Isthmiophora hortensis (Digenea: Echinostomatidae) is a dominant echinostome in animal reservoir hosts and humans in the Republic of Korea (Korea). We intended to investigate the infection status with this echinostome species in the several species of wild animals and describe the morphological characteristics in the faunistic view point. A total of 175 animal carcasses belonging to 3 families, i.e., Canidae, Felidae and Mustelidae, were collected from the southern regions of Korea from March 2010 to July 2017. Isthmiophora spp. worms were recovered from the small intestines of each animal under a stereomicroscope after washing of intestinal contents. Isthmiophora hortensis was recovered from 4 species of wild carnivores, i.e., Nyctereutes procyonoides (3/107: 2.8%), Mustela sibirica (11/31: 35.5%), Meles lucurus (2/3: 33.3%) and Martes flavigula (1/2: 50%). The other 3 carnivores comprising stray dogs, cat and leopard cat were negative for I. hortensis infection (0/2, 0/10 and 0/12, respectively). Specimens obtained from the Lutra lutra (6/8: 75%) were identified as a distinct species, I. inermis, by morphological comparison. Isthmiophora inermis has thinner body, elongate testes and different anterior limits of vitelline fields. Detailed morphological descriptions and comparisons with the morphological characteristics are provided. Conclusively, it was confirmed for the first time that 3 species of mustelid mammals, i.e., M. sibirica, M. lucurus, and M. flavigula, are to be the new definitive hosts of I. hortensis in Korea. Additionally, I. inermis is to be newly added in the Korean echinostome fauna.
Animals ; Animals, Wild ; Canidae ; Cats ; Dogs ; Felidae ; Gastrointestinal Contents ; Humans ; Intestine, Small ; Korea ; Mammals ; Mustelidae ; Otters ; Panthera ; Raccoon Dogs ; Republic of Korea ; Testis ; Vitellins

In the long time of natural evolution, the bodies of some animals, such as feline, that live in the wild and complicate surroundings have evolved to possess outstanding buffering characteristics, which make the animals adapt to the environment perfectly. These animals generally have well-developed paw pads under their soles to play an important role in attenuating the intensity of impact when they land on the ground. Investigating the buffering characteristics of these animals' paw pads could help us to design "bionic" buffering and energy-absorption devices. In this paper, based on observations of animal jumping test, a simple mass-spring-buffer model was proposed to explore the buffering characteristics of the animals' paw pads. By analytically solving the differential equations of this model, the parameters concerned with paw pads functions were discussed and some significant results were obtained.
Adaptation, Physiological ; Animals ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Felidae ; anatomy & histology ; physiology ; Foot ; anatomy & histology ; physiology ; Models, Theoretical

OBJECTIVETo study the prevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) like virus in animals at a live animal market of Guanzhou in 2004 before and after culling of wild animal action taken by the local authority, in order to predict the re-emerging of SARS from animal originals in this region.

METHODSAnimals at live animal market were sampled for rectal and throat swabs in triplicate. A single step realtime reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) diagnostic kit was performed for screening SARS-CoV like virus, the manual nested RT- PCR and DNA sequencing were performed for confirmation. Only specimens which tested positive for both of the N and P genes by nested RT-PCR were scored as positive.

RESULTSIn 31 animals sampled in January 5 2004 before culling of wild animals at Guangdong Province, including 20 cats (Felis catus), 5 red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and 6 Lesser rice field rats (Rattus losea), 8 (25.8%) animals were tested positive for SARS-CoV like virus by RT-PCR methods, of which 4 cats, 3 red fox and one Lesser rice field rats were included. However, two weeks after culling of animals and disinfection of the market were implemented, in 119 animals sampled in January 20 2004, including 6 rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), 13 cats, 46 red jungle fowl (Gallus gallus), 13 spotbill duck (Anas platyrhynchos), 10 greylag goose (Anser anser), 31 Chinese francolin (Franclinus pintadeanus), only rectal swab from one greylag goose was tested positive for SARS-CoV like virus. Furthermore, in 102 animals that including 14 greylag gooses, 3 cats, 5 rabbits, 9 spotbill duck (Anaspoecilorhyncha), 2 Chinese francolin (Franclinus pintadeanus), 8 common pheasant (Phasianus colchicus), 6 pigeons, 9 Chinese muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi), 19 wild boar (Sus scrofa), 16 Lesser rice field rats, 5 dogs, 1 mink (Mustela vison), 3 goats, 2 green peafowl (Pavo muticus) sampled in April, May, June, July, August and November, only rectal swab from one pig was tested positive. However, of 12 and 10 palm civets sampled in November and December including five of which had been at the live animals market for 2 days, none of them was tested positive.

