• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.65-68
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• 2013

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) can infect not only human but also several animals. This study has been conducted to evaluate the comprehensive anti-HEV seroprevalence in zoo animals in Korea. Anti-HEV antibodies were identified in 14 of 64 zoo animal species. HEV antibodies were detected for the first time in Eurasian Lynx, Setland Pony, Fallow Deer, Ezo Sika, Formosa Deer, East Wapitis, Barasingha, Corriedale, American Bison, Guanacos, Reticulated Giraffe, and Saanen. These results indicate that the several zoo animal species were exposed to HEV.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.606-611
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• 2015

As Salmonella enterica serovar Pullorum remains a major economic problem for the poultry industries of countries with no efficient control measures, we presented a multidrug resistance strain S06004 (isolated from a clinically sick chicken in China in 2006) for genome sequencing. The genome comparison showed that the strain contained two prophages, the ST104 and prophage-4 (Fels2) of E. coli LF82, which were not detected in the only published genomes of S. Pullorum RKS5078 and CDC1983-67. In addition, the GyrA Ser83 point mutation, drugresistant genes, and many antibiotic pump systems that are present in S06004 may be contributing to the multidrug resistance of this strain.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.8
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• pp.1175-1182
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• 2017

Objective: To create genetically modified goat as a biopharming source of recombinant human lacotoferrin (hLF) with transcription activator-like effector nucleases. Methods: TALENs and targeting vector were transferred into cultured fibroblasts to insert hLF cDNA in the goat beta-lactoglobulin (BLG) locus with homology-directed repair. The gene targeted efficiency was checked using sequencing and TE7I assay. The bi-allelic gene targeted colonies were isolated and confirmed with polymerase chain reaction, and used as donor cells for somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). Results: The targeted efficiency for BLG gene was approximately 10%. Among 12 Bi-allelic gene targeted colonies, five were used in first round SCNT and 4 recipients (23%) were confirmed pregnant at 30 d. In second round SCNT, 7 (53%), 4 (31%), and 3 (23%) recipients were confirmed to be pregnant by ultrasound on 30 d, 60 d, and 90 d. Conclusion: This finding signifies the combined use of TALENs and SCNT can generate biallelic knock-in fibroblasts that can be cloned in a fetus. Therefore, it might lay the foundation for transgenic hLF goat generation and possible use of their mammary gland as a bioreactor for large-scale production of recombinant hLF.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.597-602
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• 2018

Histomonas meleagridis is a facultative anaerobic parasite, which can cause a common poultry disease known as histomoniasis. The species and age of the birds impacts on the susceptibility, with turkey being the most susceptible species. Chickens are less susceptible to H. meleagridis than turkeys and usually serve as reservoir hosts. Here, the diagnosis of an outbreak of histomoniasis in backyard Sanhuang chickens is described. The primary diagnosis was made based on clinical symptoms, general changes at necropsy, histopathology, and the isolation and cultivation of parasites. The pathogen was further confirmed by cloning, PCR identification, and animal inoculation tests. A strain of H. meleagridis, named HM-JSYZ-C, with a higher pathogenicity level in chickens was obtained. The study lays a foundation for further investigations into H. meleagridis and histomoniasis in chickens.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.363-370
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• 2014

Campylobacter jejuni is a prevalent foodborne pathogen worldwide. Human infection by C. jejuni primarily arises from contaminated poultry meats. Genes expressed in vivo may play an important role in the pathogenicity of C. jejuni. We applied an immunoscreening method, in vivo-induced antigen technology (IVIAT), to identify in vivo-induced genes during human infection by C. jejuni. An inducible expression library of genomic proteins was constructed from sequenced C. jejuni NCTC 11168 and was then screened using adsorbed, pooled human sera obtained from clinical patients. We successfully identified 24 unique genes expressed in vivo. These genes were implicated in metabolism, molecular biosynthesis, genetic information processing, transport, and other processes. We selected six genes with different functions to compare their expression levels in vivo and in vitro using real-time RT-PCR. The results showed that the selected six genes were significantly upregulated in vivo but not in vitro. In short, these identified in vivo-induced genes may contribute to human infection of C. jejuni, some of which may be meaningful vaccine candidate antigens or diagnosis serologic markers for campylobacteriosis. IVIAT may present a significant and efficient method for understanding the pathogenicity mechanism of Campylobacter and for finding targets for its prevention and control.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.195-198
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• 2018

