• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.59-65
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• 2024

This study examined the fecal samples of striped field mice (Apodemus agrarius coreae) captured in Jeju Special Self-Governing Province. Fecal samples, including the colon and other intestinal organs, were collected and subjected to aerobic culture to investigate the distribution of intestinal microorganisms. Gram staining of the aerobic cultured bacterial colonies from 36 fecal samples revealed the predominant presence of gram-negative bacilli in all samples. Among the 36 samples, gram-negative bacilli were identified in 36 strains (100%), gram-positive cocci in 21 strains (58.3%), and gram-positive bacilli in 15 strains (41.7%), while no gram-negative cocci were observed. The gram-negative bacilli cultured from the 36 samples were identified using the Vitek 2 system, and all were determined to be Escherichia coli (E. coli) strains. In addition, one sample was concurrently identified with E. coli and Enterobacter cloacae strains. The antimicrobial susceptibility testing for the identified E. coli strains did not include all antibiotics, but one strain exhibited intermediate resistance to cefoxitin. No pathogenic bacteria were present in the fecal samples of the scrub typhus-infected rodents, which are vectors for chigger-borne diseases affecting humans and animals.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.181-190
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• 2024

Bovine mastitis-associated Escherichia coli (BMEC) is considered the main causative agent of significant financial losses in the dairy industry worldwide, as it alters both the quantity and quality of milk produced and increases the rate of culling. This creates a variety of challenges for researchers, veterinarians, and farmers in understanding and determining the most effective therapies and diagnostic techniques. Subclinical mastitis is particularly concerning, as infected bovines exhibit no obvious symptoms and continue to secrete apparently normal milk over an extended period, allowing the causative pathogen, E. coli, to spread within the herd. For effective prevention, understanding the pathogenesis of mastitis through three stages invasion, infection, and inflammation is essential. To date, no clear correlation has been found between virulence factors and pathogenicity contributing to the clinical severity of BMEC. Multidrug-resistant E. coli and the evolution of novel resistance mechanisms have become concerns owing to the extensive use of antibiotics to treat mastitis. Therefore, it is vital to explore alternative controls to enhance the efficacy of BMEC treatment. Over the past 30 years, various genetic typing techniques have been used to examine the subspecies-level epidemiology of bovine mastitis. These studies have advanced our understanding of the origin, transmission pathway, population structure, and evolutionary relatedness of BMEC strains. In this review we provide an overview of BMEC, including insights into its etiology, genetic relationship, pathogenesis, and management of the disease, as well as new therapy options.

• Annals of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.58-68
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• 2022

Backgrounds/Aims: Mechanisms for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected patients remain unclear. The aim of the present study was to identify genes and pathways involved in the development of HBV-associated HCC. Methods: The GSE121248 gene dataset, which included 70 HCCs and 37 adjacent liver tissues, was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in HCCs and adjacent liver tissues were identified. Gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genome pathway enrichment analyses were then performed. Results: Of 134 DEGs identified, 34 were up-regulated and 100 were down-regulated in HCCs. The 34 up-regulated DEGs were mainly involved in nuclear division, organelle fission, spindle and midbody formation, histone kinase activity, and p53 signaling pathway, whereas the 100 down-regulated DEGs were involved in steroid and hormone metabolism, collagen-coated extracellular matrix, oxidoreductase activity, and activity on paired donors, including incorporation or reduction of molecular oxygen, monooxygenase activity, and retinol metabolism. Analyses of protein-protein interaction networks with a high degree of connectivity identified significant modules containing 14 hub genes, including ANLN, ASPM, BUB1B, CCNB1, CDK1, CDKN3, ECT2, HMMR, NEK2, PBK, PRC1, RACGAP1, RRM2, and TOP2A, which were mainly associated with nuclear division, organelle fission, spindle formation, protein serine/threonine kinase activity, p53 signaling pathway, and cell cycle. Conclusions: This study identified key genes and carcinogenic pathways that play essential roles in the development of HBV-associated HCC. This may provide important information for the development of diagnostic and therapeutic targets for HCC.

