Several outbreaks of Getah virus (GETV) have been reported in horses and pigs, causing large economic losses. However, there have been no reports describing serological survey for GETV in South Korea pigs. The present study conducted serological survey of GETV in South Korean pigs. A total of 670 whole blood samples were collected from domestic pigs. The overall seropositive rate was 26.4%, higher than the rates observed in racehorses in 2013–2014. Preparations for epidemics of novel diseases caused by climate change should include regular serological survey for these diseases, including GETV, and the development of vaccines against novel pathogens.

The hepatitis A virus (HAV) induces severe acute liver injury and is adapted to human and monkey cell lines but not other cells. In this study, the HAV was inoculated into porcine kidney (PK-15) cells to determine its infectivity in porcine cells. The growth pattern of the HAV in PK-15 cells was compared with its growth pattern in fetal rhesus kidney (FRhK-4) cells. The growth of HAV was less efficient in PK-15 cells. In conclusion, HAV replication was verified in PK-15 cells for the first time. Further investigations will be needed to identify the HAV-restrictive mechanisms in PK-15 cells.

To optimize the most efficient method for porcine in vitro maturation (IVM), we compared the effects of supplementing extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from porcine follicular fluid (pFF). The cumulus oocyte complexes were grouped into 4 groups with different supplementations as following: pFF (G1), pFF-depleted EVs (G2), EVs (G3) and control (G4) groups. After IVM with different supplementations, maturation rates and the developmental competences of porcine oocytes and blastocyst development were investigated. Additionally, glutathione (GSH) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were measured in mature oocytes. The EVs were isolated and characterized with cryo-TEM and nanoparticle tracking analysis. The pFF significantly affected the maturation rate, whereas the presence of EVs did not show notable difference in the maturation rates. Although there were numerical increases in the measured parameters in EV and pFF-depleted EVs groups, no significant differences were observed between them. The EV group showed similar oocyte maturation rate for both positive and negative control groups. The GSH was not different among the groups, but ROS levels were significantly lower in pFF-supplemented group when compared with other groups with the highest level in the control group. G2 group wasn’t significantly different G1 and G3 group. G3 group wasn’t significantly different from G2 and G4 group. This suggests that EVs in IVM medium which probably effected partially to protect against oxidative stress and potentially enhance the quality of oocytes. This study indicates that the EVs in pFF play a significant role in improving the efficiency of oocyte maturation in porcine.

The identification and development of new and effective alternatives to antibiotics that do not hinder productivity assumes paramount importance in the context of antimicrobial resistance and food safety. In recent years, phytobiotics have been used as natural growth promoters in ruminants, poultry and swine, to improve growth and health. A wide variety of herbs, spices and essential oils have been used individually or as blends in poultry for their potential application as alternative growth promoters. In nursery and growing pigs supplemented with phytobiotics, intestinal pathogens were inhibited and beneficial microbial population that contributes to improving digestion and absorption of nutrients were increased resulting in increased weight gain and decrease in diarrheal syndrome. The inclusion of essential oils in the diet of finishing pigs, improved the productive yield and carcass characteristics. It also reduced the incidence of therapeutic treatment and mortality. Natural plant products have the potential to improve rumen fermentation, reduce loss of feed energy, improve animal health and productivity, increase animal lifetime performance, and reduce greenhouse gases production in ruminants. Phytobiotics with wide range of activities, is projected as a feed additive for higher market growth compared to other alternatives to antibiotics in the feed industry.