• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.570-583
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• 2023

Objective: Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) play critical roles in embryo development, and immune responses to infectious diseases. In this study, to investigate the roles of FGFs, we performed genome-wide identification, expression, and functional analyses of FGF family members in chickens. Methods: Chicken FGFs genes were identified and analyzed by using bioinformatics approach. Expression profiles and Hierarchical cluster analysis of the FGFs genes in different chicken tissues were obtained from the genome-wide RNA-seq. Results: A total of 20 FGF genes were identified in the chicken genome, which were classified into seven distinct groups (A-F) in the phylogenetic tree. Gene structure analysis revealed that members of the same clade had the same or similar exon-intron structure. Chromosome mapping suggested that FGF genes were widely dispersed across the chicken genome and were located on chromosomes 1, 4-6, 9-10, 13, 15, 28, and Z. In addition, the interactions among FGF proteins and between FGFs and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) proteins are limited, indicating that the remaining functions of FGF proteins should be further investigated in chickens. Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes pathway analysis showed that FGF gene interacts with MAPK genes and are involved in stimulating signaling pathway and regulating immune responses. Furthermore, this study identified 15 differentially expressed genes (DEG) in 21 different growth stages during early chicken embryo development. RNA-sequencing data identified the DEG of FGFs on 1- and 3-days post infection in two indigenous Ri chicken lines infected with the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1 (HPAIV). Finally, all the genes examined through quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and RNA-Seq analyses showed similar responses to HPAIV infection in indigenous Ri chicken lines (R² = 0.92-0.95, p<0.01). Conclusion: This study provides significant insights into the potential functions of FGFs in chickens, including the regulation of MAPK signaling pathways and the immune response of chickens to HPAIV infections.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.47-54
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• 2022

Subcutaneous abscesses, which occur mainly in goats and sheep, are lymph node abscesses caused by Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis infection, and are divided into internal, external, and mixed types depending on the type of occurrence. While diagnostic methods for subcutaneous abscesses have been continuously studied, research reports for effective treatment and management of subcutaneous abscesses are inadequate. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the changes in biometric information related to the inflammatory markers of goats induced by subcutaneous abscesses by infection with C. pseudotuberculosis. For this, hematological tests, analysis of inflammatory indicators, and analysis of serum proteins through electrophoresis separation of goats with healthy goats and goats inoculated with C. pseudotuberculosis to induce subcutaneous abscesses were compared and analyzed by date, and the differences and characteristics were identified periodically. As a result, in goats induced with subcutaneous abscesses, anemia findings related to a rapid decrease in red blood cell (RBC), hematocrit (HCT), and hemoglobin (Hb) were observed, and a significant increase in inflammatory cells expressed in total white blood cell (WBC), neutrophil, and monocytes was observed. And the levels of acute phase protein (APP) such as fibrinogen, haptoglobin, and serum amyloid A (SAA) were observed to increase rapidly immediately after infection. In addition, in the results of electrophoretic analysis of serum proteins, it was observed that the levels of α-globulin and β-globulin were significantly increased in goats with subcutaneous abscesses. That is, when looking at these changes, it was found that the systemic inflammatory response of goats was rapidly induced immediately after infection with the C. pseudotuberculosis pathogen. Through this study, it was possible to identify changes in the biomarkers of goats with subcutaneous abscesses, which had not been reported. Furthermore, these analyzed data are thoughts to be of great help in identifying, treating, and managing the goats of subcutaneous abscesses.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.305-313
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• 2008

The present study was conducted to investigate the epidemiological characteristics such as isolation rate and antimicrobial drug susceptibility of etiological agents. The specimens (stool or intestine) were collected from 319 calves with clinical diarrhea from 195 farms in Gyeongnam south area (Gosung, Tongyung, Hadong) from June 2005 to August 2006. The isolation rate of Salmonella spp was higher in summer (8.4%) than in winter (4.8%) and the average was 7.2% (23/319 head). Some of Salmonella spp isolated were resistant to penicillin, oxytetracycline, tetracycline, and cephalexin (>90%), but some of them were susceptible to norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim and amikacin(>30%). There was no statistical difference in the isolation rate of Eimeria spp between summer(48.9%) and winter(42.3%). For the evaluation of infection level of Eimeria spp oocyst per gram of feces (OPG) was examined, and severe, moderate and light infection level were 11.9%, 12.5% and 22.3%, respectively. In the isolation rates of Eimeria spp the calves under 19 days was lowerthan those over 60 days, but there was not different among herd size.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.703-710
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• 2016

The trichomonad species Tritrichomonas foetus and Pentatrichomonas hominis were recently detected in the feces of dogs with diarrhea. However, little information is available on the prevalence and pathogenicity of these parasites in the canine population. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and molecular characterization of trichomonads infecting pet dogs in Anhui and Zhejiang provinces, east China. In total, 315 pet dogs, with or without diarrhea, from 7 pet hospitals were included in this epidemiological survey. Microscopy and PCR detected P. hominis in 19.7% (62/315) and 31.4% (99/315) of fecal samples, respectively. T. foetus infection was detected in 0% (0/315) of samples with microscopy and in 0.6% (2/315) with PCR. The prevalence of P. hominis was significantly higher in young dogs (${\leq}12months$) than in adult dogs (>12 months), and was significantly higher in diarrheic dogs (50.6%) than in non-diarrheic dogs (24.3%; P<0.05). Infection with T. foetus did not correlate with any risk factors evaluated in this study. A sequence analysis of the P. hominis PCR products showed minor allelic variations between our sequences and those of P. hominis strains from other hosts in different parts of the world. Type CC1 was the most common strain in dogs in east China. The internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1)-5.8S rRNA gene sequences from the 2 T. foetus isolates detected in this study displayed 100% identity and were homologous to the sequences of other strains isolated from domestic cats in other countries.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.153-159
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• 2008

