A male, 3.5 month old Pomeranian dog was diagnosed with a natural infection of Crenosoma (C.) vulpis in Daejeon, Korea. First stage larvae of C. vulpis were detected by fecal examination using the Baermann technique. Thoracic radiographs revealed mild, pervasive bronchial infiltration of the lung. Enumeration of larvae via the McMaster technique revealed 1,600 larvae per gram of feces. The dog was treated with mebendazole, and clinical symptoms were resolved 2 weeks post-treatment, as indicated by the subject presenting fecal tests negative for C. vulpis.

Q-fever is a vector-borne (Coxiella [C.] burnetii) zoonotic disease that is an increasing public health concern. To date, some research about Q-fever prevalence in dairy herds and human patients has been reported in Korea, but information about Korean native cattle is scarce. To measure the prevalence rates of C. burnetii in Korean native cattle, a total of 1,095 bovine serum samples collected during 2010~2013 were analyzed with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Sixty-eight heads of cattle were diagnosed as positive and while 19 heads were suspected (positive rate = 6.2%). Interestingly, Jeju province had a seropositivity rate six times greater than that of other provinces (18.9% vs. 3.2%). High seroprevalence might be caused by wide distribution of ticks in Jeju province compared to other regions. Based on these data, extensive monitoring of C. burnetii infection in cattle, tick distribution, and climate changes is required.

The present study compared leptin, adiponectin, and thyroid hormone concentrations in normal and obese dogs, and evaluated the association between leptin and adiponectin concentrations and thyroid function. The serum leptin, adiponectin, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), total thyroxine (tT4), free thyroxine (fT4), triiodothyronine (T3), and cortisol concentrations were measured in 18 normal dogs (body condition score [BCS]: 4-5/9) and 16 obese dogs (BCS: 8-9/9). Leptin and T3 concentrations were higher in the obese group than the normal weight group (p 0.01 and p 0.05, respectively). In both groups, the T3 and leptin concentrations were correlated (r

Garlic and mugwort have long been used in traditional medicine to prevent various diseases. Several in vitro studies have reported protective efficacies of garlic and mugwort in cases of gastric cancer. In the present study, we investigated the cancer preventive effects of garlic and mugwort mixture extract (GME) in a Helicobacter (H.) pylori-associated gastric carcinogenesis mouse model. To induce gastric cancer, C57BL/6 mice were treated with N-methyl-N-nitrosourea and H. pylori. Various concentrations of GME (0, 100, 500, and 1,000 ppm) were then fed to the mice for 38 weeks, after which the tumor tissues were examined for histopathology, mucin histochemistry and ¥�-catenin. The incidence of gastric tumors was significantly lower in the highest dose GME-treated mice (46.7%) than control mice (85.7%) (p 0.05). The multiplicity and size of tumors were also significantly reduced by GME feeding in a dose-dependent manner (p 0.01). Furthermore, GME suppressed the H. pylori-associated chronic inflammation measured by histologic grading of H. pylori density, chronic gastritis, glandular atrophy and intestinal metaplasia in non-tumorous gastric mucosae. Our data suggest that GME suppresses gastric tumorigenesis via suppression of H. pylori-associated chronic inflammation.

In Korea, brucellosis has been reported periodically in cattle and rarely in dogs; however, it has not previously been screened in domestic animals such as elk, pigs and goats. To investigate the serological prevalence, serum samples were taken from the aforementioned animals annually during 2007-2013 and screened by the rose-bengal test (RBT) or modified RBT, after which positive sera were evaluated by the standard tube agglutination test (STAT). Finally, RBT and STAT-positive sera were confirmed by competitive-ELISA. Brucella abortus biovar 1 was isolated from three elk that were shown to be positive serologically in 2008. There was no evidence of brucellosis in pigs. Based on serological monitoring and investigation of etiological agents, there is no evidence of outbreak of brucellosis in elk, pigs or goats of Korea since 2008. However, the possibility for brucellosis from cattle to affect these other livestock exists; therefore, extensive and continuous serological monitoring is required to maintain their brucellosis-free status.

