Hips of the Golden and Labrador retrievers in Korea were evaluated with the University of Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Program (PennHIP) and the severity of joint laxity and degenerative joint disease (DJD) were compared to the PennHIP database. The distraction index (DI) of domestic Golden and Labrador retrievers was significantly higher than the DI of the PennHIP database. In the two breeds, the Prevalence of DJD increased according to the DI. However, the severity of DJD did not show a positive correlation with the DI. Overweight dogs and dogs kept indoors showed more severe DJD and more prevalence of clinical signs. This report is thought to be the first case presentation of a large population of Golden and Labrador retrievers in Korea and the findings are representing the overall level of canine hip dysplasia (CHD) of domestic Retrievers, as the PennHIP method was not available in Korea until 2001. We can respect that the stock of retrievers can have a tighter hip joint through control of CHD using an accurate diagnostic method keyed to a phenotype especially concern for joint laxity using PennHIP method and an organized screening program. The clinical manifestation of dysplastic dog can be reduced through control of bodyweight and the environment with regular monitoring the hips with concern for joint laxity using PennHIP method.

This study was performed to examine the effect of 2,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB#118) on testis of male rats. PCB#118 (20 mg/kg/week) in corn oil was intraperitoneally injected to adult male rats for 2, 5, 8 weeks. The body and testicular weights were measured at 3, 6, 9 weeks of PCB treatment. The morphological changes in the rat testes were then analyzed by light microscopy (LM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results showed that PCB#118 caused significant change in the body weights and testicular weights. Moreover, the morphological studies that were conducted on the PCB-treated rats revealed that the number of spermatocytes and spermatids in their seminiferous tubules decreased than control group (LM). The nuclear membrane was damaged when PCB was administered to them for 9 weeks (TEM). These results suggest that the reproductive function of the adult male rats is sensitive to PCB#118, and that may affect the testicular morphology of adult male rats.

It was previously found that PG102, a water-soluble extract derived from Actinidia arguta, was able to modulate Th1/Th2 pathways and suppress IgE production resulting in dramatic amelioration of atopic dermatitis in NC/Nga mouse and hairless rat models. In order to evaluate the subacute toxicity of PG102, female and male SD rats were daily fed with various doses of PG102 for 4 weeks. Six week old SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups and orally administrated with 100-, 300-, and 1,000-mg/kg of PG102 as well as the vehicle only. At the end of the study, no significant differences in the body and organ weights were observed between control and treated rats of both genders. Hematological and blood chemical analysis showed little differences between the animal groups. Neither gross abnormalities nor histopathological changes were found. PG102 produced little or no subacute toxicity and could be used as a safe nutraceutical for the treatment of individuals with allergic diseases including atopic dermatitis.

Brucellosis is one of the most important zoonosis in worldwide. As one of the control measures, attempts have been made to develop new diagnostic methods using filed isolates as a national policy in many countries. Currently, bovine brucellosis in Korea have been received attention in both public health and economical aspects due to sudden increase of outbreak. Based on the situation, we compared standard strain (B. abortus 1119-3) with field isolates to reveal the differences among them. Biological and biochemical charateristics, antibiotic resistance profiles, outer membrane proteins (OMPs) and lipopolysaccharide analysis of the strains were included in this study. For the diagnostic purpose, an attempt was made to find out a novel antigen from the Korean isolates by serological analysis. There were differences about 55 kDa, 36-38 kDa and 20 kDa in analysis of OMPs by SDS-PAGE and Western blot with positive sera (greater-than or equal to 1:400 in SAT titer). Also, a serological diagnostic method, ELISA was conducted using OMPs of the strains as novel antigen. Relationships between O.D. and SAT titer were analyzed using field sera showing different SAT titer. High correlation coefficient was observed between SAT titer and ELISA. Results from this study suggested that a new diagnsotic method should be developed using their own field isolates in each country.

A high incidence of Anisakiasis has been reported in many countries where people eat frequently raw or undercooked seafood. Anisakis spp. larvae were obtained from the mackerel acquired from a fish market of Cheongju city. They were divided into several groups and placed in culture dishes containing RPMI-1640 (culture media), in the presence or absence of different concentrations of herbal extracts (Meliae ezadarach, Dryopteris crassirhizoma, Quisqualis indica var villosa). The objective of the present study was to investigate the activity of larval migration inhibition in vitro. Meliae ezadarach at the concentrations of 7.5, 15, and 30 mg/ml effectively inhibited the larvae migration in time-dependent manner during experimental period of 0-24 h. Treatment of Meliae ezadarach at the three concentrations completely inhibited the larvae migration in vitro. Dryopteris crassirhizoma at the concentrations of 5, 10, and 20 mg/ml also effectively inhibited the larvae migration in a time-dependent manner. The treatment of Dryopteris crassirhizoma for 12 h completely inhibited the larvae migration. The inhibitory effect of Dryopteris crassirhizoma was stronger than that of Meliae ezadarach. Although Quisqualis indica var villosa also showed the inhibitory effect on larvae migration, its inhibitory efficacy was the weakest among tested herbal extracts. These results indicated that some herbal extracts may be useful in controlling human anisakiasis.

