The aim of this study was to identify a new gene of Haemophilus parasuis that could be used to develop a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for this porcine pathogen. H. parasuis genomic DNA was cloned into a set of expression vectors, and transformants expressing His-tagged polypeptides were identified by colony blotting. An ABC transporter-like gene was isolated. The cloned DNA fragment is 1,105 base pair and shows 78% similarity at the nucleotide level with an ABC transporter gene of H. ducreyi. Based on this sequence, two PCR primers were designed to amplify the entire 1,105-bp fragment in the proposed diagnostic PCR test. PCR amplification was able to detect a minimum of 1 x 10(4) CFU/ml of H. parasuis organisms. Fifteen different H. parasuis serovars were positive using the PCR test. No amplification was observed when the test was done using DNA from 16 other bacterial species commonly isolated from swine.
Base Pairing ; Clone Cells ; Cloning, Organism ; DNA ; Haemophilus ; Haemophilus parasuis ; Peptides ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Swine

PURPOSE: We evaluated whether a 6Fr transurethral catheter affects urinary flow in women undergoing pressure-flow studies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed urodynamics database of 201 consecutive women referred for the evaluation of lower urinary tract symptoms from January 1997 to June 2000. Before the urodynamic study, all patients voided privately using a standard toilet and free uroflowmetry parameters were recorded. Then, a standard pressure-flow study was performed using 6Fr transurethral catheter. We excluded the patients with inadequate voided volume(<150ml) and volume difference more than 30% between two studies. Urinary flow parameters between the two studies were analysed by paired t-test according to voided volume, main urodynamic diagnosis and uroflowmetry pattern. RESULTS: Of 201 women, 144 were excluded and 57 were subjects of our analysis. According to voided volume, pressure-flow study parameters were significantly different from the equivalent free uroflowmetry parameters: the maximum flow rate and average flow rate were significantly lower and flow time was significantly longer in pressure-flow studies(p<0.01). According to main urodynamic diagnosis categories, the subgroups of patients with normal urodynamic study, bladder outlet obstruction, detrusor instability and others showed significantly lower maximum flow rate and average flow rate in pressure-flow studies(p<0.01). According to uroflowmetry pattern, obstructive patterns such as undulating and intermittent pattern were more common in pressure-flow studies. CONCLUSIONS: The 6Fr transurethral catheter used in pressure-flow studies significantly affects urinary flow parameters. In order to make a accurate diagnosis, we must not merely rely on the results of pressure-flow studies, but we must take into account patient's individual clinical situation and also, if available, the results of free uroflowmetry in addition to pressure flow study parameters.
Catheters* ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms ; Retrospective Studies ; Urinary Bladder Neck Obstruction ; Urodynamics

Preventive and therapeutic effects of egg yolk antibody, immunoglobulin Y (IgY), against canine parvovirus (CPV) was evaluated in 25 pups orally challenged with CPV-2a. Oral administration of IgY using powder, paste and coated paste delivery systems was compared. Each type of IgY was administered orally for 17 days from 3 days before challenge. The group of pups administered coated IgY showed mild symptoms such as a moderate decrease in total white blood cell count, no depression, vomiting and diarrhea when compared with other groups. The overall clinical score of the group of pups administered coated IgY was significantly lower than that of the challenge control group. However, mortality did not differ among groups because not all pups received symptomatic treatment. These results implied that oral treatment of coated IgY could improve therapeutic effects against CPV challenge if pups received symptomatic treatment.
Administration, Oral ; Chickens* ; Depression ; Diarrhea ; Egg Yolk* ; Enteritis* ; Immunoglobulins ; Immunotherapy ; Leukocyte Count ; Mortality ; Parvovirus, Canine ; Vomiting

Commercial bivalent killed Salmonella vaccine Salenvac-T has been used in several countries in order to prevent salmonellosis with Salmonella enterica serovars Enteritidis (SE) and Typhimurium (ST) in poultry. However, this vaccine has not been used in poultry farms in South Korea. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of Salenvac-T vaccine to protect against the challenge of virulent SE and ST, and the effect of the vaccine on egg production and mortality in layer hens. The colonization of liver, spleen and cecum with challenged SE and ST was reduced in vaccinated chickens compared with that of unvaccinated control group. The twice vaccination with Salenvac-T induced elevated antibody responses against both SE and ST detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The higher average hen-day production was observed in the vaccinated layer hens than in the unvaccinated layer hens without significance. The average mortality was lower in the vaccinated layer hens during the experiment period. The antibody responses to both SE and ST were persistently detected in the vaccinated layers. In summary, vaccination with Salenvac-T reduces colonization of internal organs and induces good antibody responses, thereby results in higher performance and lower egg contamination with SE and ST in layer hens.
Antibody Formation ; Cecum ; Chickens ; Colon ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Liver ; Ovum ; Poultry ; Republic of Korea ; Salmonella ; Salmonella enterica ; Salmonella enteritidis ; Salmonella Infections ; Salmonella typhimurium ; Spleen ; Vaccination