CONCLUSIONThis findings revealed that animals being sampled in April, May, June, July, August and November of 2004, only one rectal swab from a pig was tested positive as SARS-CoV like virus, much lower than the results from the previous year, suggesting that the possibility of re-emerging of human infection from animal origins is low for the winter of 2004-2005.

Animals ; Animals, Wild ; virology ; China ; DNA, Viral ; analysis ; Felidae ; virology ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; SARS Virus ; isolation & purification

This study examined the occurrence of Anaplasma spp. and hemoplasma infection in leopard cats, Prionailurus bengalensis euptilurus, in Korea. Twenty-nine biological samples were tested by molecular analysis. Two (6.9%) and eight (27.6%) tested specimens were positive for Anaplasma bovis and hemoplasma infection, respectively. Based on our results, Anaplasma/Ehrlichia spp. and hemoplasma are regularly infecting leopard cat populations of Korea. Considering their endangered status, regular monitoring of infection by arthropod-borne pathogens known to cause clinical symptoms in feline hosts such as Anaplasma/Ehrlichia spp. and hemoplasma would be crucial as part of ongoing conservation efforts.
Anaplasma/*isolation & purification ; Anaplasmosis/*epidemiology/microbiology ; Animals ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; *Felidae ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycoplasma/*isolation & purification ; Mycoplasma Infections/epidemiology/microbiology/*veterinary ; Phylogeny ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/veterinary ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA/veterinary

No abstract available.
Tigers

OBJECTIVE: This controlled study was done to determine the protective effects of ischemic preconditioning (IP) on the liver of cats undergoing major liver resection.
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of IP on alanine transaminase (ALT or SGPT) in cat*that will undergo major liver resection.
DESIGN: This study is a randomized controlled trial.
SETTING: LIST Health Sciences Research Laboratory.
PATIENTS/ PARTICIPANTS: This is an experimental study on the effects of ischemic preconditioning under hepatic inflow occlusion on the SGPT as a measure of morbidity in Felis catus (domestic cats) undergoing right hepatic lobectomy. Nine male cats, weighing 2.5-5kg, are equally allocated into any one of the following 3 study groups: Control group not subjected to ischemic preconditioning (C), Experimental group subjected to 1 1/2 minutes of ischemia followed by 1.5 minutes of reperfusion (El), Experimental group subjected to 5 minutes of ischemia followed by 5 minutes of reperfusion (E2).
RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the mean weight of cats in the 3 groups (p = 1.00). Comparing the pre and post result between using paired t-test, there was no significant difference in the baseline values (p = 0.14). However, there was a significant difference in the post result between the three groups (p < 0.001). The results showed that the mean post values significantly increased from baseline. The same result was noted in the El and E2 group where a significant increase was also noted with p values, 0.005 and 0.004, respectively. Comparing the mean difference in the pre and post values using ANOV A, there was a significant difference noted between the three groups as proven by all p values
CONCLUSION: In the past few years, interesting new data on the presence of ischemic preconditioning in various organs as an endogenous means to protect itself from ischemiahas been available. This study investigated and suggests that ischemic preconditioning may provide protection to the liver undergoing hepatic lobectomy.

Animal ; Alanine Transaminase ; Felis ; Ischemic Preconditioning ; Hepatectomy ; Liver ; Cats

