• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.21-34
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• 1994

The objective of this study was to develop a user-friendly computer model for economic analysis on the commercial egg production that could help the egg farmer make managerial diagnosis and rational decision in the changing environment. To raise the adequacy of the model, the program was run for every sample and adjusted to fit the data. The model, programmed with Microsoft QuickBASIC, was a user-friendly computer program in supporting the Korean language. The basic analytical tool used in the study was an engineering-type computerized simulation model which incorporates a cost-benefit analysis of a full-time egg farmer. The computer model developed in this study may be the powerful analytical tool used to evaluate both a managerial decision whether to alter the production system and its impact on production, costs, revenue, and profits. Ultimately, the program is expected to enable the egg farmer to make managerial planning and diagnosis. The program can also calculate the values of economic variables at user-chosen incremental values of market eggs and feed prices. It provides the information on the profit and cost. This may lead the egg farmer, by allowing to establish the best managerial strategy, to increase the profit aor to lessen the cost. The results of this study could be utilized in the evaluation and improvement of the management. It also may be utilized for the researchers and guiding farmers in collecting and analyzing the data on the laying hen. In particular, such a program would be potentially useful to researchers who wish to quickly estimate profits associated with various laying hen treatments. The program could also benefit the egg farmer interested in making managerial decisions based on either current or predicted market conditions. The model would make the egg farmer respond actively to the information-oriented society by promoting to use personal computer.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.9
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• pp.1497-1506
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• 2020

Objective: Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and piperine (PIP) are both nutritional supplements with potential use in animal diets. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of GABA and/or PIP treatment on the gene expression pattern of a pig kidney epithelial cell line. Methods: LLCPK1 cells were treated with GABA, PIP, or both, and then the gene expression pattern was analyzed using microarray. Gene ontology analysis was done using GeneOntology (Geneontology.org), and validation was performed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: Gene ontology enrichment analysis was used to identify key pathway(s) of genes whose expression levels were regulated by these treatments. Microarray results showed that GABA had a positive effect on the transcription of genes related to regulation of erythrocyte differentiation and that GABA and PIP in combination had a synergistic effect on genes related to immune systems and processes. Furthermore, we found that effects of GABA and/or PIP on these selected genes were controlled by JNK/p38 MAPK pathway. Conclusion: These results can improve our understanding of mechanisms involved in the effect of GABA and/or PIP treatment on pig kidney epithelial cells. They can also help us evaluate their potential as a clinical diagnosis and treatment.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.35.1-35.13
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• 2021

Background: African swine fever (ASF) is an infectious viral disease of domestic pigs that presents as a hemorrhagic fever, and for which no effective vaccine is available. The disease has a serious negative social and economic impact on pig keepers. There is limited information on the potential risk factors responsible for the spread of ASF in South Kivu. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the potential risk factors associated with ASF infection in suspected ASF virus (ASFV)-infected pigs. Methods: We sampled whole blood from 391 pigs. Additionally, 300 pig farmers were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Viral DNA was detected by using the real-time polymerase chain reaction technique. Results: The majority of pigs sampled, 78% (95% confidence interval [CI], 74.4-82.6), were of local breeds. Over half, 60.4% (95% CI, 55.5-65.2), were female, and most of them, 90.5% (95% CI, 87.6-93.4), were adult pigs (> 1 year old). Viral DNA was detected in 72 of the 391 sampled pigs, indicating an overall infection rate of 18.4% (95% CI, 14.5-22.4). Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed several risk factors positively associated with ASFV infection: feeding with swill in pen (odds ratio [OR], 3.8; 95% CI, 2.12-6.77); mixed ages of pigs in the same pen (OR, 3.3; 95% CI, 1.99-5.57); introduction of new animals to the farm (OR, 5.4; 95% CI, 1.91-15.28). The risk factors that were negatively (protective) correlated with ASFV positivity were the presence of male animals and the use of an in-pen breeding system. Conclusion: Local pig farmers should be encouraged to adopt proper husbandry and feeding practices in order to increase the number of ASF-free farms.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.29-35
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• 2019

