Objective-To test horses for serologic evidence of an association between vesiviral antibodies and abortion. Sample Population-Sera from 141 horses. Procedures-2 experiments were conducted. Experiment 1 comprised sera obtained in 2001 and 2002 from 3 groups of horses (58 mares from farms with a history of abortion problems, 25 mares between 3 and 13 years of age with unknown reproductive histories that were sold at auction breeding-age control mares, and 29 mixed-age males and yearling females sold at auction negative control population). Experiment 2 comprised sera from 3 groups of pregnant mares (10 pregnant mares fed Eastern tent caterpillars ETCs, 9 pregnant mares fed ETC frass only, and 10 pregnant control mares). Sera were analyzed for antibodies against vesivirus by use of a validated recombinant vesivirus-specific peptide antigen in an indirect ELISA. Results-For experiment 1, 37 of 58 (63.8%) mares from farms with abortion problems were seropositive for vesivirus antibodies, whereas 10 of 25 (40%) breeding-age control mares were seropositive. All 29 mixed-age males and yearling females were seronegative for vesivirus antibodies. For experiment 2, 17 of 29 mares aborted (some from each group). Seropositive status for vesivirus antibodies increased from 47.1% (8/17) to 88.2% (15/17) for the pregnant mares that aborted during the experiment. Conclusion and Clinical Relevance-Significant association was detected between seropositive status for vesivirus and abortion in mares; consequently, vesivirus appears to be a pathogenic virus associated with abortion in mares. These data support adding vesivirus antibody testing into diagnostic screening to determine the cause for abortion in mares.

Objective-To evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation with the probiotic strain Lactobacillus acidophilus DSM13241 in healthy adult cats. Animals-15 adult cats. Procedures-Cats were fed a nutritionally complete dry food for 5 weeks. Fecal character was assessed daily, and a single fecal sample and 3-mL blood sample were collected for bacterial enumeration and hematologic analysis, respectively. Cats were then fed the same diet supplemented with L acidophilus DSM13241 (2 X 10(8) CFU/d) for 4.5 weeks. Repeat fecal and hematologic measurements were taken prior to the return to control diet for a 4-week period. Results-The probiotic species was recovered from feces, demonstrating survival through the feline gastrointestinal tract. Probiotic supplementation was associated with increased numbers of beneficial Lactobacillus and L acidophilus groups in feces and decreased numbers of Clostridium spp and Enterococcus faecalis, indicating an altered bacterial balance in the gastrointestinal tract microflora. Fecal pH was also decreased suggesting a colonic environment selective for the beneficial lactic acid bacterial population. Systemic and immunomodulatory effects were associated with administration of L acidophilus DSM13241 including altered cell numbers within WBC subsets and enhanced phagocytic capacity in the peripheral granulocyte population. In addition, plasma endotoxin concentrations were decreased during probiotic feeding, and RBCs had a decreased susceptibility to osmotic pressure. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Probiotic strain L acidophilus DSM13241 fed at 2 X 10(8) CFU/d can alter the balance of gastrointestinal microflora in healthy cats. Furthermore, administration of this probiotic results in beneficial systemic and immunomodulatory effects in cats.

We have studied pharmacokinetics of a new anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) agent VP-0501 and its amino acid prodrug VP-0501AL which is designed to improve oral bioavailability. After oral administration at 100 mg/kg dose in rats (n=4), VP-0501 was not detectable in plasma (less than 50 ng/ml), while after the administration of VP-0501AL, VP-0501 was quantitatively detected, at least for 8 hrs, with Cmax of ca. 2.5 μg/ml and AUC of 8 hr*μg/ml.

Vitellogenin (Vtg), a phospholipoglycoprotein precursor of egg yolk is synthesized and secreted from the liver in response to estrogens in femals fish. Vtg is normally undetectable in the blood of male fish, but can be induced by exposure to chemicals possessing estrogenic activity. Thus, the presence of Vtg in blood of male fish can serve as a useful biomarker for assessing previous exposure to estrogenic compounds. In the present study, Vtg was abnormally expressed in Rhynchocypris oxycephalus using estradiol benzoate (E₂).

An 8-month-old 3.15 kg female Cocker-spaniel with history of ataxia referred to the Veterianary Medical Teaching Hospital, Chungnam National University. There were no abnormalities in CBC and serum chemical analysis. Agenesis of dens was found on dorsoventral view in cervical radiography. Compressed cervical spinal cord and enlarged cerebral ventricle were observed in magnetic resonance imaging. It was diagnosed as atlantoaxial instability with hydrocephalus.

About 8 year-old castrated male Yorkshire terrier was presented for evaluation of dysuria, stranguria, hemtauria, and pollakiuria. On history taking, dysuria first was observed three months ago and these signs were waxed and waned. Physical examination revealed mild left perineal swelling. On routine laboratory examination, no significant findings were identified. Positive contrast urogram identified peritoneal herniation of urinary bladder. Urinalysis showed proteinuria and hematuria.

The objective of this study was to investigate the use of extract from mesenteric lymph nodes as an alternative to serum for ELISA to detect Salmonella antibodies in slaughter pigs. Among 324 slaughter pigs, 65 (20.1%) were positive in the serum ELISA and 76 (23.5%) were positive in the ELISA with extract from lymph nodes. A total of 24 (7.4%) Salmonella representing 6 serotypes were isolated from mesenteric lymph nodes and 35 (10.8%) Salmonella belonging to 2 serotypes were also recovered from cecal contents of slaughter pig samples, respectively.

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a disease model of multiple sclerosis (MS) that is characterized by remittance and relapse of the disease and autoimmune and demyelinating lesions in the central nervous system (CNS). Autoimmune inflammation is maintained by secretion of a large number of protein. Previous studies have suggested that transcripts encoding osteopontin (OPN) are frequently detected in the mRNA population of MS plaques. To elucidate the functional role of OPN in initiation and development of EAE, we examined the expression and localization of OPN in the spinal cord during acute EAE.

In March 2003, classical swine fever (CSF) infection was reported in a piggery located at Iksan city, Jeollabuk-do in Korea. Subsequently, a total of 72 infected farms were confirmed between March and December, 2003. Based on epidemiological investigation of the earlier confirmed infected farms, the source of infection was shown to be from a breeding farm. Targeted surveillance of 82 piggeries that had acquired pigs from this breeding farm showed 44 piggeries were infected with CSF virus.

Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) continues to persist in many commercial layer farms in Korea, resulting in losses in egg production. Bacterins and live attenuated vaccines have been used for the prevention of losses caused by MG. One of these attenuated vaccines, MG 6/85 vaccine has been reported to be safe and efficacious in layers. However, MG 6/85 vaccine has not been evaluated for its safety and its efficacy in any commercial layer in Korea. Six-week-old specific pathogen-free (SPF) chickens were vaccinated with MG 6/85 vaccine by aerosol and were challenged with virulent MG R strain at 4 weeks after vaccination.