In this study, we evaluated the stability and potency of live attenuated rinderpest vaccines of lapinized-avianized tissue culture strain origin, which had been produced annually from 2005 to 2008. When immune responses to the vaccines were evaluated using two Holstein calves weighing 100~150 kg, neutralizinng antibody titer of 1 : 16 was induced at 21 days post vaccination. When calves were also inoculated with vaccines lots that had been stored for 39 months at 4℃, same level of antibody titer was observed. Using the virus titer test, we found that all batches of the vaccine that had been kept for 3, 10, 15, 22, 27, 34, 39, and 45 months showed no significant loss of titers, and fulfilled the requirement necessary (greater-than or equal to 3 logTCID∧50) to be used as the national rinderpest vaccine reserve in Korea. In this study, we demonstrated that stability and potency of the rinderpest vaccines were maintained over three years when kept at 4℃ storage. This indicates that it maybe feasible to extend the expiration period of this vaccine from one year to three years.

Biofilm has been described as a barrier, which produced by microorganisms to survive and protect themselves against various environments, like antibiotic agents. Staphylococcus spp. is a common cause of nosocomial and environmental infection. Thirty-six and thirty-five Staphylococci were isolated from animals and air, respectively. Based on the biofilm forming ability of the bacterium reported in our previous report, relationship between biofilm formation and antibiotic-resistance was investigated in this study. Regarding antibiotics susceptibility, cefazolin was the most effective agent to the bacteria. Strong biofilm-forming Staphylococcus spp. isolates might have a higher antibiotic resistance than weak biofilm isolates regardless of the presence of antibiotic resistance genes (p less than 0.05). This result suggested that the chemical complexity of the biofilm might increase the antibiotic resistance due to the decrease of antibiotic diffusion into cells through the extensive matrix.

Bovine enteroviruses (BEVs) were separated into two groups, BEV-1 and BEV-2. BEVs, found in cattle worldwide, usually cause asymptomatic infections and are excreted in the feces of infected animals. Antibodies against BEV have been found in different species including human, cattle, sheep, goats, dogs, horses and monkeys in the world. This study aimed to investigate prevalence of the neutralizing antibodies for BEVs in human and animals in Korea. Antibodies against BEV-1 in humans, cattle, pigs, goats, horses and dogs were shown to be 46.8%, 48.3%, 70.6%, 11.5% and 6.3% respectively. Also, antibodies against BEV-2 were shown to be 98.7%, 68.1%, 89.2%, 59.4%, 9.4% and 96.9% respectively. We found that the neutralizing antibodies against these viruses are common in Korea. The prevalences of antibodies against BEV-1 were lower than those against BEV-2 in humans and in all animals except horses. These results showed that the BEV is considered endemic in cattle in many regions in Korea.

After the original identification of canine parvovirus (CPV) type 2 (CPV-2) in 1978, new antigenic variants such as CPV-2a, CPV-2b and CPV-2c have become widespread in the most countries. In this study, the genetic analysis of canine parvovirus was investigated in a total of 13 CPV vaccines, which have been licensed in Korea since late 1980s, and a field isolate of CPV from a dog with CPV infection clinical symptom. The partial VP2 gene of CPV was amplified and sequenced from 13 vaccine strains and one field isolate. The results showed that of the 13 vaccine strains, 10 strains belong to the CPV-2, 2 strains to CPV-2b, the remaining and one isolate to CPV-2a type, respectively. Several mutations of amino acids were detected at residues of the critical region of the commercial vaccine strains. These data suggest that new type of vaccines containing CPV-2a or CPV-2b/2c type may be required for the better prevention of new CPV infection in dog population in Korea, because CPV-2 contained in most licensed vaccines has been replaced by antigenic variants designated CPV-2a or CPV-2b/c in the worldwide dog population.

A 6-year-old, neutered male, Schnauzer was presented with a one year history of weight loss and exercise intolerance. Physical examination revealed abdominal distention and ecchymosis on the abdominal skin. CBC and serum chemistry profiles revealed anemia and increased serum liver enzymes. Postmortem examination revealed primary hepatic hemagiosarcoma. The tumor had extended to the mesentery and diaphragm, but distant metastasis was not found. This case report describes primary hepatic hemangiosarcoma which is very rare in a dog.

The aim of the present study was to determine the acute and subacute potential of trichlorfon in guppies (Poecilia reticulata). We first defined the 24h median tolerance limit (TLm∧24h) of the fish to trichlorfon. Guppies were then treated with TLm∧24h and 1/10 TLm∧24h trichlorfon concentrations to evaluate of any histological alterations occurred. The TLm∧24h value of trichlorfon was 11 ppm. This concentration resulted in acute toxicity to the gills and kidneys with edema, hyperplasia of the gill lamellae, and vacuolated degeneration and necrosis of renal tubular cells. In the case of subacute toxicity using a 10-fold dilution of the TLm∧24h value (1.1 ppm), no behavioral changes, external lesions or histopathological changes were observed. Therefore, safe concentration of trichlorfon might be 1.1 ppm in guppy for controlling parasitic infections.

