We aimed to determine the effect of timed artificial insemination (TAI) protocols on the pregnancy rate per insemination and pregnancy loss compared with AI performed at detected estrus in dairy cows and Korean Hanwoo cattle under heat stress. In dairy cattle, 1,250 sets of data that underwent AI during heat stress (temperature-humidity index ≥ 72) were categorized according to their TAI protocols or as controls: 1) PGF_2α-36 h-estradiol benzoate (EB)-36 h-TAI (PG-EB group, n = 113); 2) GnRH-7 days-PGF_2α-56 h-GnRH-16 h-TAI (Ovsynch group, n = 455); or 3) GnRH-6 days-Ovsynch (G6G group, n = 136). The remaining cows underwent AI at detected estrus (AIDE group, n = 546). The probability of pregnancy per AI 45 days after AI was higher (P < 0.01) in the PG-EB (odds ratio [OR]: 1.68), Ovsynch (OR: 1.48), and G6G (OR: 1.79) groups than in the AIDE group. However, the prevalence of pregnancy loss between 30 and 45 days after AI did not differ among the groups. In Hanwoo cattle, 617 sets of data inseminated artificially under heat stress were categorized into AIDE (n = 281), PG-EB (n = 194), and combined Ovsynch or G6G (n = 142) groups. The probability of pregnancy per AI 45 days after AI and the prevalence of pregnancy loss between 30 and 45 days after AI did not differ among the groups. Thus, implementation of a TAI protocol (PG-EB, Ovsynch, or G6G) in dairy cows under heat stress improves the pregnancy rate per AI versus AIDE, whereas there is no beneficial effect of TAI on the pregnancy rate of Hanwoo cattle under heat stress.

An intestinal strigeiid trematode, Apharyngostrigea pipientis, was detected from Ardea cinerea jouyi, Egretta intermedia and Nycticorax nycticorax between July, 2006 and June, 2020 in Daejeon metropolitan city and Kangwon-do, Republic of Korea. It was observed with a light and scanning electron microscope (SEM), and molecularly analyzed with 18S rRNA genes. The infection rate of the strigeiid trematode was 25.9% (7/27). The body is cylindrical in whole mount, greatly elongated in outline and shows a strong dorsal curvature. The overall measurements are: length 4.1-4.8 mm; fore-body 1.00-1.20 mm by 0.8-0.9 mm; hind-body 3.2-3.6 mm by 0.43-0.46 mm. The body is covered by a relatively thick cuticle, devoid of spines. The oral sucker leads into a short esophagus that is devoid of a muscular pharynx. The holdfast organ is enormously developed. The vitelline follicles distributed dorsal wall of fore-body and hind-body. This strigeiid trematode especially differs from other species of genus Apharyngostrigea in morphology. Although these A. pipientis are several morphological distinctions from Apharyngostrigea cornu, the partial sequence of 18S rRNA showed the sequence homology of A. pipientis (99.9%) and A. cornu (99.8%), and this result revealed their conspecific relationship between A. cornu and A. pipientis. This is the first report of A. pipientis in the Republic of Korea.

Neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation is an immune response for the invasion of microbes. The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of zinc on NET formation of porcine peripheral blood polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs). The NET formation of PMNs was measured by fluorescence microplate reader. The production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in the culture supernatants from zinc-treated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Zinc itself did not have no effect on NET formation. However, the NET formation of PMNs was increased by culture supernatants from PBMCs treated with zinc. Also, the NET formation of PMNs was increased by recombinant porcine (rp) TNF-α. The production of TNF-α in PBMCs culture supernatants was shown to increase upon zinc treatments. These NET formations of PMNs increased by either culture supernatant from PBMCs treated with zinc or rpTNF-α were inhibited by treatment of anti-rpTNF-α polyclonal antibody (pAb). These results suggested that zinc has an immunostimulating effect on the NET formation of PMNs, which is mediated by TNF-α released from zinc-treated PBMCs. Therefore, zinc may play an important role for NET formation in the defense of porcine inflammatory diseases.

The purpose of this retrospective study was to describe the characteristics of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in dogs with meningoencephalitis of unknown etiology (MUE), and to evaluate the usefulness of meningeal enhancement. Thirty-two dogs were included in MUE group on the basis of clinical signs, MRI findings and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) results, and for comparison of the meningeal enhancement, twenty-three dogs with normal MRI, normal CSF and no clinical sign were included in the control group. The evaluated MRI findings included lesion site, lesion number, signal intensity of each MRI sequence, mass effect, perilesional edema, contrast enhancement, and meningeal enhancement. The MUE was most frequently associated with multiple lesions (50%) with perilesional edema (72%) in forebrain (66%) that were hyperintense (92%) in T2W and FLAIR images. Of the meningeal enhancement, there was no significant difference between the control group and the MUE groups in the pachymeningeal enhancement. However, leptomeningeal (or both) enhancement was found relatively high proportion in the MUE group than in the control group (P < 0.001, Odd ratio = 10.26), and based on this result, leptomeningeal (or both) enhancement is considered to be significant finding for indicating MUE.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the clinical effects of carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC) and adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on osteoarthritis (OA). Thirty New Zealand white rabbits were used as cranial cruciate ligament transection and partial meniscectomy models. The rabbits were divided into five groups (n = 6) according to the intra-articular injection materials: the control group with PBS, the HA group with hyaluronic acid, the CMC group with CMC, the MSC group with MSCs emerged in PBS, and the MSC+CMC group with CMC and MSCs. Knee thickness, extension angle, gross morphology, histopathology and immunohistochemistry were performed to evaluate the effects of CMC and MSCs on rabbit OA. On the morphologic and histologic examination, the articular surfaces of the femur and tibia were markedly damaged in control group with higher Mankin score and lower cartilage surface thickness. However, OA related cartilage defects were alleviated by the treatment of MSC and/or CMC. The expressions of apoptotic and inflammatory cytokines were decreased and cartilage extracellular matrix (ECM) related collagens I and II were enhanced by the treatment of MSC and/or CMC. In conclusion, this study showed that CMC and MSC treatments have a beneficial effects on OA via the protection of cartilage damage, the stimulation of ECM, and the inhibition of inflammatory and apoptotic reaction.

