No Abstract available.
Fetus*

Background: Since 2003, the H5 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) subtype has caused massive economic losses in the poultry industry in South Korea. The role of inland water bodies in avian influenza (AI) outbreaks has not been investigated. Identifying water bodies that facilitate risk pathways leading to the incursion of the HPAI virus (HPAIV) into poultry farms is essential for implementing specific precautionary measures to prevent viral transmission. Objectives: This matched case-control study (1:4) examined whether inland waters were associated with a higher risk of AI outbreaks in the neighboring poultry farms. Methods: Rivers, irrigation canals, lakes, and ponds were considered inland water bodies.The cases and controls were chosen based on the matching criteria. The nearest possible farms located within a radius of 3 km of the case farms were chosen as the control farms.The poultry farms were selected randomly, and two HPAI epidemics (H5N8 [2014–2016] and H5N6 [2016–2017]) were studied. Conditional logistic regression analysis was applied. Results: Statistical analysis revealed that inland waters near poultry farms were significant risk factors for AI outbreaks. The study speculated that freely wandering wild waterfowl and small animals contaminate areas surrounding poultry farms. Conclusions Pet birds and animals raised alongside poultry birds on farm premises may wander easily to nearby waters, potentially increasing the risk of AI infection in poultry farms. Mechanical transmission of the AI virus occurs when poultry farm workers or visitors come into contact with infected water bodies or their surroundings. To prevent AI outbreaks in the future, poultry farms should adopt strict precautions to avoid contact with nearby water bodies and their surroundings.

Group formation of rhesus monkeys, often leads to victims of repeated attacks by the high ranking animal. We reported a case of an injured middle ranking monkey from repetitive and persistent aggression. 4-male rhesus group was formed by a rapid group formation strategy 2 years ago. One monkey in the group suddenly showed depressive and reluctant movement. Physical examination revealed multiple bite wounds and scars in the dorsal skin. Overall increased opacity of the dorsal soft tissue and some free air was observed on radiographic examination. An unidentified anaerobic gram negative bacillus was isolated from the bacterial culture. Reconstructive surgery was performed and in consequence, the wound was clearly reconstructed one week later. Eventually, the afflicted monkey was separated and housed apart from the hierarchical group. This case report indicate that group formation in rhesus monkeys is essentially required sufficient time and stages, as well as more attention and a progressive contact program to reduce animal stress and fatal accidents.
Aggression* ; Animals ; Bacillus ; Cicatrix ; Haplorhini ; Housing* ; Macaca mulatta* ; Physical Examination ; Skin ; Social Dominance* ; Wounds and Injuries*

This study examined the effects of ascorbic acid on the attenuation of an ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury after a canine renal transplantation. Eight beagle dogs were subjected to a renal auto-transplantation followed by the administration of ascorbic acid (treatment group) and the same amount of vehicle (physiological saline, control group). Blood samples were collected from these dogs to perform the kidney function tests and the invasive blood pressure was measured in the renal artery at pre- and post-anastomosis. The antioxidant enzymes of level 72 h after the transplant were measured. The kidneys were taken for a histopathology evaluation at day 21. The kidney function tests showed a significant difference between the control and treatment group. The invasive blood pressure in the renal artery was similar in the groups. The activity of the antioxidant enzymes in the blood plasma was significant lower in the control group than in the treatment group. The histopathology findings revealed the treatment group to have less damage than the control group. The results of this study suggest that ascorbic acid alone might play a role in attenuating I/R injury and assist in the recovery of the renal function in a renal transplantation model.
Animals ; Ascorbic Acid/*therapeutic use ; Blood Pressure ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Catalase/blood ; Creatinine/blood ; Dog Diseases/blood/*drug therapy/pathology ; Dogs/*surgery ; Female ; Free Radical Scavengers/therapeutic use ; Glutathione Peroxidase/blood ; Histocytochemistry/veterinary ; Kidney Transplantation/pathology/*veterinary ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Reperfusion Injury/blood/drug therapy/pathology/*veterinary ; Superoxide Dismutase/blood

