The Mkuze Game Reserve (MGR), in north-eastern KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa is an African swine fever virus (ASF) controlled area. In a survey conducted in 1978, ASF prevalence in warthogs and Ornithodoros ticks in MGR was determined to be 2 % and 0.06 %, respectively. These values, acknowledged as being unusually low compared to other East and southern African ASF-positive sylvatic-cycle host populations, have not been assessed since. The availability of a sensitive PCR-based virus detection method, developed specifically for the sylvatic tampan host, prompted a re-evaluation of ASF virus (ASFV) prevalence in MGR ticks. Of the 98 warthog burrows inspected for Ornithodoros presence, 59 (60.2 %>) were found to contain tampans and tick sampling was significantly male-biased. Whilst gender sampling-bias is not unusual, the 27 °% increase in infestation rate of warthog burrows since the 1978 survey is noteworthy as it anticipates a concomitant increase in ASFV prevalence, particularly in light of the high proportion (75 %>) of adult ticks sampled. However, despite DNA integrity being confirmed by internal control amplification of the host 16S gene, PCR screening failed to detect ASFV. These results suggest that ASFV has either disappeared from MGR or if present, is localized, occurring at exceptionally low levels. Further extensive surveys are required to establish the ASFV status of sylvatic hosts in this controlled area.

The effect of Bu-Zhong-Yi-Qi-Tan (BZYQT) on the changes of ultraviolet (UV) light B radiation-induced apoptotic sunburn cell (SBC) and epidermal ATPase-positive dendritic cell (DC) in SKH1-hr or ICR mouse were investigated. The mice were treated with UVB (200 mj/㎠) and were sacrificed 24 h later. BZYQT (50 mg/kg of body weight) or vehicle (saline) was given i.p. at 36 and 12 h before irradiation, and 30 min after irradiation or BZYQT cream (0.2%) or cream base (vehicle) was topically treated at 24 h and 15 min before irradiation, and immediately after irradiation. The skin of SKH1-hr mouse prepared from the back of untreated mice exhibited about 0.3 SBC/cm length of epidermis, and 24 h after UV irradiation, the applied areas show an increased number of SBCs. But the frequency of UVB-induced SBC formation was reduced by intraperitoneal injection of BZYQT extract (p less than 0.01). The numbers of DC in normal ICR mouse were 628.00 ± 51.56 or 663.20 ± 62.58 per ㎟ of ear epidermis. By 1 day after UVB treatment, the number of ATPase-positive cells/㎟ were decreased by 39.0% or 27.1% in i.p. or topical application group with vehicle. Treatment of BZYQT was associated with increase of 33.9% in i.p. group (p less than 0.05) or 2.7% in topical application group in the number of ATPase positive cells compared with the irradiation control group. The results presented herein that BZYQT administration could reduce the extent of skin damages produced by UVB.

The molecular genetic characterization of Aujeszky's disease virus (ADV) Yangsan strain (ADV-YS), a Korean isolate, was investigated by analyzing the electrophoresis patterns and the physical maps of the viral DNA digested with various endonucleases. To establish DNA library for ADV-YS, twelve major BamHI restricted segments were cloned. Each location of the segments in the ADV genome was determined by sequence comparison with the sequences reported in Genbank and those sequences of the both termini of the segments. Physical maps were constructed based on the electrophoresis patterns of the digested viral DNA by restriction endonuclease and the results of Southern blot analyses with various DIG labeled probes originated from those of enzyme restricted segments of virulent (Shope) and avirulent (Bartha) strain. Comparing ADV-YS with a standard strainof Kaplan in the maps of restriction enzymes, following major respects were identified: (ⅰ) disappearance of BamHI restriction site between the first and second BamHI segments, (ⅱ) creation of the BamHI restriction site in the fifth segment, and (ⅲ) generation of the BglⅡ site in the unique short (Us) regions. The genome of ADV-YS also contains a type 2 herpesvirus DNA molecule (in which the Us region only inverts itself relative to the unique longregion) like all other ADV strains except Norden strain(type3), analyzed up to date. The size of the ADV genome estimated from the sizes of the restriction enzyme fragments, was approximately 145.3kb (BamHI) or 145.3kb (BglⅡ) 145.4kb (BglⅡ). BamHI enzyme cleavage pattern were compared among the five Korean ADV isolates: Yangsan, Yongin, Dangjin, Jincheon and Iksan strains. Difference either in the number or in the size of the DNA fragments, suspected regions of termini of IR and TR, could be detected among all five strains.

Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) is an immune-mediated skin disease which requires histopathology and immunohistopathology in both dogs and humans. A 10-month-old, intact female Alaskan Malamute presented for depigmentation, swelling, alopecia, erythema, and crusting on the bridge of the nose and the nasal planum. Cytological examination of nasal lesions revealed numerous cocci and neutrophils. Histopathological features included of infiltration of mononuclear cells at the dermoepidermal junction. Direct immunofluorescence tests and immunohistochemistry exhibited positive IgG, IgM, IgA, CD3, CD18, and CD 79a on the epidermal basement membranes and around adnexal glands. This case indicates both T cells and B cells are related to mechanism of canine DLE. This case report describes advanced diagnostic tests and clinical outcome with immume suppressive therapy in a rare juvenile canine DLE case.