• The Korean journal of internal medicine
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.513-523
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• 2024

Background/Aims: Since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, hospitals have implemented infection control measures to minimize the spread of the virus within facilities. This study aimed to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on the incidence of healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) and common respiratory virus (cRV) infections in hematology units. Methods: This retrospective study included all patients hospitalized in Catholic Hematology Hospital between 2019 and 2020. Patients infected with vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE), carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE), Clostridium difficile infection (CDI), and cRV were analyzed. The incidence rate ratio (IRR) methods and interrupted time series analyses were performed to compare the incidence rates before and after the pandemic. Results: The incidence rates of CPE and VRE did not differ between the two periods. However, the incidence of CDI increased significantly (IRR: 1.41 [p = 0.002]) after the COVID-19 pandemic. The incidence of cRV infection decreased by 76% after the COVID-19 outbreak (IRR: 0.240 [p < 0.001]). The incidence of adenovirus, parainfluenza virus, and rhinovirus infection significantly decreased in the COVID-19 period (IRRs: 0.087 [p = 0.003], 0.031 [p < 0.001], and 0.149 [p < 0.001], respectively). Conclusions: The implementation of COVID-19 infection control measures reduced the incidence of cRV infection. However, CDI increased significantly and incidence rates of CPE and VRE remained unchanged in hematological patients after the pandemic. Infection control measures suitable for each type of HCAI, such as stringent hand washing for CDI and enough isolation capacities, should be implemented and maintained in future pandemics, especially in immunocompromised patients.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.55-65
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• 2024

Background : Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant public health issue worldwide, particularly among healthcare workers (HCWs) at high risk of exposure. Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is a state where individuals are infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis but do not show clinical symptoms. Early detection and treatment of LTBI are crucial to prevent progression to active TB. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of LTBI among Korean Medicine (KM) workers in Seoul, South Korea. Methods : This study analyzed 368 adults aged 19 and over working in Korean medicine institutions in Seoul by September 2023. Participants underwent a tuberculin skin test (TST) and completed a survey collecting demographic information, occupation, work duration, smoking status, BCG vaccination, TB history, and comorbidities. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results : The average age of participants was 43.1 years, with an LTBI prevalence rate of 3.5%. Significant risk factors included age and history of TB, Older age and a history of TB were associated with higher LTBI positivity. Conclusion : The study identified the prevalence and risk factors of LTBI among Korean medicine workers in Seoul. The findings highlight the need for targeted LTBI screening and preventive measures, especially for older workers and those with a history of TB. While the prevalence was lower than in other healthcare settings, the results emphasize the importance of regular LTBI testing and prevention education for KM workers. Future large-scale studies are needed to confirm these findings and further understand the relationship between various risk factors and LTBI in KM settings.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.206-241
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• 1985