Six cystic metacestodes were found in the abdominal muscles of a wild rabbit, Lepus sinensis, in China. The coenurus contained one or more scolices armed with hooklets. Mitochondrial cox1 (1,623 bp) confirmed 98% homology with cox1 of Taenia serialis. This is the first report of T. serialis infection in an intermediate host in the Qinghai Tibetan Plateau Area, China.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.119-123
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• 2018

There has recently been a growing demand for pathodiagnosis to determine the cause of death in cats. We retrospectively analyzed the diseases diagnosed in cats that were submitted to Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA) in 2015~2017. Overall diagnostic rate in feline samples was 85.2% (n=104/122). Among diagnosed cases, infectious diseases (n=63) were responsible for most of the feline diseases and feline panleukopenia (n=29) were most prevalent. Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N6 was first diagnosed in cats at the end of December 2016 in the HPAI outbreaks. One case in 2015, 4 cases in 2016, and 14 cases in 2017 were associated with animal abuse, such as trauma and poisoning. These results suggest that suitable vaccination of feline infectious diseases, monitoring of the susceptible domestic animals during HPAI outbreaks, and interest on veterinary forensics to prevent and determine animal abuse are needed.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.4.1-4.13
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• 2021

Background: Microsporum canis is a zoonotic disease that can cause dermatophytosis in animals and humans. Objectives: In clinical practice, ketoconazole (KTZ) and other imidazole drugs are commonly used to treat M. canis infection, but its molecular mechanism is not completely understood. The antifungal mechanism of KTZ needs to be studied in detail. Methods: In this study, one strain of fungi was isolated from a canine suffering with clinical dermatosis and confirmed as M. canis by morphological observation and sequencing analysis. The clinically isolated M. canis was treated with KTZ and transcriptome sequencing was performed to identify differentially expressed genes in M. canis exposed to KTZ compared with those unexposed thereto. Results: At half-inhibitory concentration (½MIC), compared with the control group, 453 genes were significantly up-regulated and 326 genes were significantly down-regulated (p < 0.05). Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis verified the transcriptome results of RNA sequencing. Gene ontology enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis revealed that the 3 pathways of RNA polymerase, steroid biosynthesis, and ribosome biogenesis in eukaryotes are closely related to the antifungal mechanism of KTZ. Conclusions: The results indicated that KTZ may change cell membrane permeability, destroy the cell wall, and inhibit mitosis and transcriptional regulation through CYP51, SQL, ERG6, ATM, ABCB1, SC, KER33, RPA1, and RNP genes in the 3 pathways. This study provides a new theoretical basis for the effective control of M. canis infection and the effect of KTZ on fungi.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.155-158
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• 2017

Surgical castration performed to reduce male-associated problems results in pain and microbial infections in male animals. Therefore, immunocontraception, which is mediated by the animal's own antibodies against reproductive hormones, has been recommended as an alternative to surgical castration when considering the animal's welfare. In this study, a new immunocontraceptive vaccine composed of six tandem copies of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) fused to rat granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) was developed, and its efficacy was evaluated in male rats. Three different doses (10, 50, and $100{\mu}g$) of recombinant GM-CSF-GnRH protein were injected three times at intervals of two weeks into male rats. The rats vaccinated with three doses of GM-CSF-GnRH produced a significantly higher level of antibodies against GnRH than that in the negative control rats. Severe atrophy of gonads was observed in rats vaccinated with three doses of GM-CSF-GnRH but not in the negative control rats. The results reveal that the new GnRH vaccine conjugated with rat GM-CSF induces efficient immunocontraception in male rats. This formulation of the immunocontraceptive vaccine would be applicable to both domestic and pet male animals.

• Journal of Preventive Veterinary Medicine
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.121-123
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• 2017

The hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a leading causative agent of acute hepatitis in humans. Zoonotic HEV strains have been isolated from several animal species, including pigs. New HEV variants have been recently isolated from camels in the Middle East. In the present study, fecal samples from fallow deer, formosan deer, alpaca, and guanaco were analyzed for the detection of HEV. One HEV strain was detected from guanaco, a species of camelids. The nucleotide sequence of guanaco HEV was identical to those of deer HEV-3 strains, which implied the cross-species transmission of HEV-3 from deer to guanaco.