Enterovirus species G (EV-G) is highly diverse, and is ubiquitous in pig populations, usually without diarrhea. The present study aimed to investigate the presence of novel EV-G recombinants with the torovirus papain-like cysteine protease (PLCP) in Jeju pig herds. EV-G1-PLCP mono-infections were most prevalent in diarrheic weaned piglets. The PLCP genes of the Jeju isolates varied in size and junction sequences, and were greatly heterogeneous, with 77.0–90.7% homology amongst all recombinants. Our results suggest that the exogenous PLCP gene has undergone continuous rapid mutation in the individual EV-G genomes following cross-order recombination, thereby causing clinical disease in swine.
Cysteine Proteases ; Diarrhea ; Enterovirus ; Genome ; Korea ; Prevalence ; Recombination, Genetic ; Swine ; Torovirus

Enterovirus species G (EV-G) is highly diverse, and is ubiquitous in pig populations, usually without diarrhea. The present study aimed to investigate the presence of novel EV-G recombinants with the torovirus papain-like cysteine protease (PLCP) in Jeju pig herds. EV-G1-PLCP mono-infections were most prevalent in diarrheic weaned piglets. The PLCP genes of the Jeju isolates varied in size and junction sequences, and were greatly heterogeneous, with 77.0–90.7% homology amongst all recombinants. Our results suggest that the exogenous PLCP gene has undergone continuous rapid mutation in the individual EV-G genomes following cross-order recombination, thereby causing clinical disease in swine.

The increasing elderly population has created an urgent need for well-managed convalescent hospitals, which should provide appropriate clinical nutrition services. The new accreditation policy requiring participation of all convalescent hospitals since 2013 may promote improvement of clinical nutrition services. This study examined whether or not the accreditation policy has increased practice level and dietitians' perception of the importance of clinical nutrition management. Of the 177 convalescent hospitals accredited by January 30, 2014, dietitians from 73 hospitals (41.2%) completed the survey questionnaire. The pre-tested questionnaire surveyed general characteristics of the hospital and dietitians, current status of clinical nutrition management, and changes in the perception and practice levels of various aspects of food and clinical nutrition management. In average, dietitians with more than 5 years of work experience (68.1%) provided food and clinical nutrition services (71.2%). After accreditation, dietitians' perception of the importance and practice level of clinical nutrition service increased (P<0.001). Level of perception, however, was significantly (P<0.001) higher than practice level before and after accreditation. During perception and practice level of initial nutrition assessment, a compulsory accreditation item, notably and significantly (P<0.001) improved after accreditation. The significant difference between perception and practice level disappeared after accreditation. In conclusion, the accreditation process had positive effects on clinical nutrition management in terms of dietitians' perception and practice levels. Making more accreditation items compulsory and providing motivation and professional education to dietitians in convalescent hospitals could lead to additional improvements.
Accreditation* ; Aged ; Delivery of Health Care* ; Education, Professional ; Hospitals, Convalescent* ; Humans ; Motivation ; Nutrition Assessment ; Nutritionists ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) has emerged in several pig-raising countries and has been a causative pathogen associated with diarrheal diseases in South Korea since 2014. In the present study, we were able to isolate and cultivate a Korean PDCoV strain (KNU16-07) in cell culture and investigate its pathogenicity. PDCoV-inoculated piglets showed watery diarrhea accompanied by acute enteritis in the natural host. Sequencing analysis demonstrated the genetic stability of KNU16-07 for at least thirty serial passages.
Cell Culture Techniques ; Diarrhea ; Enteritis ; Korea ; Serial Passage ; Virulence

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) strains responsible for recent outbreaks in the United States have been occurring in Mainland Korea since late 2013. Over the past 10 years, PEDV outbreaks have not been reported on Jeju Island. However, in late March of 2014, PEDV re-emerged on Jeju Island and was found to be genetically identical to PEDV strains currently circulating in Mainland Korea. The present study was conducted to provide a better understanding of the epidemiology of PEDV and more effective preventive measures against PED.
Disease Outbreaks ; Epidemiology ; Korea ; Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus* ; United States

