Newcastle disease virus (NDV) is the causative agent of a highly contagious and devastating Newcastle disease of poultry. A NDV (isolate DK1/07) was isolated from apparently healthy wild spot-billed ducks (Anas poecilorhyncha) captured at upper branch of the SapGyo Creek in Chungbuk province, Korea during early 2007. The DK1/07 isolate of minimum chicken embryo lethal dose killed all SPF chicken embryos within 60 h. The cleavage site of the F protein possessed the amino acid sequence ∨112R-R-Q-K-R-F∨117, which is a motif characteristic of virulent NDV strains. The F protein-based phylogenetic analysis revealed that the DK1/07 duck isolate was included in the cluster of genotype VIId and most closely related to recent NDV isolates obtained from chicken farms in Korea. Epidemiological importance of virulent NDV from wild duck is discussed.

Parallux, a solid-phase fluorescence immunoassay (SPFIA) developed for detection antibiotics residue in milk, was applied for analysis of antibiotics in muscle tissue of olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus), rockfish (Sebastes schlegeli), and red sea bream (Pagrus major). Fishes were dipped in neomycin 140 mg/ton water, the recommended therapeutic dose, for 24 h. Muscle samples were obtained on 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th day after drug treatment. The concentration of neomycin in muscle was determined using an internal standard (100 ppb as neomycin). The absorbance ratio of sample to internal standard (S/C) was employed as an index to determine the muscle residues in fishes. To investigate the recovery rate, the standard solutions were added to muscle samples to give final concentrations in muscle of 0.2 and 0.5 mg/ml. The recovery rates of all spiked samples were greater than 85% of the spiked value. Neomycin was detected in muscles of fishes treated after the 1st day of withdrawal period. On the 2nd day after drug treatment, all muscle samples showed negative reaction (S/C ration less-than or equal to 1.0). The present study showed that the SPFIA can be applied for predicting residues of neomycin in muscle tissues of farmed fishes.

Eosinophilic myositis lesions are characterized by severe eosinophil infiltration along muscles of affected animals. The exact cause of the lesion remains controversial and the carcass is condemned once this lesion is seen during meat inspection. A cow slaughtered in Chonbuk province, Korea was observed to have disseminated pale foci throughout the musculature; meat samples were obtained and macroscopically investigated. Cut ends of neck and thigh muscle tissues showed variably sized, multifocal pale white-grayish nodular lesions. Histopathological examination consistently revealed inflammatory lesions with adjacent infiltration of eosinophilic granulocytes and focal necrotic calcification. However, no parasites, including Sarcocystis sp., could be discerned in the affected carcass. This case was diagnosed as idiopathic eosinophilic myositis in cattle.

Plasmodium spp. in domestic and wild birds are microscopic, intracellular parasitic protozoa within the blood cells and tissues cause avian malaria. A 17-month-old Magellan penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus) with a clinical signs of anorexia, depression, and respiratory distress for 3 days was submitted to the Pathology Department of Veterinary Medicine, Cheju National University in October 2005. It was born and reared in the Jeju Island. Grossly, the liver was enlarged, pale and friable. The spleen was also enlarged with dark red coloration and friable. Histopathologically, the lesions in the liver were characterized by multifocal infiltration of macrophages and lymphocytes especially in perivascular regions. The schizonts of Plasmodium spp. contained up to 30 merozoites were found in numerous infiltrated mononuclear cells. Similarly, histiocytic cells were proliferated in red pulp of spleen and the schizonts were found in these cells. Numerous dark brown pigments were widely distributed in the liver and spleen. The result of the nested polymerase chain reaction clarified the causative agent of this case was Plasmodium spp.. This is the first report for the outbreak of avian malaria caused by Plasmodium spp. in a penguin that was born and reared in Jeju Island in Korea.

A 2-year-old, female, Maltese dog (3.2 kg of body weight) was referred to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, Chungnam National University with vomiting, anorexia and depression. Twelve hours prior to the onset of clinical signs, the dog ingested some grape skins (about 60 g). Physical examination at the time of presentation showed peripheral edema and mucous pallor. Blood and blood chemical analysis revealed anemia and moderate azotemia with elevated blood urea nitrogen (107.2 mg/dl), creatinine (6.3 mg/dl) and hyperphosphatemia (11.3 mg/dl). Echogenicity of renal cortex were observred by ultrasonography. The dog was diagnosed as acute renal failure occurred by grape skin toxicosis. The dog was treated with supportive care such as fluid therapy, diuretics (furosemide) and phosphorus binder (almagate). A normal condition of blood and blood chemical findings and clinical signs was observed at five days after treatment, and prognosis is good to date.

We report the electrocution of Korean native cattle by a fallen electric wire, which caused the death of thirteen animals. The owner of the cattle felt an electric shock on touching the steel pen and found a fallen 220-V wire on the roof of the barn; additionally, the roof was singed. Clinically, the animals developed spasm, difficulty breathing, and excessive salivation. Histopathologically, many visceral organs revealed severe congestion or hemorrhage, which is consistent with previous reports. This study revealed that the proper installation of electric wires on farms is essential to prevent economic loss by electrocution.