This study was done to characterize diversity in 10 Brachyspira hyodysenteriae isolates in Korea. The isolates were compared with 14 well-characterized non-Korean strains of various Brachyspira species. All Korean isolates showed strong beta haemolysis and had blunt cell ends with 7~14 periplasmic flagella. They produced indole, and did not ferment fructose. They were alpha-glucosidase positive and alpha-galatosidase negative using the APIZYM kit. Using polyclonal antisera raised in rabbits against recognized serotypes, all isolates showed a strong reaction to B. hyodysenteriae antisera E, A and B. Using multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (MLEE) with 15 enzymes and 5 buffer systems, the Korean and non-Korean isolates were divided into 22 electrophoretic types (ETs) and 5 divisions (A, B, C, D and E). Division A corresponded to B. hyodysenteriae, B to B. innocens, C to B. intermedia, D to B. murdochii and E to B. pilosicoli. The 10 Korean isolates of B. hyodysenteriae were relatively diverse, being divided into 9 ETs within MLEE division A. They were all distinct from the non-Korean strains.
Animals ; Electrophoresis ; Genes, Bacterial ; Korea/epidemiology ; Rabbits ; Serotyping ; Serpulina hyodysenteriae/classification/genetics/*isolation&purification ; Spirochaetales Infections/*microbiology ; Swine/microbiology ; Swine Diseases/*microbiology ; Variation (Genetics)

Macaque monkeys are good sentinel to humans for environmental pollutions because their similarities in genetic and physiological characteristics. So, their reference values about exposures to heavy metals are required for proper data interpretation. Here, we report several heavy metals concentrations in the hair of rhesus monkeys which are widely used in biomedical research. The hair of 28 imported rhesus monkeys from an animal farm in southwest China were examined for the presence of eight heavy metals (Arsenic, Beryllium, Cadmium, Chromium, Iron, Lead, Mercury, and Selenium). The analyzed data in parts per million (ppm) for hair concentrations of heavy metals in rhesus monkeys were as follow: As (0.654+/-0.331), Be (0.005+/-0.003), Cd (0.034+/-0.022), Cr (11.329+/-4.259), Fe (87.106+/-30.114), Pb (0.656+/-0.613), Hg (0.916+/-0.619), and Se (3.200+/-0.735). The concentrations of Be, Cr, and As showed significant higher in females than in males (P<0.05). We present here the reference values of several heavy metals in healthy China-origin rhesus monkeys. These data may provide valuable information for veterinarians and investigators using rhesus monkeys in experimental studies.
Animals ; Beryllium ; Cadmium ; China ; Chromium ; Female ; Hair ; Haplorhini ; Humans ; Iron ; Macaca ; Macaca mulatta ; Male ; Metals, Heavy ; Nitriles ; Pyrethrins ; Reference Values ; Research Personnel ; Veterinarians

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of thiopental versus propofol on cardiopulmonary functions, when used as an induction agent prior to isoflurane anesthesia in rhesus monkeys. Eight healthy rhesus monkeys weighing 3.72 to 5.7 kg, 4-5 years old, were used in the study. Anesthesia was induced with thiopental or propofol intravenous injection, and then maintained with isoflurane in oxygen for 45 minutes. Cardiopulmonary measurements were obtained before and 5, 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes after induction. The induction doses of thiopental and propofol were 19.41±0.54 and 9.33±1.02 mg/kg, respectively. In both groups, the values of heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature, systolic blood pressure, mean blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, pH, and lactate were decreased, while the values of partial pressure of carbon dioxide, partial pressure of oxygen, total carbon dioxide, bicarbonate, oxygen saturation, and base excess in the extracellular fluid were increased, as compared with baseline. Systolic blood pressure was significantly lower in thiopental group compare to propofol group. Induction time was very short in both agents but not revealed a significant difference between both groups. However, recovery time was extremely faster in the propofol group. Our results demonstrated that propofol provides a minor suppression in systolic arterial blood pressure than thiopental sodium. In addition, propofol have a fast recovery effect from the anesthesia as well. Furthermore, it is suggested that thiopental sodium could also be used to induce anesthesia instead of propofol, despite slight more suppression of cardiopulmonary function compared to thiopental sodium.
Anesthesia* ; Arterial Pressure ; Blood Pressure ; Carbon Dioxide ; Extracellular Fluid ; Heart Rate ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Injections, Intravenous ; Isoflurane* ; Lactic Acid ; Macaca mulatta* ; Oxygen ; Partial Pressure ; Propofol* ; Respiratory Rate ; Thiopental*