Attempts to search infection period, infection speed in the tissue of neck blast of rice plant, location of inoculum source and effects of several conditions about the leaf sheath of rice plants for neck blast incidence have been made. 1. The most infectious period for neck blast incidence was the booting stage just before heading date, and most of necks have been infected during the booting stage and on heading date. But $Indica{\times}Japonica$ hybrid varieties had shown always high possibility for infection after booting stage. 2. Incubation period for neck blast of rice plants under natural conditions had rather a long period ranging from 10 to 22 days. Under artificial inoculation condition incubation period in the young panicle was shorter than in the old panicle. Panicles that emerged from the sheath of flag leaf had long incubation period, with a low infection rate and they also shown slow infection speed in the tissue. 3. Considering the incubation period of neck blast of rice plant, we assumed that the most effective application periods of chemicals are 5-10 days for immediate effective chemicals and 10-15 days for slow effective chemicals before heading. 4. Infiltration of conidia into the leaf sheath of rice plant carried out by saturation effect with water through the suture of the upper three leaves. The number of conidia observed in the leaf sheath during the booting stage were higher than those in the leaf sheath during other stages. Ligule had protected to infiltrate of conidia into the leaf sheath. 5. When conidia were infiltrated into the leaf sheath, the highest number of attached conidia was observed on the panicle base and panicle axis with hairs and degenerated panicle, which seemed to promote the infection of neck blast. 6. The lowest spore concentration for neck blast incidence was variable with rice varietal groups. $Indica{\times}Japonica$ hybrid varieties were infected easily compared to the Japonica type varieties, especially. The number of spores for neck blast incidence in $Indica{\times}Japonica$ hybrid varieties was less than 100 and disease index was higher also in $Indica{\times}Japonica$ hybrid than in Japonica type varieties. 7. Nitrogen content and silicate content were related with blast incidence in necks of rice plants in the different growing stage changed during growing period. Nitrogen content increased from booting stage to heading date and then decreased gradually as time passes. Silicate content increased from booting stage after heading with time. Change of these content promoted to increase neck blast infection. 8. Conidia moved to rice plant by ascending and desending dispersal and then attached on the rice plant. Conidia transfered horizontally was found very negligible. So we presumed that infection rate of neck blast was very low after emergence of panicle base from the leaf sheath. Also ascending air current by temperature difference between upper and lower side of rice plant seemed to increase the liberation of spores. 9. Conidial number of the blast fungus collected just before and after heading date was closely related with neck blast incidence. Lesions on three leaves from the top were closely related with neck blast incidence, because they had high potential for conidia formation of rice blast fungus and they were direct inoculum sources for neck blast. 10. The condition inside the leaf sheath was very favorable for the incidence of neck blast and the neck blast incidence in the leaf sheath increased as the level of fertilizer applied increased. Therefore, the infection rate of neck blast on the all panicle parts such as panicle base, panicle branches, spikelets, nodes, and internodes inside the leaf sheath didn't show differences due to varietal resistance or fertilizers applied. 11. Except for others among dominant species of fungi in the leaf sheath, only Gerlachia oryzae appeared to promote incidence of neck blast. It was assumed that days for heading of varieties were related with neck blast incidence.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.44-65
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• 1983