Bacterial infection of the uterus in Hanwoo can kill embryos. Therefore, many antibiotics have been used to treat this infection in the uterus of repeat breeders. Incorrect use of antibiotics has led to resistance in bacteria. Natural compounds have used as substitutes for antibiotics because they are safe and have very mild side effects. This study was conducted to examine the antimicrobial effects of five extracts from medicinal plants including Humulus japonicas (Hj), Phelledendron amurense (Pa), Viola mandshurica (Vm), Carthamus tinctorius (Ct), and Chelidoni herba (Ch) on bacteria isolated from the uterus of Hanwoo using the paper disc diffusion method. Hj and Pa extracts had potent antimicrobial effects against Staphylococcus lentus, Streptococcus infantarius subsp. coli, and Bacillus pumilus. Pa had the greatest antimicrobial effect among the five medicinal plants and was effective against 19 types of bacteria from bovine uterus. Compared to Pa, Hj showed weaker antimicrobial effects on all the bacteria tested except Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Vm, Ct, and Ch also showed weak antimicrobial effects on the tested bacteria. The results obtained suggest that Hj and Pa are natural compounds suitable for treating bacterial infection in repeat breeders and improving conception rates of Hanwoo.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacillus ; Bacteria* ; Bacterial Infections ; Carthamus tinctorius ; Diffusion ; Embryonic Structures ; Fertilization ; Humulus ; Plants, Medicinal ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; Staphylococcus ; Streptococcus ; Uterus* ; Viola

Bacterial infection of the uterus in Hanwoo can kill embryos. Therefore, many antibiotics have been used to treat this infection in the uterus of repeat breeders. Incorrect use of antibiotics has led to resistance in bacteria. Natural compounds have used as substitutes for antibiotics because they are safe and have very mild side effects. This study was conducted to examine the antimicrobial effects of five extracts from medicinal plants including Humulus japonicas (Hj), Phelledendron amurense (Pa), Viola mandshurica (Vm), Carthamus tinctorius (Ct), and Chelidoni herba (Ch) on bacteria isolated from the uterus of Hanwoo using the paper disc diffusion method. Hj and Pa extracts had potent antimicrobial effects against Staphylococcus lentus, Streptococcus infantarius subsp. coli, and Bacillus pumilus. Pa had the greatest antimicrobial effect among the five medicinal plants and was effective against 19 types of bacteria from bovine uterus. Compared to Pa, Hj showed weaker antimicrobial effects on all the bacteria tested except Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Vm, Ct, and Ch also showed weak antimicrobial effects on the tested bacteria. The results obtained suggest that Hj and Pa are natural compounds suitable for treating bacterial infection in repeat breeders and improving conception rates of Hanwoo.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacillus ; Bacteria* ; Bacterial Infections ; Carthamus tinctorius ; Diffusion ; Embryonic Structures ; Fertilization ; Humulus ; Plants, Medicinal ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; Staphylococcus ; Streptococcus ; Uterus* ; Viola

Typhoid fever, a serious systemic infection caused by Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi, breaks out in developing countries. However, existing vaccines only induce relatively low protective effects with humoral responses and do not stimulate secondary immune response, especially to young people. The objective of this study is to evaluate the immunogenicity of the vaccine containing virulence capsular polysaccharide (Vi) conjugated with the optimal ratios of non-toxic variant of diphtheria toxin (CRM(197)) in mice. Six-week-old BALB/c female mice were injected intraperitoneally three times at intervals of 14 days and sera were collected on days 0, 14, 28, 42 and 56 post-injection. The efficacy of the vaccine was evaluated by comparing between negative control group injected with PBS and vaccine groups injected with Vi or Vi-CRM(197) conjugate of different ratio. Vi and CRM(197)-specific antibody responses were evaluated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The result showed that Vi-CRM(197)-1 group revealed the highest and significant Vi-specific IgG immune responses among the other groups and Vi group (p < 0.01). In conclusion, Vi-CRM(197)-1 conjugate vaccine induced the highest humoral immune response in mice and may be used as an effective vaccine to replace the existing typhoid vaccine for infants under 2 years old.
Animals ; Antibody Formation ; Child, Preschool ; Developing Countries ; Diphtheria Toxin ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Immunity, Humoral ; Immunoglobulin G ; Infant ; Mice* ; Salmonella enterica* ; Salmonella typhi* ; Salmonella* ; Typhoid Fever ; Typhoid-Paratyphoid Vaccines ; Vaccines ; Virulence