Salmonella ecterica subsp. enterica serovar gallinarum (S. gallinarum) is the agent of fowl typhoid, and the 9R vaccine is a commercial live vaccine for the prevention of fowl typhoid. The aim of this study was to assess the safety and immunogenicity of different brands of S. gallinarum 9R vaccine used in commercial laying chickens in Korea. All 9R strains originated from three different brands showed the same pattern in the biochemical and serological properties, and pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) profile, But there was a difference in rhamnose fermentaion, agglutination with Salmonella group D₁ antiserum and PFGE pattern between 9R vaccine strain and field S. gallinarum isolates. In laboratory and field trials for assessment of safety and immunogenicity of 9R vaccine, all of the three 9R vaccines showed the same safety in commercial laying chickens. In addition, there was a significant difference between the vaccinated and unvaccinated control groupsin mortality and the re-isolation rate of the challenge strain from the tissues (p less than 0.05), and no difference by the brands of 9R vaccine. The results from this study indicated that all three different brands of S. gallinarum 9R vaccine showed highly protection against mortality and organ invasion in commercial laying chickens exposed to virulent strains of S. gallinarum.

Streptomyces (S.) fradiae is a microbe with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, isolated from soil. In the present study, antibacterial effects of S. fradiaea against Salmonella (S.) gallinarum was determined. S. fradiae inhibited growing of S. gallinarum in Luria-Bertani media agar. Moreover, ingestion of S. fradiae markedly inhibited mortality of chickens experimentally infected with S. gallinarum. There is no side effect by S. fradiaeon, in safety of chickens and antibiotic material residues in chicken meat. Taken together, S. fradiae have the antibacterial effects against S. gallinarum. Therefore, we concluded that S. fradiae might be a good microbial candidate for treatment or control of fowl typhoid in chickens.

In the present study, ten herbal extracts, Citirus unchiu Markovich, root and stem of Berberis koreana, Morus alba, Dendrobium moniliforme, Aster gramineus, A. scabar, Alisma canaliculatum, Fallopia japonica and Origamum (O.) vulgare were determined to examine anti-mycoplasmal activity. Among them, O. vulgare extract (OVE) showed strong anti-mycoplasmal activity and was analyzed by gas-chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). As the results, OVE was consisted of carvacrol (68.78%), o-cymene (9.80%), terpinene (7.61%) and thymol (4.03%) as main ingredients. To investigate inflammatory activity by intact pathogenic Mycoplasma hyoneumoniae (M. hyo) at 30 ㎍/mL, we examined induced transcription of proinflammatory cytokines such as cyclooxygenase-2, tumor necrosis factor-a, interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6 and inducible nitric oxide synthase in RAW 264.7 cells. With the above results, we further investigated whether OVE could reduce inflammation induced by M. hyo at minimal inhibitory concentration. The result showed that 32 ㎍/mL of OVE inhibited nitric oxide production by 60%. This study also evaluated the combination of OVE with antibacterials against M. hyo for application. Based on these results, it could be concluded that M. hyo induces inflammation in RAW 264.7 cells and OVE protects this inflammation, indicating that OVE may be useful for industrial animals.

Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) is an important bacterial pathogen of chickens and causes colibacillosis such as airsacculitis, perihepatitis, omphalitis, peritonitis, salpingitis and pericarditis. As the transfer of antibiotic resistance from animal to humans can be possible surveillance on antibiotic resistance of APEC is very important. A total 34 APEC isolates from diseased chickens during the period from 2007 to 2009 were obtained. The susceptibility of the isolates to 13 antibiotics was determined by disc diffusion assay. Resistance to erythromycin was found in 97.1% of APEC isolated, followed by resistance to tetracycline (85.3%), doxycycline (82.3%), ampicillin (73.5%), sulfisoxazole (67.6%), enrofloxacin (67.6%), ciprofloxacin (64.7%), norfloxacin (61.7%) trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (52.9%), gentamycin (26.5%), amoxicillin (8.8%), colistin (5.9%), and amikacin (2.9%). The blaTEM genes were detected in 25 (100%) of the 25 ampicillin-resistant APEC isolates. Among the 29 tetracycline-resistant APEC isolates, tetA and tetB genes were detected in 18 (62.1%) and 9 (31%) isolates, respectively. Twenty six (76.5%) isolates were multiresistant to at least 6 antibiotics and seven (20.1%) isolates were multiresistant to at least 10 antibiotics. This results indicated that multiple antibiotic-resistant APEC is widespread in chicken flocks in Korea.

Neurofascin, one of the members of L1CAM, has been known to have some important roles during the development of nerve fibers. In order to investigate the role of neurofascin associated with the formation of Schmidt-Lantermann incisure in the sciatic nerve, the localization of neurofascin was studied with electron microscopy, immuno-fluorescence and immuno-electron microscopy. In the electron microscopy, the first formation of Schmidt-Lantermann incisure was checked at postnatal day 6 and the complete form of incisures traversing the whole myelin sheath began to be observed at postnatal day 8. In the immunofluorescence, neurofascin immunoreactive Schmidt-Lantermann incisures were first checked at postnatal day 6 and dramatically increased with aging by postnatal day 56. In the immunoelectron microscopy, neurofascin immunoreactive gold particles at the incisure forming sites were first observed at postnatal day 6 and the number of gold particles was increased as the animal was getting old by postnatal day 56. According to the present study, neurofascin is likely to have some relationships with Schmidt-Lantermann incisure formation.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are synthetic organic compounds with two benzene rings and well known environmental pollutants. This study examined the effect of persistent exposure to 2,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB118) on the proinflammatory and proapoptotic factors in male rats. Male Sprague Dawley rats were administered weekly intraperitoneal injections of either PCB118 (20 mg/kg) dissolved in corn oil or corn oil alone. One week after 2 and 5 administrations, the rats were sacrificed by a pentobarbital injection. The effect of PCB118 on the expression of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, Bcl and Bcl-2-associated X protein (BAX) was investigated. The level of COX-2 and cPLA2 expression was higher in the PCB118-treated rats than the control. These results suggest that PCB118 has a proinflammatory effect in rats.