The limitations in current technology for generating transgenic animals, such as the time and the expense, hampered its extensive use in recombinant protein production for therapeutic purpose. In this report, we present a simple and less expensive alternative by directly infusing a recombinant adenovirus vector carrying human lactoferrin cDNA into rabbit mammary glands. The milk serum was collected from the infected mammary gland 48 h post-infection and subjected to a 10% SDS-PAGE and Western blotting. An 80-kDa protein was visualized after viral vector infection. With this method, we obtained a high level of expressed human lactoferrin of up to 2.3mg/ml in the milk. Taken together, the method is useful for the transient high-level expression recombinant proteins, and the approach established here is probably one of the most economical and efficient ways for large-scale production of recombinant proteins of biopharmaceutical interest.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.11-17
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• 2013

In this study, to understand the pathogenesis of new rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDVa) serotype, we carried out to administrate RHDVa to rabbits, and to examine sequential electron microscopic changes and relationship between pathogenesis and apoptosis. TUNEL-positive cells began to be observed from 24 hours after inoculation (HAI) and the number of positive cells was slightly increased with the course of time. Whereas marked increase of positive cells was seen in the liver from the rabbits died acutely. Typical viral particles with cup-like projections and a diameter of 30~40 nm were detected in homogenized liver samples and tissues at 36 and 48, and 48 HAI, respectively. Ultrastructurally, glycogen deposition was observed from the first stage of hepatocellular degeneration by RHDVa infection and then, swelling and disruption of cristae of mitochondria by viral particles, swelling of smooth endoplasmic reticulum, vacuoles and vesicles were detected. Condensation, margination and fragmentation of chromatin were observed in degenerative hepatocytes at 36 and 48 HAI, indicating apoptotic bodies. These data offer that hepatocytic apoptosis by RHDV infection could be closely related with mitochondrial impairment in the hepatocytes.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.129-131
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• 2012

Blood samples were collected from 672 goats in 60 farms from five provinces of Korea between November 2009 and August 2011. The prevalence of antibodies to pestiviruses was investigated. The examination for antibodies was performed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) detecting antibodies to the bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) and border disease virus (BDV). All blood samples were screened using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) with primer pairs specific to common pestivirus genome regions. The observed individual seroprevalence was 1.49% and herd seroprevalence was 11.67%. Also, the specific genomes to pestiviruses were detected in 3 out of the 915 clinical samples (0.45%). Based on the nucleotide sequence data, detected pestiviruses were belonged to two BVDV type-1 and one BVDV type-2. The pestivirus infection has been occurred among Korean black goats. However, our results indicate that the prevalence of pestiviruses in black goats was not significantly higher on farms with cattle.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.59 no.6
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• pp.639-643
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• 2021

Enterocytozoon bieneusi is a microsporidian pathogen. Recently, the equestrian population is increasing in Korea. The horse-related zoonotic pathogens, including E. bieneusi, are concerns of public health. A total of 1,200 horse fecal samples were collected from riding centers and breeding farms in Jeju Island and inland areas. Of the fecal samples 15 (1.3%) were PCR positive for E. bieneusi. Interestingly, all positive samples came from Jeju Island. Diarrhea and infection in foals were related. Two genotypes (horse1, horse2) were identified as possible zoonotic groups requiring continuous monitoring.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.197-202
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• 2014

Dirofilaria immitis infection is one of the most important parasitic diseases in dogs and public health. It often elicits nodules in the pulmonary parenchyma and in the subcutaneous tissues of human. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of D. immitis infection among 754 dogs in Seoul area from April to December 2012. The infection rate of 754 dogs was 9.8% (74/754) by the antigen test (canine SNAP 4Dx). The infection rates of D. immitis in dogs at the age of < 2, 2~4, 5~7, 8~10, and > 10 years were 3.7% (7/189), 12.9% (30/233), 15.0% (19/127), 9.8% (18/184), and 0% (0/21), respectively. The infection rates in the female and male dogs were 9.7% (33/340) and 9.9% (41/414), respectively. The regional infection rates in northern and southern Han river region of Seoul were 10.7% (44/410) and 8.7% (30/344), respectively. In order to confirm D. immitis infection, we performed PCR on serum samples of 74 dogs which tested positive for D. immitis antigen by the antigen test and we detected a specific gene ITS-2 in 59 serum samples. In conclusion, this study suggests that treatment and preventive care on the D. immitis infection should be considered in dogs of Seoul area.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.85-88
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• 2017

Toxoplasma gondii causes serious infection worldwide in humans and animals. In this study, the seroepidemiology of toxoplasmosis was investigated in wild boars (Sus scrofa) (n=377), wild rabbits (cape hare, Lapus capensis) (n=331), and wild chickens (red junglefwol, Gallus gallus) (n=571) in 4 forested and country sided area of Hubei province of China. For this, blood samples were collected and tested by indirect hemagglutination test (IHA). The seroprevalence was found to be 7.2%, 5.1%, and 12.6% in wild boars, rabbits, and chickens, respectively, with significant differences among these species. The prevalence of T. gondii infection in male and female wild boars was found to be 7.9% and 6.5% (P<0.01), in male and female rabbits was 5.6% and 4.9% (P<0.01), and in male and female chickens was 17.1% and 7.7% (P<0.01), respectively, with significant differences between 2 genders of chickens (P<0.01). The findings of this study may help in planning of the prevention measures against T. gondii infection in wild animals in this area.