As a part of the epidemiological studies of clonorchiasis, this study was conducted to evaluate the current endemicity and the natural transition of the Clonorchis infection in Gimhae Gun and delta area a high endemic area in Korea in recent years, prior to the introduction of praziquantel which will eventually influence the status of the prevalence. The data obtained in this study in 1983 were evaluated for natural transition of the infection in comparison with those obtained 16 years ago in 1967 by the author(Kim, 1974). The areas of investigation, villages and schools surveyed, methods and techniques used in this study were the same as in 1967, except for the contents of the questionnaire for raw freshwater fish consumption by the local inhabitants. 1) The prevalence rate of clonorchiasis in the general population of the villages was 48.1% on the average out of a total of 484 persons examined. The average of those of the riverside-delta area was 65.2% and 43.0% in the inland area. Among the schoolchildren, the prevalence rate was 8.2% on the average out of a total of 1,423 examined. By area, the prevalence rate was 10.8% in the riverside delta area and 2.8% in the inland area. By sex, difference in the prevalence was seen only in the inhabitants of the inland area showing 52.4% in the male and 33.5% in the female. 2) In the natural transition of the infection, the prevalence rate among the inhabitants has decreased from 68.8% in 1967 to 48.1% in 1983, and in the schoolchildren from 56.4% in 1967 to 8.2% in 1983. The reduction rate was higher in the riverside-delta area than in the inland area. 3) In the prevalence rate by age, 11.9% was first seen in the 5-9 age group and the rate gradually increased up to 75.0% in the 50-59 age group. By sex, the rate was higher in the male than in the female in the 20-29 age group and over. 4) In the natural transition of the prevalence rate by age, the reduction rate of the infection during the past 16 years was greater in the younger age groups up to the 40-49 age group and reached the same level in the age group 50-59. Reduction was seen again in the age group over 60s. By sex, the reduction rate was greater in the female than in the male in the 20-29 age group and over. By area, the reduction rate was greater in the riverside delta area than in the inland area, particularly in the young age groups. 5) In the intensity of the infection among the cases, the mean egg out-put per mg feces per infected cases(EPmg) in the inhabitants was 6.3. EPmg of those of the river-side-delta area was 15.4 and that of the in-land was 2.8. On the other hand, in the schoolchildren, EPmg was 3.2, and no difference was seen between the two areas, the river-side-delta area and the inland area. 6) In the transition of the intensity of the infection by area, EPmg among the inhabitants inexplically increased from 7.8 in 1967 to 15.4 in 1983. This was probably caused by uneven specimen collection in the process of sampling the population. EPmg of the inhabitants in the inland area and those of the schoolchildren of both riverside delta and inland areas showed a similar decrease in the past 16 years. 7) The intensity of the infection by age showed a relatively low level in the 20-29 age group and below, and EPmg 5.1-9.5 was seen in the 30-39 age group and over. Sex, Epmg was 5.8 in the male and 4.7 the female. By in 8) In the transition of the intensity of the infection, EPmg decreased from 6.2 in 1967 to 5.4 in 1983. By age, in contrast to the figures of 1967 in which EPmg gradually increased with some fluctuation from 1.1 in the 0-4 age group to peak 10.5 in the 50-59 age group, in 1983 lower intensity of the infection was seen in the age group from 10-14 to 20-29 with the EPmg range of 0.6-2.7. 9) In the distribution of the clonorchiasis cases by the range of EPmg value, 43.2% of the cases were in 0.1 0.9 and 34.6% in 1.0-4.9. As a whole by cumulative percent, 44.6% of them were under 0.9 as light infection and 86.1% of them under 9.9 up to moderate infection. By sex, no difference was seen in Epmg. 10) In the transition of the distribution by the range of Epmg, the cases were distributed up to the range 80.0-99.9 in 1967 and to 60.0-79.9 in 1983. By cumulative percent, in the range of 0.1-0.9 and less, light infection, 34.3% of them were distributed in 1967 and 44.6% in 1983 with about 10% increase. In the range of 5.0-9.9 and less, up to moderate infection, 83.2% in 1967 and 86.1% in 1983 of the cases were seen, respectively. 11) The practice of raw freshwater fish consumption among the inhabitants seems to have decreased in recent years. Those who admitted to raw freshwater fish consumption in the last two years among the infected inhabitants were 59.3%, although 86.8% of them professed to have experience with raw freshwater fish consumption. 31.7% of those who have had experience of the raw freshwater fish consumption denied any further consumption in recent years. From an interview of 543 school-children, 24.1% of them admitted to an experience of raw freshwater fish consumption. However, those who have practised in the past two years comprized 17.9%. Those who denied raw freshwater fish consumption in recent years among those who had such experience were 26.0% out of 131 interviewed. The rate of raw freshwater fish consumption in both inhabitants and schoolchildren were higher in the male than in the female. On the contrary, the rate of those who did not practise in recent years among those who had experience of raw freshwater fish consumption was higher in the female than in the male. 12) The major reason for the reduction of raw freshwater fish consumption among the local inhabitants was the risk of the fluke infection. However, it has become apparent that such change of taste has resulted from water pollution impact which has affected throughout the areas of the freshwater systems in this locality since last several years. 13) In animal survey, Clonorchis infection was seen in 14.8% of 88 dogs examined and 3.7% of 27 house rats examined. It was noted that populations of dogs and cats have increased in the villages surveyed. Although the prevalence rate was lower in the present survey than those of 1967, the significance of the animals as the reservoir host has not changed. 14) Prevalence rate of Clonorchis infection by cercariae in the first intermediate host, Parafossarulus manchouricus, was 0.6% out of 517 snails examined. The infection rate was lower in comparison with 2.3% out of 2,124 examined in 1967. Moreover, sharp decreases in number and distribution of the intermediate host snails in many watershed areas of the huge freshwater systems in this locality seemed to reduce transmission of Clonorchis in connection with the intermediate host stage of its life cycle. 15) Clonorchis infection in the second intermediate fish hosts was relatively low. The mean number of Clonorchis metacercaria per fish in Pseudorasbora parva was 517 in 1983, whereas it was 1943 in 1968 through 1969. Environmental water pollution has also caused the decreased fish population density in these areas, and this has also apparently affected to the practice of raw freshwater fish consumption among the local inhabitants. 16) In conclusion, endemicity of Clonorchis infection in Gimhae Gum and delta area of the Nagdong River has sharply decreased during the past 16 years. The major cause of the regressive transition of the infection was the water pollution of the land water systems of this locality. The pollution has upset the ecosystems comprizing of the intermediate hosts of Clonorchis in many areas, and also affected to a significant extent to the discontinuance of the local inhabitants for raw freshwater fish consumption.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.449-470
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• 1984