The study was carried out to evaluate and compare the immune responses in mice experimentally infected with either wild-type or isogenic mutants of Salmonella enterica serovars Enteritidis (SE), Salmonella Typhimurium (ST) and Gallinarum (SG). The mutant strains were constructed by allelic replacement of some virulence-associated genes in the wild-type strains. Seven-week-old female BALB/c mice were orally or intraperitoneally inoculated by injecting bacterial suspension. To evaluate the immune responses, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay were conducted with serum and fecal samples. As a result, the mice group infected orally with the SE mutant strain showed the highest level of specific IgA-secreting splenocytes, compared to the other groups. The peritoneally injected groups showed the greater levels of IgG1 than the orally injected groups, which was in a good agreement with the previous studies. In addition, the mutant infected groups had the similar secretion levels of antibodies with the wild-type infected groups. These results demonstrated that the SE mutant strain elicited humoral immune response as much as wild-type, implying that it can be useful as a delivery vehicle as well as a candidate of a live attenuated vaccine.
Animals ; Antibodies ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Immunity, Humoral ; Immunity, Mucosal ; Immunoglobulin G ; Mice ; Salmonella ; Salmonella enterica ; Salmonella typhimurium ; Sprains and Strains

Ginseng has been widely used in Korea as a natural medicine due to its saponin contents. Although the total amount of ginseng stem and leaf saponins (GSLS) is 4~5 times higher than that of saponin in the root, the root is mainly used. This is due to two reasons: nervous system-stimulant activity of GSLS and pesticide residues in GSLS. In this study, residual agricultural pesticides were removed from GSLS using two types of bacterial treatments. Two GSLS treatment groups of chickens (GSLS-1 and GSLS-2) were established. The chickens were fed 0.4% GSLS-1 or GSLS-2 mixed with crop. We then evaluated the effects of GSLS on bodyweight and several immune parameters. At the end of the experiments, chickens fed GSLS-1 and red ginseng saponin had significantly higher growth rates (16.6% and 8.0%, respectively) compared to the vaccine control group treated with Noblis Salenvac-T. The group fed GSLS-1 also had the highest IgG titer that was significantly different at the end of experiments compared to the other groups. These findings imply that GSLS-1 is a good candidate feed additive for the chicken industry.
Chickens* ; Immunoglobulin G ; Korea ; Panax* ; Pesticide Residues ; Pesticides ; Saponins

Uterine sterilization is important for improving fertility in cattle. This study compared bacterial flora in the uterus between healthy and repeat breeder cows (RBCs). The uterine flushing of six heifers, 13 healthy HanWoo cows and eight RBCs (HanWoo) were sampled, and 15 frozen semen samples were selected. Overall, 35 bacteria were identified from in HanWoo uterine flushing and semen. The bacterial genera identified from HanWoo uterine flushing were Alloiococcus, Bacillus, Enterobacter, Enterococcus, Erysipelothrix, Gardnerella, Granulicatella, Kocuria, Pantoea, Pasteurella, Rothia, Serratia, Sphingomonas, Staphylococcus, Stenotrophomonas and Streptococcus. The bacterial genera identified from HanWoo semen were Bacillus, Escherichia, Kocuria, Oligella, Pseudomonas, Serratia, Sphingomonas, Staphylococcus, Stenotrophomonas and Streptococcus. The prevalence and presence of the identified bacteria between healthy cows and RBCs differed significantly. Further studies are needed to determine the role of these bacteria in the uterus of HanWoo cattle with reproductive disorder.
Animals ; Bacillus ; Bacteria ; Cattle* ; Enterobacter ; Enterococcus ; Erysipelothrix ; Escherichia ; Fertility ; Flushing ; Gardnerella ; Pantoea ; Pasteurella ; Prevalence ; Pseudomonas ; Semen ; Semen Preservation ; Serratia ; Sphingomonas ; Staphylococcus ; Stenotrophomonas ; Sterilization ; Streptococcus ; Uterus*