Portosystemic shunt (PSS) was diagnosed in 43 dogs by mesenteric portogram from January, 2002 to June 2007 in Haemaru referral animal hospital. PSS was found in various breeds including Maltese, Miniature Schnauzer and Yorkshire Terrier and there was no predisposition in gender. In laboratory parameters, mean cell volume was lower than normal value in single shunt and alanine aminotransferase was higher than normal range in multiple shunts with clinical significance. Cystic calculi were found in over 50% dogs with PSS and even in 70.8% dogs with single shunt. In 81% dogs with PSS, extrahepatic single shunt such as portocarval type and portoazygous type was identified. Extrahepatic multiple shunt and intrahepatic single shunt were observed in 4 dogs, respectively. Gradual attenuation using ameroid constrictor was applied to 35 dogs with extrahepatic single shunt and the prognosis of these dogs were good except two dogs, which showed poor prognosis because of acquired multiple PSS and renal disease unrelated with PSS, respectively.

The neurotoxicity of C-terminal fragments of amyloid precusor protein (CT) is known to play some roles in Alzheimer's disease progression. In this study, we investigated the effects of the recombinant C-terminal 105 amino acid fragment of amyloid precusor protein (CT105) on cholinergic function using CT105-injected rat. To study the effects of CT105 on septohippocampal pathway, choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) positive neurons were examined in the medial septum and in the diagonal band after an injection of CT105 peptide into the lateral ventricle. Immunohistological analysis revealed that the number of ChAT-immunopositive cells decreased significantly in both medial septum and diagonal band. In addition, CT105 decreased ChAT-immunopositive cells in the hippocampal area, particulary in the dentate gyrus. To study the effect of amyloid beta peptide (Aβ) and CT105 on the cholinergic system, each peptide was injected into the left lateral ventricle, and acetylcholine (ACh) levels were monitored in hippocampus. ACh level in the hippocampal area was reduced to 60% of control level in Aβ-treated group, and the level was reduced to 15% of control level in CT105-treated group, at one week after the injection. ACh level was further reduced to 35% of control in Aβ-treated group, whereas the level was slightly increased to 30% of control in CT105-treated group at 4 weeks after the injection. Taken together, the results in the present study suggested that CT105 impairs the septohippocampal pathway by reducing acetylcholine synthesis and release, which results in damage of learning and memory.

This study was to evaluate the efficacy of single dose Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (M. hyo)-vaccination in the swine farms which had different serological patterns of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2). A minimum of 240 pigs from each farm was applied, allocating M. hyo vaccinated and control groups. The PRRSV and PCV2 infections were analyzed by serological method (commercial ELISA kit). After administrating pigs a single dose of M. hyo vaccine or control saline at 3 weeks of age, serum antibodies to M. hyo, PRRSV and PCV2 were monitored at 4, 10, 16 and 22 weeks of age. Mortality, weight changes feed conversion ratio (FCR) and lung score were also evaluated. A single-dose vaccination of M. hyo bacterin was efficacious to reduce mycoplasmal lung lesions and induce good humoral immune response. However, FCR was improved only in one of the three farms where showed seronegative status to both PRRSV and PCV2 in the period from 4 to 16 weeks of age. These results might imply that M. hyo vaccine alone could not overcome the PRRSV and PCV2 infection-associated wasting in the field condition. Therefore, the control of PRRSV and PCV2 should be considered to obtain the better effects of M. hyo vaccination.

One hundred and sixty nine Escherichia (E.) coli strains isolated from fecal samples of aquatic birds in Geumho river basin and Dalseong park were tested by agar dilution method to determine their susceptibility patterns to 14 antimicrobial agents. The distribution of tetracycline resistance determinants (tetA, tetB, tetC, tetD and tetE) were also examined by PCR in 76 tetracycline-resistant (TC∨r) E. coli isolated. The high resistance was observed in tetracycline, cephalothin and ampicillin (45.0~36.7%). Resistance of E. coli isolates derived from Dalseong park to tetracycline, cephalothin, ampicillin and streptomycin (65.7~44.8%) were significantly higher than those isolated from Geumho river basin (31.4~14.7%). About seventy percent (70.4%) of the strains isolated were resistant to one or more drugs tested. Thirty (39.5%) of 76 TC∨r E. coli isolates which were resistant to one or more drugs transferred all or a part of their resistance patterns to the recipient strain of E. coli J53 by conjugation. All of TC∨r E. coli isolates contained at least one or more of 5 tet genes examined. The most common genes found in these isolates were tetA (60.6%) and followed by tetB (7.9%) and tetC (1.3%). However, tetD and tetD and tetE were ant found in any of the isolates tested. Twenty one (27.6%) of TC∨r E. coli isolates had two determinants, tetA/tetB (20 strains), tetA/tetC (1 strain). And two strains (2.6%) contained three determinants (tetA/tetB/tetC).