A survey was performed to know the recent infection status of digenetic trematode metacercariae in clams and oysters from 4 sites in western coastal regions of the Republic of Korea (=Korea). Four species of clams (Mactra veneriformis, Ruditapes philippinarum, Cyclina sinensis, and Saxidomus purpuratus) were collected from Taean-gun, Chungcheongnam-do (Province), Buan-gun (County) and Gochang-gun, Jeollabuk-do, and oysters, Crassostrea gigas, from Shinan-gun, Jeollanam-do were transferred to our laboratory on ice and examined by the artificial digestion method. The metacercariae of Himasthla alincia were detected in 3 species of clams, M. veneriformis, R. philippinarum, and C. sinensis from the 3 surveyed areas. The positive rate and the mean density per clam infected were 98.9% (30.8 metacercariae) in M. veneriformis, 60.0% (5.0) in R. philippinarum, and 96.0% (28.4) in C. sinensis. The positive rate (mean density) of Acanthoparyphium tyosenense metacercariae in M. veneriformis was 50.0% (2.1) from Taean-gun and 70.0% (2.8) from Gochang-gun. The metacercariae of Parvatrema spp. were detected in M. veneriformis and R. philippinarum from Taean-gun and Gochang-gun; the positive rate (mean density) was 63.3% (4,123) and 50.0% (19) in M. veneriformis, and 6.7% (126) and 100% (238) in R. philippinarum from the 2 regions, respectively. The metacercariae of Gymnophalloides seoi were detected in all 30 oysters from Shinan-gun, and their average density per oyster was 646. From the above results, it has been confirmed that more than 3 species of metacercariae are prevalent in clams from the western coastal regions, and G. seoi metacercariae are still prevalent in oysters from Shinan-gun, Jeollanam-do, Korea
Bivalvia* ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Crassostrea ; Digestion ; Ice ; Jeollabuk-do ; Jeollanam-do ; Korea ; Metacercariae* ; Methods ; Ostreidae* ; Prevalence* ; Republic of Korea* ; Trematoda

A composting technique was assessed to enhance efficiency in oyster mushroom substrate. Poplar sawdusts and by-product of winter mushroom added by 10% of rice bran were composted outdoors at 20degrees C to 28degrees C for 12 days. The duration of fermentation was shortened 3 days in fermented sawdust plot. The yield obtained from waste cotton substrate with fermented poplar sawdust was 742 g, whereas the yield from control 663 g. In addition, the substrate with by-product of winter mushroom was the most effective to composting. It was useful to apply the fermented sawdust and by-product to waste cotton for compost and sporophore production of oyster mushroom.
Agaricales ; Fermentation ; Ostreidae* ; Pleurotus* ; Soil*

Vibrio vulnificus is an opportunistic human pathogen, transmitted from seawater, raw oyster, and shellfish and responsible for severe septicemia. We studied V. vulnificus from surface seawater around Jeju Island between 2010 and 2011. In 2010, V. vulnificus was isolated and V. vulnificus septicemia was reported. Surface seawater temperature is an important factor for growth of V. vulnificus, and here we showed that high surface seawater temperature may influence growth of V. vulnificus and occurrence of emerging V. vulnificus septicemia on Jeju Island. This is the first report of isolation of V. vulnificus and emerging V. vulnificus septicemia on Jeju Island.
Humans ; Ostreidae ; Seawater* ; Sepsis* ; Shellfish ; Vibrio vulnificus*

This paper describes and illustrates two new species, Trichoderma pleurotum and T. pleuroticola, associated with green mold disease of oyster mushroom in Korea.
Classification ; Fungi* ; Korea* ; Ostreidae* ; Pleurotus* ; Trichoderma*

This study was conducted to investigate physiological characteristics of Trichoderma spp. isolated from Pleurotus spp. Damage tests of Pleurotus spp. and mycotoxins tests of Trichoderma spp. were also done. The optimal growth temperature of Trichoderma spp. was 27~30degrees C. Although, T. longibrachiatum was able to grow at 37degrees C and grew 30~40 times faster than Pleurotus. The colony colour on PDA medium of T. cf. virens was yellowish green, T. longibrachiatum was yellow, and T. harzianum was turning to bright green. In damage tests of Pleurotus by Trichoderma, T. cf. virens caused the most severe damage to Pleurotus. T. longibrachiatum and T. harzianum caused less damage on Pleurotus but were able to cause greater damage to P. eryngii. One of the mushroom cultivars, P. ostreatus 8 was the most resistant to all Trichoderma spp.. Chitinolytic mycotoxin released by Trichoderma spp. caused 52.7% damage to Pleurotus. Mycotoxins released by T. longibrachiatum caused the greatest damaged (78.6%) on P. eryngii.
Agaricales ; Fungi* ; Mycotoxins ; Ostreidae* ; Pleurotus* ; Trichoderma