A monitoring was performed to survey the mortalities that had occurred in the aquaculture farms of olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) in South Korea from 2015 to 2017. The indirect inquiry for entire farms and the sample survey for selected farms were carried out. The aquatic organism disease inspectors, who have a national license for the diagnosis and prevention of aquatic organism diseases and a have close relationship with the farms, investigated the rates and causes of mortalities according to the standard manual. The mortality rate by sample survey of farms in 2015, 2016, and 2017 were 24.78% (Chunnam: 17.86%, Jeju: 28.69), 30.19% (Chunnam: 24.45%, Jeju: 32.65), and 21.59% (Chunnam: 10.57%, Jeju: 26.00%), respectively. The major cause of mortality was scuticociliatosis, and the mortality caused by viral hemorrhagic septicemia and emaciation disease (Jeju) were also high. Our results can contribute to effective establishment prevention of epidemics system and acquired status as a disease-cleansing country.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.65-72
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• 2000

In order to improve the early diagnosis of Johne's disease in ruminants, duplex polymerase chain reaction system for the detection of the etiologic agent of M. paratuberculosis and for the differentiation of other mycobacterial animal pathogens, such as M. bovis and M. avium, was applied. Genomic DNAs were purified from peripheral blood monocytes or milk macrophages and were used as templates in the duplex PCR. Detection of Mycobacterium spp. in the specimen was carried out by PCR using primer set specific to the mycobacterial 16S rDNA. And then, mycobacterial DNA-positive specimens were further differentiated with duplex PCR system which was composed of primer sets specific to 16S rDNA of M. avium complex and Is900 gene of M. paratuberculosis. The results were re-confirmed by Southern blot hybridization with oligonucleotide specific to the internal sequence of IS900 PCR amplicons. The applicability of this duplex PCR system was evaluated with DNAs extracted from clinical specimens of peripheral blood monocytes and milk macrophages. In summary, the duplex PCR amplification system described in this experiment is promising molecular technique for the early diagnosis of Johne's disease in ruminants.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.10
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• pp.1683-1690
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• 2020

Objective: The rapid and reliable detection of the African swine fever virus (ASFV) plays an important role in emergency control and preventive measures of ASF. Some methods have been recommended by FAO/OIE to detect ASFV in clinical samples, including realtime polymerase chain reaction (PCR). However, mismatches in primer and probe binding regions may cause a false-negative result. Here, a slight modification in probe sequence has been conducted to improve the qualification of real-time PCR based on World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) protocol for accurate detection of ASFV in field samples in Vietnam. Methods: Seven positive confirmed samples (four samples have no mismatch, and three samples contained one mutation in probe binding sites) were used to establish novel real-time PCR with slightly modified probe (Y = C or T) in comparison with original probe recommended by OIE. Results: Both real-time PCRs using the OIE-recommended probe and novel modified probe can detect ASFV in clinical samples without mismatch in probe binding site. A high correlation of cycle quantification (Cq) values was observed in which Cq values obtained from both probes arranged from 22 to 25, suggesting that modified probe sequence does not impede the qualification of real-time PCR to detect ASFV in clinical samples. However, the samples with one mutation in probe binding sites were ASFV negative with OIE recommended probe but positive with our modified probe (Cq value ranked between 33.12-35.78). Conclusion: We demonstrated for the first time that a mismatch in probe binding regions caused a false negative result by OIE recommended real-time PCR, and a slightly modified probe is required to enhance the sensitivity and obtain an ASF accurate diagnosis in field samples in Vietnam.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.161-167
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• 2010

Early diagnoses of pregnancy for animal such as swine and bovine is extremely important to increase income of a farmhouse and for the management of farm. For the development of immunoasaay system of pregnancy in swine, we report a competitive heterologous enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the direct measurement of oestrone sulfate (E1S) in diluted urine using anti-E1G (glucuronide) monoclonal antibody which cross react with ElS. The principle of assay was based on the typical solid-phase competitive ELISA methods using E1G-HRP (horseradish peroxidase) as a tracer and E1S for standard. The method had a reasonable sensitivity for the detection of E1S with 0.15 ng/ml as a detection limit. The intra-assay and inter-assay precisions were raging coefficient of from 8.50~9.67% and 8.50~9.87%, respectively, which were quite acceptable. In a field trial with a group 37 sows (18 non-pregnancy and 19 pregnancy sows) after day 29~30 post service, the concentration of E1S were determined to be below 30 ng/ml in all non-pregnancy group and over 48 ng/ml in pregnancy group except one sample. The method described here, heterologous ELISA for the measurement of E1S in urine is good enough for monitoring the early pregnancy test of swine.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.287-292
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• 2017

