in hepatocytes was significantly induced by incubation with a culture medium of non-parenchymal liver cells, treated with NE. Pretreatment with an interleukin (IL)-1 receptor antagonist significantly attenuated the stimulatory effect of the medium. Moreover, exogenous IL-1β induced MAIL mRNA expression in hepatocytes, while IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor α did not. The concentration of IL-1β in the medium of non-parenchymal liver cells was significantly increased after NE-treatment. These results suggest that NE can induce MAIL mRNA expression in hepatocytes through IL-1β, released from non-parenchymal liver cells.

The large amount of tissue culture medium (TCM), which contains some of the active secretory components of Korean wild ginseng (KWG; Panax ginseng) such as saponins, is usually discarded after harvest of KWG. The present study was aimed to investigate the efficacy of oral administration of the TCM-KWG on growth performance and diseases resistance in broiler chickens. A day old broiler chickens randomized in 6 groups (n=60/groups) were administered orally with 0, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 32 mL/L TCM-KWG through drinking water for 5 weeks and examined the change of weight gain, feed intake and blood components. Also, five weeks old broiler chickens (n=15/groups) were challenged orally with Salmonella (S.) gallinarum and investigated the mortality in broiler chickens. An average weight gain and feed intake significantly didn't change in TCM-KWG administration groups as compared to control group. The concentration of calcium (Ca), phosphate (Pi) and potassium (K) in serum were increase by TCM-KWG administration in broiler chickens. We also found that oral administration of TCM-KWG through drinking water significantly reduced the mortality in broiler chickens experimentally infected with virulent S. gallinarum. The results of this study indicated that TCM-KWG administration may elevate the resistance on disease and improved the skeleton formation and body homeostasis of chickens, and TCM-KWG can be used as a cost-effective and environmentally alternative additives to control of the disease and growth.