The cercaria of Bacciger herengulae which is parasitized on the gonad of Solen strictus was investigated in order to reveal its entire life history. The area covered for the study was in the vicinity sea of Naechodo, the estuary of the Kum river in the western coast of Korea during the period of 1980-1983. Morphology and development as well as infection rates of sporocyst and cercaria within Solen strictus were examined. For accomplishing the objectives of this study, an artificial infection experiment and some investigations on the second intermediate host, the final host and the growing stages were also studied in both laboratory and natural habitat of Solen strictus. According to the study, it was revealed that the first intermediate hosts were Meretrix lusoria, Solen strictus, Tapes japonica and Laternula limicola, the second intermediate host was Palaemon (Exopalaemon) carinicauda and the final hosts were Konosirus punctatus and Harengula zunasi. A mature sporocyst which was found in the gonad of Solen strictus was $4.0-4.3{\times}0.2-0.21\;mm$ insize, and the cercaia with 27 pairs of setae, each seta consisting of 6 tufts, was $270{\times}147{\mu}m$ in body size and $550{\times}52{\mu}m$ in tail size. Oral sucker($52{\times}42{\mu}m$), pharynx, vental sucker and two testese were obviously seen within the cercaria. The excretory vesicles of cercaria were in V-shape and the flame cell were formula was expressed as 2[(3+3)+(3+3)]=24. The infection of cercaria in the first intermediate host, Solen strictus, was found throughout the year regardlless of the water temperature, and its mean infection rate was $9.67\%$ during the study period. The infection rate fluctuated with temperature, the highest being $28.0\%\;at\;28.0^{\circ}C$ water temperature in July and the lowest $2.4\%\;at\;19.5^{\circ}C$ in October, and it increased in proportion to the shell length on the host. But cercaria was not detected at below 4.0 cm in size of the host. Mature cercariae were found 6 months from May to October when water temperature was above $19.5^{\circ}C$. On the other hand, when water temperature was below $19.5^{\circ}C$, only immature cercariae and sporocysts were found. The cercariae were active for 35 hours and survived for 71 hours at $20^{\circ}C$, and 29 and 34 hours at $25^{\circ}C$ respectively, whereas the cercariae were inactive at less than $20^{\circ}C$ in water temperature. Cercaria, from Solen strictus, approached shrimp of 1-3 cm in body length as its second host. Then, it began to intrude in to the muscle of shrimp after 2-3 hours. The infected cercaria formed cyst after 7-8 hours, and became mature metacercaria. $420{\times}310{\mu}m$ in size, 15 days afer infection. The infection rate of metaceria to shrimp in the laboratory was highest, at $25^{\circ}C$ being $61\%$ and at $20^{\circ}C\;17%$. The infection rate of metacearia in shrimp was highest in the first abdominal segment, followed by cephalothorax, the second, and fifth abdominal segments, and in that order. Also, the infection rate of metacercaria in wild shrimp was high $9.6-11.1\%$ at $26.5^{\circ}C$ in June, and low $1.56-2.5\%$ at $28-29.5^{\circ}C$ from July to August. The infected shrimp with metacercaria was experimentally fed to Konosirus punctatus in the laboratory in order to know its final host. The metacercaria developed into the adult worm, $440-520{\times}310-360{\mu}m$ in size, within the intestine of Konosirus punctatus 20 days after infection. The adult worm was oval shape and $20-24{\times}11-20{\mu}m$ in size. The infection rate of adult worm to Konosirus punctatus and Harengula zunasi ranged 87.3 to $100\%$, the mean being $95.2\%$, regardless of the body length of their hosts. The infection rate was $100\%$ in June and July, but it decreased in September and October. The size and body structure of the trematode observed during the present study were well agreed with those ievestigated by Yamaguti(1938), thus, it may be concluded that the adult worm it identified as Bacciger harengulae.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.303-310
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• 2008