The present study describes an investigation on an epidemic of Tuberculosis (TB) which has been occurred among dairy cattle farms in Jeongeup, Jeollabuk-do since 2007. The investigation was performed in three ways as follows: 1. Collecting information about bovine TB outbreaks using investigation reports, an on-the-spot and tracing-back investigations; 2. Analyzing the outbreak pattern; 3. Establishing hypothesis and performing statistical analysis on potential risk factors. In the early 2000s, TB outbreaks were sporadically reported in beef cattle, and only a small number (1~2) of reactors was confirmed in each of outbreak farms. The number of TB outbreaks has been suddenly increased from 2007, mainly in dairy cattle farms. And these outbreaks were temporarily clustered during the period, from March 2007 to April 2009 (relative risk, RR=13.7, p less than 0.001). And two spatial clusters of which radiuses were 0.3 km (RR=6.9, p less than 0.001) and 0.9 km (RR=3.6, p less than 0.01). The analysis to find risk factors was performed on 99 dairy farms (21 outbreaks), which are located in the most seriously affected village during 2007-2009. Middleman (odds ratio, OR=47.4, p less than 0.05) and raw milk collecting system (OR=6.9, p less than 0.05) were recognized as with the highest association. Considering the fact that all the outbreak farms except one had their own manure composting tank, it might be that the manure containing pathogen was leaked from tank and transmitted to other farms by fomites such as middleman or raw milk collecting system.

Diaphragmatic hernias, whether congenital or acquired (traumatic), are rarely observed in the horse. Acquired diaphragmatic hernias typically occur secondary to trauma or an increase in intra-abdominal pressure due to falling, heavy exercise, or parturition. Diaphragmatic herniorrhaphy is difficult to perform in adult horses and the horses with symptomatic diaphragmatic hernias usually die. A 10-year old, 340 kg, Jeju horse (crossbred) broodmare with sudden onset of gait disorder and a moderate emaciation was examined. Findings on physical examination included conjunctivitis, dehydration, shallow breathing, dyspnea, weaken heart beat, lack of auscultatable sounds from the gastrointestinal tract, and anorexia. Rectal temperature was 38.4℃ and respiratory rates were moderately increased. There were slight signs of acute colic. The broodmare died one day after non-specific treatment of fluids, nutriment, antibiotics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. The cause of death was strangulation of the small intestine through a diaphragmatic hernia. The rent was about 2 cm in diameter and located in the central right part of diaphragm. Around 60 cm of small intestine was protruded into thoracic cavity through the rent. The cause of the hernia could not be ascertained. The broodmare had been pastured with many other horses, and the groom had not noticed any aggressive behavior among them. It was, however, speculated that trauma by stallion's attack may have been the cause of the diaphragmatic hernia, because the new horse may be the object of behaviors ranging from mild threats to seriously aggressive kicking, squealing, rearing, and biting.

To determine whether an anti-Salmonella bacterium is involved in control of pathogen load in persistently infected cattle herds. 24 Holstein calves experimentally infected and 39 Holstein cows naturally infected with Salmonella spp. An Escherichia coli (designated as P8E5) that possessed anti-Salmonella activity was isolated from Salmonella-negative bovine feces obtained from a herd with endemic Salmonella infection. In vitro analysis involved enumerating Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium coincubated with E coli P8E5. In vivo analysis involved coadministration of Salmonella spp and E coli P8E5 or an E coli control strain to neonatal Holstein calves. Fecal samples were collected on multiple days after inoculation, and quantitative PCR assay was performed by use of Salmonella-specific primers. E coli P8E5 reduced viability of Salmonella spp in vitro. Shedding of Salmonella organisms was diminished in calves administered E coli P8E5, whereas the control strain of E coli had no effect on shedding of Salmonella organisms. In this study, an E coli strain was identified that possessed bacteriocin-like activity and was able to decrease viability of Salmonella organisms in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, it is possible that this organism could be representative of native microbiota that dampen Salmonella spp in persistently infected cattle herds.

Hydrocephalus is an intractable disease characterized by the excessive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the cerebral ventricles. There are many cases in both human and animals; however, the cause and mechanism of its development is not clearly understood. In this study, differences of cerebral ventricles in 5 inbred mice strains (MRL/MpJ, C57BL/6, C3H/He, DBA/2 and BALB/c) were investigated by histological techniques to determine the possibility of a new animal model for hydrocephalus. Our analysis showed that significant differences in the volume and the surface area of lateral ventricles in the 5 inbred strains, with MRL/MpJ mice having the largest lateral, third, aqueduct and fourth ventricles. In addition, when MRL/MpJ mice were compared to BALB/c mice on 0 day after birth, the former already had larger lateral ventricles than the latter. Although there was no significant difference in the ratios of ependymal cell types in MRL/MpJ mice and BALB/c mice, the number and the diameter of lipid droplets in MRL/MpJ mice were, interestingly, smaller than those in BALB/c mice. It is well known that ependymal cells absorb nutritional substances in CSF by endocytosis, suggesting the possibility that their decrease may relate to the larger cerebral ventricles in MRL/MpJ. In conclusion, MRL/ MpJ mice have greater volumes in cerebral ventricles than other strains and may be useful for a model showing high susceptibility to hydrocephalus.