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) strains responsible for recent outbreaks in the United States have been occurring in Mainland Korea since late 2013. Over the past 10 years, PEDV outbreaks have not been reported on Jeju Island. However, in late March of 2014, PEDV re-emerged on Jeju Island and was found to be genetically identical to PEDV strains currently circulating in Mainland Korea. The present study was conducted to provide a better understanding of the epidemiology of PEDV and more effective preventive measures against PED.
Disease Outbreaks ; Epidemiology ; Korea ; Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus* ; United States

Despite global efforts to control porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) infection, the virus continues to cause economic problems in the swine industry worldwide. In this study, we attempted to generate and characterize a panel of stable BHK cell lines that constitutively express the nucleocapsid (N) protein of type 1 or type 2 PRRSV. The established BHK cell lines were found to react well with N-specific antibodies as well as the hyperimmune serum of pigs raised against each genotype of PRRSV. Taken together, the data implicate a potential usefulness for the newly generated stable cell lines as a diagnostic reagent for PRRSV serology.
Animals ; Antibodies, Viral/analysis/immunology ; Blotting, Western/veterinary ; Cell Line ; Cricetinae ; Female ; Genotype ; Nucleocapsid Proteins/genetics/*immunology ; Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome/diagnosis/*immunology ; Porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus/genetics/*immunology ; Swine ; Transfection/veterinary

The efficacy of the CA-2-MP120 vaccine, a cell culture-attenuated strain of virulent porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), was assessed in pigs. Despite the persistence of viremia in all vaccinated animals during the immunization period, the virus was not detected in vaccinated pigs following challenge. Furthermore, no pigs in the vaccinated group shed PRRSV nasally, orally or rectally throughout the experiment. Moreover, histopathological lung and lymph node lesions in the immunized group were much milder than those in the unimmunized and challenged group. These results indicated that CA-2-MP120 can provide effective protection against virulent wildtype PRRSV-2.
Animals ; Immunization ; Lung ; Lymph Nodes ; Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome ; Porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus ; Swine ; Treatment Outcome ; Vaccination ; Vaccines, Attenuated ; Viremia

The efficacy of the CA-2-MP120 vaccine, a cell culture-attenuated strain of virulent porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), was assessed in pigs. Despite the persistence of viremia in all vaccinated animals during the immunization period, the virus was not detected in vaccinated pigs following challenge. Furthermore, no pigs in the vaccinated group shed PRRSV nasally, orally or rectally throughout the experiment. Moreover, histopathological lung and lymph node lesions in the immunized group were much milder than those in the unimmunized and challenged group. These results indicated that CA-2-MP120 can provide effective protection against virulent wildtype PRRSV-2.

Bleeding from pancreatic pseudocyst is a rare complication. Furthermore, massive upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding from gastro-cystic fistula formation and intracystic bleeding are both extremely rare and are also potentially fatal. A 53-year-old male was referred to the emergency room with melena and hematemesis. An urgent endoscopy revealed a massive gastric hematoma but showed no specific bleeding focus. Gastrocystic fistula formation and intracystic bleeding leakage to the stomach were suspicious in the follow-up endoscopy. A contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan demonstrated splenic artery pseudoaneurysm and extravasation of contrast media into the cyst that was abutted to the greater curvature side of the stomach. A splenic artery embolization was performed and no further bleeding occurred after embolization. Upper GI bleeding from gastro-cystic fistula and intracystic bleeding are rare but possible. Therefore, this possibility should be considered in the unknown cause of an upper GI bleeding in a patient with pancreatic pseudocyst.
Aneurysm, False ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Endoscopy ; Extravasation of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Materials ; Fistula* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematemesis ; Hematoma ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Male ; Melena ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatic Pseudocyst* ; Splenic Artery ; Stomach