Recently, several companies have released H. pylori stool antigen (HpSA) test kits. However, there is little information about the usefulness of HpSA testing for Helicobacter felis, which is the major Helicobacter species in cats. The aim of the present study was to compare diagnostic methods for diagnosis of H. felis with HpSA tests and PCR assay using cat stools or gastric mucosa. Male cats (n=6) were infected with H. felis ATCC 49179 (1.0 x 10(9) CFU /cat) by intragastric inoculation two times at 3-day intervals, and stool specimens of cats were collected 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, and 21 days after infection for HpSA testing and H. felis-specific PCR. For the results, sensitivities of the HpSA test and PCR analysis were 50.0% and 83.3% respectively. Cats were sacrificed 21 days after H. felis inoculation, and gastric tissues were homogenized. All gastric biopsy specimens were positive based on a rapid urease test (RUT) (6/6, 100%) and PCR (6/6, 100%). Based on these results, the HpSA kit is useful and effective for monitoring H. felis infection using stool specimens. If an HpSA test could be made with H. felis antibodies in the future, its sensitivity could be increased further. Further, PCR assay could be successfully used to detect H. felis in stools. Application of this HpSA kit and PCR assay can be utilized as a non-invasive strategy to identify H. felis in cats.
Animals ; Antibodies ; Biopsy ; Cats* ; Diagnosis ; Felis ; Gastric Mucosa ; Helicobacter felis* ; Helicobacter* ; Humans ; Male ; Natural Resources ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Urease

In this study we investigated maternal Helicobacter felis (H. felis) infection status to determine the potential of maternal transmission. Pregnant Beagle dogs were infected experimentally with H. felis. Following the experimental design, the stools of the mother and litters were isolated and assessed for transmission of H. felis at parturition day, 1-week old age and 6-week old age respectively. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to examine the presence of transmitted H. felis. All litters showed no transmission of H. felis at parturition day. However, they revealed 14.3% and 100% at 1-week old age and 6-week old age respectively by PCR. These results suggested that vertical infection during prenatal period or delivery procedure is unlikely as a route of mother-to-child H. felis infection. It might be acquired H. felis through breast-feeding, contaminating saliva and fecal-oral during co-habitat.
Animals ; Cats ; Dogs ; Felis ; Helicobacter ; Helicobacter felis ; Humans ; Mothers ; Parturition ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Postpartum Period ; Research Design ; Saliva

In this study we investigated maternal Helicobacter felis (H. felis) infection status to determine the potential of maternal transmission. Pregnant Beagle dogs were infected experimentally with H. felis. Following the experimental design, the stools of the mother and litters were isolated and assessed for transmission of H. felis at parturition day, 1-week old age and 6-week old age respectively. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to examine the presence of transmitted H. felis. All litters showed no transmission of H. felis at parturition day. However, they revealed 14.3% and 100% at 1-week old age and 6-week old age respectively by PCR. These results suggested that vertical infection during prenatal period or delivery procedure is unlikely as a route of mother-to-child H. felis infection. It might be acquired H. felis through breast-feeding, contaminating saliva and fecal-oral during co-habitat.
Animals ; Cats ; Dogs ; Felis ; Helicobacter ; Helicobacter felis ; Humans ; Mothers ; Parturition ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Postpartum Period ; Research Design ; Saliva

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) treatment followed by chronic Helicobacter pylori SS1 and H. felis colonization on the stomachs of C57BL/6 mice. The role of MNU and Helicobacter species in gastric carcinogenesis was also elucidated. METHODS: A total of 69 C57BL/6 mice at 4 weeks of age were divided into 6 groups according to MNU treatment and H. pylori SS1 or H. felis infection. The mice were sacrificed at 21 and 50 weeks. The degree of inflammation was determined by histopathology. The levels of gastric mucosal myeloperoxidase, TNF-α, and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: In the H. felis groups with or without MNU, the incidence of gastric tumors was 21.1% and 35.0% at 21 and 50 weeks, respectively. No gastric tumors were observed in all control mice. At 50 weeks, 37.5% of gastric adenoma cases were observed in the H. felis alone and MNU + H. felis groups. Furthermore, 12.5% of gastric adenocarcinoma cases were observed in the MNU alone and MNU + H. felis groups. The gastric mucosal IL-1β level was significantly higher in the MNU + H. felis group at 21 weeks and H. felis group at 50 weeks, respectively, than that for control mice (P < 0.05). However, the effect of MNU on H. pylori SS1-induced gastric carcinogenesis was low compared to that on H. felis. CONCLUSIONS: Administration of MNU before H. felis infection provokes severe inflammation through IL-1β, and eventually induces gastric cancer. However, the role of MNU in H. pylori SS1-induced gastric carcinogenesis model is minor.
Adenocarcinoma ; Adenoma ; Animals ; Carcinogenesis* ; Cats ; Colon ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Felis ; Helicobacter ; Helicobacter felis ; Helicobacter pylori ; Incidence ; Inflammation ; Methylnitrosourea* ; Mice* ; Peroxidase ; Stomach ; Stomach Neoplasms