Bovine blood, cell, tissue, and organ are used as raw materials for manufacturing biologics such as biopharmaceuticals, tissue-engineered products, and cell therapy. Manufacturing processes for the biologics have the risk of viral contamination. Therefore viral validation is essential in ensuring the safety of the products. Bovine parainfluenza virus type 3 (BPIV3) is one of the common bovine pathogens and has widely been known as a contaminant of biologics. In order to establish the validation system for the BPIV3 safety of biologics, a real-time RT-PCR method was developed for quantitative detection of BPIV3 contamination in raw materials, manufacturing processes, and final products. Specific primers for amplification of BPIV3 RNA was selected, and BPIV3 RNA was quantified by use of SYBR Green I. The sensitivity of the assay was calculated to be 2.8 $TCID_{50}/mL$. The real-time RT-PCR method was validated to be reproducible and very specific to BPIV3. The established real-time RT-PCR assay was successfully applied to the validation of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell artificially infected with BPIV3. BPIV3 RNA could be quantified in CHO cell as well as culture supernatant. Also the real-time RT-PCR assay could detect 7.8 $TCID_{50}/mL$ of BPIV3 artificially contaminated in bovine collagen. The overall results indicated that this rapid, specific, sensitive, and robust assay can be reliably used for quantitative detection of BPIV3 contamination during the manufacture of biologics.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.59-75
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• 2002

The present study was conducted to compare the disease resistance to fowl typhoid among White Leghorn (WL) known as possessing greater genetic resistance to Salmonella, Rhode Island Red (RIR) susceptible to the disease and their mating crossbreed, WL ${\times}$RIR. Also, it was carried out to compare fowl typhoid-resistance among Hyline white${\times}$Hyline brown(HwHb), Hw${\times}$lsa brown(Hwlb), Isa white${\times}$lb(Iwlb), Iw${\times}$ Hb(IwHb) and Ib ${\times}$ Iw(IbIw) in order to select crossbreed chickens which have disease resistance to fowl typhoid and simultaneously produce the brown eggs which our domestic consummers prefer There was no death of WL chickens challenged with Sal. gallinarum at each 2, 5 and 8 wk of age, while average 86.2 to 64.1% of RIR chickens tested died at the same challenge age during the test period of 2 weeks. Their maiting crossbreed, WL ${\times}$ RIR were intermediate between the two breeds. weight gains of tested chickens were significantly higher in WL and WL ${\times}$RIR without difference between them than RIR. In recovery rate of tested strain of Sal. gallinarum from braun, heart, fiver, spleen and cecum of chickens challenged, WL ${\times}$RIR fell between the other two breeds, with somewhat higher rate then WL but much lower then RIR. In the disease resistance determination test using HwHb, Hwlb, Iwlb, IwHb and IbIw$.$ crossbreed chickens experimentally infected with Sal. gallinarum, it was recognized that all of crossbreeds tested developed marked resistance to fowl typhoid, based on the results judged by the measurement parameters of mortality, weight gain, recovery rate of challenged strain of bacteria, and positive rate of agglutination antibody, and HwHb had a tittle higher disease resistance then ethers.