The study was conducted to compare the effects of different agro-wastes on the growth, yield, and nutritional composition of oyster mushrooms Pleurotus ostreatus (PO) and Pleurotus cystidiosus (PC). Seven substrate formulas including sawdust (SD), corncob (CC), sugarcane bagasse (SB) alone and in combination of 80 : 20, 50 : 50 ratio between SD and CC, SD and SB were investigated. The results indicated that different substrate formulas gave a significant difference in total colonization period, characteristics of fruiting bodies, yield, biological efficiency (BE), nutritional composition and mineral contents of two oyster mushrooms PO and PC. The results showed that increasing CC and SB reduced C/N ratio, and enhanced some mineral contents (Ca, P, and Mg) of substrate formulas. The increased amount of CC and SB of substrate formulas enhanced protein, ash, mineral contents (Ca, K, Mg, Mn, and Zn) of fruiting bodies of both mushrooms. Substrates with 100% CC and 100% SB were the most suitable substrate formulas for cultivation of oyster mushrooms PO and PC in which they gave the highest values of cap diameter, stipe thickness, mushroom weight, yield, BE, protein, fiber, ash, mineral content (Ca, K, and Mg) and short stipe length. However, substrate formula 100% CC gave the slowest time for the first harvest of both mushrooms PO and PC (46.02 days and 64.24 days, respectively). It is also found that the C/N ratio of substrate formulas has close correlation with total colonization period, mushroom weight, yield, BE and protein content of mushroom PO and PC.
Agaricales ; Colon ; Fruit ; Ostreidae* ; Pleurotus* ; Saccharum

BACKGROUND: Vibrio vulnificus are divided into 3 biogroups based on their biochemical and serological properties and the existence of eel virulence. Only a few studies can be found on the biogroups of V. vulnificus in other countries, and no such studies have been done in Korea. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the presence of biogroups other than biogroup 1 among the V. vulnificus isolated from septic patients and from oysters in Korea. METHODS: A total of 103 isolates (53 from septic patients and 50 from oyster) were used. The API 20E system was used to confirm identification of the V. vulnificus. Conventional biochemical tests and vvA gene detection by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used to determine the biogroups. RESULTS: The clinical and oyster isolates showed results similar to the biochemical tests. All of the clinical and oyster isolates showed the biochemical pattern of biogroup 1. The vvhA gene was detected in all of the isolates. CONCLUSION: All of the V. vulnificus isolates from the septic patients and oysters in Korea belong to biogroup 1.
Eels ; Humans ; Korea ; Ostreidae ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Vibrio ; Vibrio vulnificus

Isolates of Trichoderma spp. collected from Pleurotus ostreatus and P. eryngii beds, which included loosened substrate compactness and development of green colour, were grouped into three species. The occurrence of different species of Trichoderma was as T. cf. virens (70.8%), T. longibrachiatum (16.7%) and T. harzianum (12.5%). The conidia of Trichoderma spp. were ellipsoidal, obovoid and phialides were bowling pins, lageniform and the length of phialides was 3.5~10.0 x 1.3~3.3 micromm. Phialides of T. cf. virens and T. harzianum were tending clustered, but it was solitary disposition in T. longibrachiatum. T. cf. virens was characterized by predominantly effuse conidiation, sparingly branched, and fertile to the apex and it was penicillate type. RAPD analysis could detect variability amongst three different species of Trichoderma using two newly designed URP-primers. However, intra-specific variation could not be detected in all the isolates except for rDNA sequence data classified Trichoderma isolates into three distinct groups representing three species. The profiles of rDNA sequences of isolates representing a species showed high similarity in T. cf. virens and T. harzianum. However, there was a variation in rDNA sequences of isolates representing T. longibrachiatum. The results of present study reveals that molecular techniques of RAPD and rDNA sequencing can greatly aid in classification based on morphology and precise identification of fast evolving species of Trichoderma.
Classification ; DNA, Ribosomal ; Fungi* ; Ostreidae* ; Pleurotus* ; Spores, Fungal ; Trichoderma*

The source of Os Draconis (Longgu) has been greatly limited along with implementation of the regulation on the protection of fossils from January 1, 2011. Fingding substitute for Os Draconis becomes an urgent problem. Here, we summarized drug properties of Os Draconis and Ostreae Concha. Moreover the two herbs were usually compatible application in the clinical treatment since they possess similar chemical components and pharmacological activties. In term of these researches, Ostreae Concha may be substitute candidate for Os Draconis.
Animals ; Bone and Bones ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; supply & distribution ; Fossils ; Ostreidae ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo explore a convenient and effective method for norovirus nucleic acid extraction from oysters suitable for long-term viral surveillance.

METHODSTwo methods, namely method A (glycine washing and polyethylene glycol precipitation of the virus followed by silica gel centrifugal column) and method B (protease K digestion followed by application of paramagnetic silicon) were compared for their performance in norovirus nucleic acid extraction from oysters. Real-time RT-PCR was used to detect norovirus in naturally infected oysters and in oysters with induced infection.

RESULTSThe two methods yielded comparable positive detection rates for the samples, but the recovery rate of the virus was higher with method B than with method A.

CONCLUSIONMethod B is a more convenient and rapid method for norovirus nucleic acid extraction from oysters and suitable for long-term surveillance of norovirus.

Animals ; Centrifugation ; methods ; Norovirus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Ostreidae ; virology ; RNA, Viral ; isolation & purification