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) can cause a broad spectrum of human illness ranging from symptom-free to hemolytic uremic syndrom (HUS). Associations between known or putative virulence factors of STEC and diseases in human were investigated. PCR analyses showed that 33 (78.6%) isolates carried an ehxA enterohemolysin gene and 6 (14.3%) isolates possessed an saa autoaggutinating adhesin gene, and 31 (73.8%) isolates carried an eae intimin gene (7 isolates with type beta, 16 with type gamma, and 3 with type epsilon). Twenty-nine (69%) isolates from patients carried eae+, ehxA+, saa- (genotype A) and 68 (86%) isolates from asymptomatic outbreaks and 4 (36%) isolates from bovine possessed eae-, ehxA+, saa+ (genotype C). Neither the bundle-forming pilus gene nor the enteropathogenic E. coli adherence factor plasmid was found. In HEp-2 cell adherence assay, isolates carrying eae gene exhibited a localized adherence phenotype, the other isolates carrying saa showed LC (loose clusters of bacteria) and IS (isolated bacteria). In conclusion, most STEC isolated from cattle feces in Gwangju, Korea showed characteristics different from those isolated from patients. But these results may be useful information for pathogenesis judgement of STEC.
Animals ; Cattle ; Diarrhea ; Disease Outbreaks ; Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli ; Escherichia coli Proteins ; Feces ; Hemolysin Proteins ; Humans ; Korea ; Lifting ; Molecular Biology ; Phenotype ; Plasmids ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Shiga-Toxigenic Escherichia coli ; Virulence Factors

Objectives: In March 2023, an alternative school in the Republic of Korea reported 12 cases of shigellosis. This study aims to analyze the epidemiological characteristics in order to determine the cause of the cluster outbreak of shigellosis and to develop prevention strategies. Methods: This study focused on 12 patients with confirmed Shigella infection and investigated their demographics, clinical features, epidemiology, diagnostics, and antimicrobial susceptibility. Following the identification of Shigella, we conducted follow-up rectal smear cultures to manage patients, implementing isolation and control measures. Results: This study investigated the emergence of multidrug-resistant Shigella following missionary activities in Cambodia, documenting a cluster infection within an alternative school in Daejeon, the Republic of Korea. The outbreak affected 56 participants, resulting in the confirmation of 12 cases. The incidence rates varied by gender and occupation, with higher rates among males and teachers. All 12 cases demonstrated multidrug resistance. Challenges included delayed pathogen confirmation and suboptimal adherence to isolation criteria. The incident prompted revisions in the criteria for isolation release, focusing on symptom resolution. The study underscores the necessity for strengthened surveillance, educational initiatives focusing on prevention in endemic areas, and improved oversight of unlicensed educational establishments. Conclusion Successful response strategies included swift situation assessment, collaborative efforts, effective infection control measures, and modified criteria for isolation release. Continued surveillance of multidrug-resistant strains is recommended, especially in regions with a high prevalence.

There are well known infectious diarrheal disease including viral disease such as HuCVs (Human caliciviruses), rotaviruses, enteric adenoviruses and astroviruses. We performed surveillance of infectious diarrheal disease in this study for providing the information for regional prevalence of infectious diarrheal disease and establish basement of diagnostic scheme for these infectious diarrheal disease. For the study, 3,400 stool specimens collected from 10 hospitals in Gwangju from April 2000 to March 2002 were used in investigation for the detection of infectious diarrheal disease. For group A rotaviruses, enteric adenoviruses and astrovirus, we carried out antigen capturing ELISA and RT-PCR with specific primers reacting RNA dependent RNA polymerase gene of HuCVs is used for the detection of RNA of HuCVs. As a results, we detected viral antigen or genome from 537 out of 3,400 specimens (15.8%). 443 out of 537 (82.5%) were confirmed as rotaviruses antigen positively, and 14 (2.6%) and 3 (0.8%) samples were antigen positive to enteric adenoviruses and astroviruses, respectively. We detected HuCV genome from 73 (13.6%) samples by specific amplification. We found that predominantly causative virus is rotavirus in Gwangju but HuCVs take major portion of viral agents causing diarrhea considering the age and seasonal distribution of specimens. Prevalence of adenoviruses and astroviruses are very low compared with worldwide situation. While the infection of rotavirus is limited to young infant under 2 years old, infection of HuCV has wide age distribution. These results suggest that existence of various strains of HuCVs and low rate of cross-protection among distinct antigenic group make it difficult to form immunity in older age. This epidemiological information relating to various diarrheic viruses is first reported in Gwangju, therefore it could provide present prevalence of viral agents causing gastroenteritis and backgrounds to establishment of protection viral diarrhea and development.
Adenoviridae ; Age Distribution ; Child, Preschool ; Diarrhea* ; Dysentery ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Epidemiologic Studies* ; Epidemiology ; Gastroenteritis ; Genome ; Gwangju* ; Humans ; Infant ; Prevalence ; RNA ; RNA Replicase ; Rotavirus ; Seasons ; Virus Diseases