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of human multiple sclerosis (MS), reflects pathophysiologic steps in MS such as the influence of T cells and antibodies reactive to the myelin sheath, and the cytotoxic effect of cytokines. Galectin-9 (Gal-9) is a member of animal lectins that plays an essential role in various biological functions. The expression of Gal-9 is significantly enhanced in MS lesions; however, its role in autoimmune disease has not been fully elucidated. To identify the role of Gal-9 in EAE, we measured changes in mRNA and protein expression of Gal-9 as EAE progressed. Expression increased with disease progression, with a sharp rise occurring at its peak. Gal-9 immunoreactivity was mainly expressed in astrocytes and microglia of the central nervous system (CNS) and macrophages of spleen. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that Gal-9. CD11b. cells were dramatically increased in the spleen at the peak of disease. Increased expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-R1 and p-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) was observed in the CNS of EAE mice, suggesting that TNF-R1 and p-JNK might be key regulators contributing to the expression of Gal-9 during EAE. These results suggest that identification of the relationship between Gal-9 and EAE progression is critical for better understanding Gal-9 biology in autoimmune disease.

The present study was performed to evaluate the effect of medicinal plant extract on relieving hangovers in mice administered alcohol. The animals were divided into three groups. Each group was treated with fermented plant extract, non-fermented plant extract, or water 30 min after consuming ethanol (2 mL/kg). A locomotor activity test showed that all groups had decreased motor activity until 40 min after plant extract administration. The mice treated with water had lower motor activity until 100 min post-administration. However, the group treated with non-fermented plant extract showed increased motor activity 40 min post-administration, and the higher activity level was maintained until 120 min post-administration. The animals treated with fermented plant extract had a level of motor activity between those of the groups treated with water or non-fermented plant extract. Blood was collected from each mouse 120 min post-administration and aldehyde concentration was measured. The group treated with non-fermented plant extract had a significantly higher (p 0.05) aldehyde concentration than the other groups. These results demonstrate that the non-fermented medicinal plant extract helped alleviate hangovers 40 min after administration by reducing aldehyde concentrations in the blood.

This study was investigated the change of concentration and toxicity of thermally cross-linked superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (TCL-SPION) on tissues of Sprague-Dawley rats. TCL-SPION at the dose of 15 mg/kg body weight was intravenously injected into the tail vein of the male Sprague-Dawley rats. The fate of TCL-SPION in serum, urine and tissues was observed during 28 days. Serum iron level was maximal at 0.25 h post-injection and gradually declined thereafter. In addition, the sinusoids of liver and the red pulp area of spleen were mainly accumulated iron from 0.5 h to 28-day post-injection. In kidney, iron deposition was detected in the tubular area until 0.5 h after injection. Malondialdehyde concentration in the liver slightly increased with time and was not different with that at zero time. In the liver and spleen, TNF-¥�and IL-6 levels of TS treated with TCL-SPION were not different with those of the control during the experimental period. From the results, TCL-SPION could stay fairly long-time in certain tissues after intravenous injection without toxicity. The results indicated that TCL-SPION might be useful and safe as a contrast for the diagnosis of cancer or a carrier of therapeutic reagents to treat diseases.

In this study, we describe a case of epitheliogenesis imperfecta (EI) observed in the fetus of Korean native cattle. The fetus had multifocal areas of skin defect, especially on the distal portions of the four limbs, and the affected areas were bright-red and glistening. Histopathologically, these areas were characterized by complete absence of squamous epithelium, infiltration of inflammatory cells into the dermis, atrophy of hair follicles, sebaceous and sweat glands. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of epitheliogenesis imperfecta in Korean native cattle.

Objective-To compare cytotoxic effects and antiviral efficacy of 9 nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) against FIV in feline peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Sample-Peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from 3 specific pathogen-free cats. Procedures-3 of the 9 NRTIs had not been previously assessed in feline cell lines. Cytotoxic effects were determined by colorimetric quantification of a formazan product resulting from bioreduction of a tetrazolium reagent by viable peripheral blood mononuclear cells; uninfected cells from 1 cat were used in these assays. Cells from all 3 cats were infected with a pathogenic clone of FIV, and in vitro antiviral efficacy of each NRTI was assessed with an FIV p24 antigen capture ELISA. Results-Cytotoxic effects in feline peripheral blood mononuclear cells were observed only at concentrations > 10 μM for all 9 NRTIs. Comparison of the cytotoxic effect at the highest concentration investigated (500μM) revealed that didanosine and amdoxovir were significantly less toxic than abacavir. All drugs induced a dose-dependent reduction of FIV replication. At the highest concentration investigated (10μM), there was no significant difference in antiviral efficacy among the test compounds. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-The evaluated NRTIs had low cytotoxicity against feline peripheral blood mononuclear cells and appeared to be safe options for further in vivo evaluation for the treatment of FIV-infected cats. There was no evidence suggesting that the newly evaluated compounds would be superior to the existing NRTIs for reducing FIV burden of infected cats.