An intravenous foreign body was retrieved from a 10-year-old Maltese. A 24 gauze of fracture intravenous (IV) catheter moved into the circulation to a Maltese (3.4 kg) dog through the upper cephalic vein. Radiography was performed to observe the fracture's moving path, followed by fluid therapy. It was found in the upper cephalic vein, moved about 10 cm up to dorsal and near the proximal humerus. Retrieval surgery was performed successfully without complications. The catheter fracture retrieval sometimes remains a challenge because of unknown complications in veterinary medicine. This case report describes that a fracture IV catheter moved to the systemic vein was removed successfully by a surgery.

A 12-year-old, female Maltese was referred with uncontrolled hyperadrenocorticism (HAC). Despite well management of HAC through treatment with trilostane and serial monitoring with ACTH stimulation tests for over three years, stiffness of the neck and limbs progressively worsened over time. Neurological test was performed, which showed no abnormalities of cranial nerves. Proprioception was delayed but the cause appeared to be due to stiffness of limb muscles. Muscle tone had increased over time and stiffness had worsened to the extent where it made walking difficult. MRI scans showed no orthopedic or spinal diseases, and pituitary microadenoma was confirmed with pituitary gland measurement of 6 × 6.4 × 4.5 mm (H × W × L). Electromyography presented random discharges with fluctuating amplitude and frequency, which were consistent with myotonic discharges. There were no improvements of myotonic signs despite treatment for HAC with trilostane. Supplementation of L-carnitine and coenzyme Q-10 to mitigate muscle stiffness, following diazepam and methocarbamol to help with muscle rigidity, failed to show any positive effect and the dog died a sudden death, 1,182 days after the initial visit.

A 4-year-old Thoroughbred stallion was referred to J&C Equine Hospital with a quarter crack of the right front foot. On visual inspection, there was a medial quarter crack with laminar necrosis. The first step to treat this problem was to remove the necrotized tissue around the crack using Dremel tools, disinfecting crack, administering antibiotics through regional limb perfusion and systemically administering antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs consistently. After one month's anti-inflammatory management, the quarter crack was treated successfully using two series of wiring with one week's term and polymethylmethacrylate composites (Equilox^㉿). After treatment, this racehorse successfully resumed training and racing in Korea Racing Authority Seoul Race Course, and won three times, finishing second and third place once, out of thirteen starts.

A 14-year-old neutered-male Shih-Tzu was referred for glaucoma and hyphema accompanied by systemic hypertension. After topical corticosteroid and antiglaucoma medications, the left eye (OS) progressed phthisically, but ocular hypertension redevelop one-year-and-seven-months later. Suspected limbal melanoma developed in peripheral cornea/limbal sclera with heavily pigmented cornea OS. Ultrasound biomicroscopy and ocular ultrasonography differentiated ciliary body origin-heterogeneous mass from limbal mass. Persistent hyphema and pigmented cornea might obscure intraocular lesion and advanced diagnostic methods played a crucial role. Unlike the generally benign limbal melanoma, aggressive treatment was recommended for uveal tumor. Histopathology of enucleated OS confirmed malignant uveal melanoma with chronic hypertensive vasculopathy.

A 15-year-old castrated male Persian (Case 1), an 1.5-year-old castrated male Bengal (Case 2), and an 1.5-year-old spayed female Russian Blue (Case 3) cats were presented with iris-color change and suspicious anterior chamber mass. Complete ophthalmic examination revealed a vascularized or blood tinted mass filling with anterior chamber accompanied by rubeosis iridis, dyscoria, keratic precipitates, and severe aqueous flare. Ocular ultrasonography showed an iridociliary mass with blood flow signal in Case 1. Abdominal ultrasonography also revealed suspicious metastatic involvements of liver and spleen in this cat. Case 2 and 3 were suspected of being infected with feline infectious peritonitis. Topical antibiotic/steroid combinations were prescribed to control the uveitis in all 3 cases, although enucleation was initially considered for palliative pain management in Case 1. Anterior chamber mass had almost completely disappeared after topical medications and uveitis has been successfully managed, remaining in sight, even though ocular hypertension developed 1 month later in Case 1.

A 14-year-old castrated male Persian cat presented with epiphora, blepharospasm, brownish ocular discharge, corneal neovascularization, and corneal opacity in the left eye. Medial lower eyelid entropion was diagnosed through an ophthalmic examination. Since the cat was old and suffered from chronic kidney disease, we decided to perform a hyaluronic acid (HA) subdermal filler injection without general anesthesia rather than surgical correction. After topical anesthesia by lidocaine jelly and disinfection, HA filler was injected into the medial lower eyelid under minimal physical restraint. At the last follow-up 139 days later, lower eyelid entropion was not observed and related clinical signs disappeared. Therefore, HA subdermal filler can be an effective intervention for the treatment of entropion in cats.