Objective--To assess the impacts of the introduction of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and various FMD control programs in southern Thailand. Animals--A native population of 562,910 cattle and 33,088 buffalo as well as 89,294 animals legally transported into southern Thailand. Procedures--A quantitative risk assessment was used to ascertain the probability of FMD introduction, and an intrinsic dynamic model was used to assess impacts. Value for the transmission rate (β) was estimated. Five scenarios created to assess the impacts of nonstructural protein (NSP) testing, mass vaccination, and culling were examined. Impacts were assessed through an examination of the estimated annual cumulative incidence (ACI) of FMD. The ACIs of various scenarios were compared by use of the Tukey Studentized range technique. Results--β was estimated at 0.115. Approximately 35,000 cases of FMD would be expected from the baseline situation. A 30% reduction of ACI was detected with the introduction of NSP antibody testing. Prophylactic vaccination resulted in an 85% reduction of ACI. Concurrent use of NSP antibody testing and vaccination reduced the ACI by 96%, and the addition of an eradication policy resulted in a slightly greater decrease in the ACI (98%). Conclusions and Clinical Relevance--The study used epidemiologic models to investigate FMD control interventions. Results suggested that vaccination has more impact than the use of NSP testing. Use of the NSP test reduced ACI during peak seasons, whereas vaccination diminished the underlying incidence. The best mitigation plan was an integrated and strategic use of multiple control techniques.

Hypocretin/orexin is produced exclusively in the dorsal and lateral hypothalamus but its projection is widespread within the brain and plays important roles. In this paper, we review the independent discoveries of the hypocretin/orexin peptides, the neuroanatomy of this system, and the link to the sleep disorder narcolepsy that has led to the idea that this system plays a crucial role in the regulation of sleep and wakefulness.

Ixodes persulcatus Schulze (I. persulcatus) is distributed in Russia and Far East Asia including Japan, and has been implicated as the vector of several human pathogens. In particular, I. persulcatus acts as the only tick vector for human lyme borreliosis in Japan. In order to elucidate the mechanism of transmission of I. persulcatus-borne pathogens, we developed a laboratory colony of I. persulcatus. Ticks were fed on Syrian hamster and engorged ticks that had dropped off the animals were collected and maintained to allow them to molt. Tick rearing was performed in incubator at 20degC with 95% relative humidity and 12-hour light/dark photo-period regimen. We found out that adult females fed for 8+-2 days and had a pre-oviposition period lasting for 7+-2 days. The minimum egg incubation period was 1 month with the hatched larvae feeding for 3+-1 days and molting to nymphs 3-4 months thereafter. Meanwhile, the nymphs fed for 4+-1 days and molted to adult 2-3 months thereafter. For future analysis of gene expression profiles in I. persulcatus, we cloned and sequenced the actin gene (a housekeeping gene), and found that it is 92.7% to 98.6% homologous to the published sequences of related ixodid ticks. This laboratory colony of I. persulcatus will facilitate investigations on the role of tick-derived molecules on the transmission of I. persulcatus-borne pathogens and will be important for identification of potential anti-tick vaccine and acaricide target molecules.

Rhipicephalus appendiculatus serpin-3 (RAS-3), R. appendiculatus serpin-4 (RAS-4) and a 36kDa immuno-dominant protein of R. appendiculatus (RIM36) were reported as candidate antigens for the anti-tick vaccine to control ixodid ticks. In the present study, we generated recombinant proteins of RAS-3 (rRAS-3), RAS-4 (rRAS-4) and RIM36 (rRIM36), and assessed their potency as an anti-tick cocktail vaccine in cattle model. RT-PCR analysis showed that RAS-3, RAS-4 and RIM136 transcripts were detected in both adult male and female ticks during feeding. Immunization of cattle with the combination of rRAS-3, rRAS-4 and rRIM36 had raised antibodies against all recombinants and anti-sera had reacted with the molecules from the tick salivary gland extract. Tick infestation challenge demonstrated protective immunity against female ticks, resulting in mortality rates of 39.5 and 12.8 % for the vaccinated and control groups, respectively. Moreover, the mortality rate of Theileria parva-infected female ticks was 48.5 and 10.8 % in the vaccinated and control group, respectively. In order to evaluate the levels of pathogen transmission capacity by T. parva-infected ticks fed on immunized cattle, the occurrence of T. parva in the bovine parotid lymph node and peripheral blood was also determined and quantified by real-time PCR. Although the infection with T. parva could not be protected by the vaccine, the occurrence of pathogen in peripheral blood was delayed 1 to 2 days after the infestation challenge in vaccinated group. These results suggest that this cocktail vaccine plays a role in the prevention of tick infestation.

This study was performed to examine whether the brain activities induced by noxious algesic chemical substances in anesthetized animals could be detected by blood oxygen-level-dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging (BOLD-fMRI). Multislice gradient echo images of the primary somatosensory cortex were obtained using a 7.05 T superconducting system and a one-turned surface coil centered over the primary somatosensory cortex of the 1.0%-isoflurane-anesthetized rat. The Z-score t-map of BOLD signals and its time-course analysis revealed that subcutaneous injection of formalin into the left forepaw immediately induced an early response in the contralateral primary sensory cortex lasting for a few minutes, followed by a late response until 20 min after stimulation. In contrast, injection of capsaicin into the left forepaw evoked only the early response. Furthermore, pretreatment with morphine completely abolished these responses induced by the chemical algesic substances. Thus BOLD-fMRI is a useful method to analyze the brain activities of painful stimulation in anesthetized animals.