A five-year-old, male, Great Dane weighing 107 kg was presented with anorexia, abdominal distension, and dyspnea for 5 days. Physical examination, blood works, radiography, electrocardiography (ECG), and echocardiography were performed. Based on severely low fractional shortening (FS) and marked four chamber enlargement in echocardiography, continuous atrial fibrillation and occasional ventricular premature complex (VPC) on ECG, the dog was diagnosed as dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) concurrent with congestive heart failure. Pleural effusion and ascites were modified transudate. In accordance with DCM scoring system recommended by European Society of Veterinary Cardiology (ESVC), DCM score was 13/15 in this case. Concentrations of cTnI and NT-pro-BNP were 1.0 ng/mL and 693 pmol/L, respectively. Since the former and the latter were remarkably high values, it was certain that the patient had grave prognosis. Intensive care was performed for the dog and the clinical signs as well as the radiographic abnormalities were resolved. However, when he presented serious dyspnea again at 25 days post therapy, the dog was dead. In case of canine DCM, the scoring system for the diagnosis and cardiac biomarkers including NT-pro-BNP and cTnI could be useful to advise owners on the status and prognosis of their dog with DCM.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.215-224
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• 2023

Background: Reproductive management practices play crucial roles to maximize the reproductive performance of cows, and thus contribute to farm profitability. We aimed to assess the reproductive management of cows currently practiced in the dairy farms in an urban farming system. Methods: A total of 62 dairy farms were randomly selected considering all size of farms such as small (1-5 cattle), medium (6-20 cattle) and large farms (> 20 cattle) from selected areas of Dhaka city in Bangladesh. The reproductive management-related parameters viz. estrus detection, breeding method, pregnancy diagnosis, dry cow and parturition management, vaccination and treatment of reproductive problems etc. were obtained in a pre-defined questionnaire during the farm visit. Results: The visual observation method was only used (100.0%; 62/62) for estrus detection irrespective of size of the farms; while farmers observed cows for estrus 4-5 times a day, but only for 20-60 seconds each time. Regardless of farm size, 89.0% (55/62) farms used artificial insemination (AI) for breeding the cows. Intriguingly, all farms (100.0%) routinely checked the cows for pregnancy at 35-40 days post-breeding using rectal palpation technique by registered veterinarian. However, only 6.5% (4/62) farms practiced dry cow management. Notably, all farms (100.0%) provided nutritional supplements (Vit D, Ca and P) during late gestation. However, proper hygiene and cleanliness during parturition was not practiced in 77.4% (48/62) farms; even though 96.7% (60/62) farms treated cows by registered veterinarian for parturition-related problems. Conclusions: While farmers used AI service for breeding and timely check their cows for pregnancy; however, they need to increase observation time (30 minutes/ observation, twice in a day: early morning and early night) for estrus detection, consider dry cow management and ensure hygienic parturition for maximizing production.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.454-464
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• 2018

Crosstalk between G-protein signaling and glutamatergic transmission within the brain reward circuits is critical for long-term emotional effects (depression and anxiety), cravings, and negative withdrawal symptoms associated with opioid addiction. A previous study showed that Regulator of G-protein signaling 4 (RGS4) may be implicated in opiate action in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). However, the mechanism of the NAc-specific RGS4 actions that induce the behavioral responses to opiates remains largely unknown. The present study used a short hairpin RNA (shRNA)-mediated knock-down of RGS4 in the NAc of the mouse brain to investigate the relationship between the activation of ionotropic glutamate receptors and RGS4 in the NAc during morphine reward. Additionally, the shRNA-mediated RGS4 knock-down was implemented in NAc/striatal primary-cultured neurons to investigate the role that striatal neurons have in the morphine-induced activation of ionotropic glutamate receptors. The results of this study show that the NAc-specific knock-down of RGS4 significantly increased the behaviors associated with morphine and did so by phosphorylation of the GluR1 (Ser831) and NR2A (Tyr1325) glutamate receptors in the NAc. Furthermore, the knock-down of RGS4 enhanced the phosphorylation of the GluR1 and NR2A glutamate receptors in the primary NAc/striatal neurons during spontaneous morphine withdrawal. These findings show a novel molecular mechanism of RGS4 in glutamatergic transmission that underlies the negative symptoms associated with morphine administration.