• Title/Summary/Keyword: Pathogenic Agents

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Root Rot of Balloon Flower (Platycodon grandiflorum) Caused by Fusarium solani and Fusarium oxysporum

  • Jeon, Chi Sung;Kim, Gyoung Hee;Son, Kyeong In;Hur, Jae-Seoun;Jeon, Kwon-Seok;Yoon, Jun-Hyuck;Koh, Young Jin
    • The Plant Pathology Journal
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    • v.29 no.4
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    • pp.440-445
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    • 2013
  • Balloon flower (Platycodon grandiflorum) is a kind of mountain herbs whose roots have restorative properties and the cultivating acreage of balloon flower has been steadily increasing in Korea. More frequent rain and high amount of rainfalls as a result of climate changes predisposed balloon flower to the outbreaks of root rot at high-density cultivation area in recent years. Root crowns were usually discolored into brown to blackish brown at first and the infected plants showed slight wilting symptom at early infection stage. Severely infected roots were entirely rotted and whole plants eventually died at late infection stage. The overall disease severities of root rot of balloon flower were quite variable according to the surveyed fields in Jeonnam, Gyeongnam and Jeju Provinces, which ranged from 0.1% to 40%. The root rot occurred more severely at the paddy or clay soils than the sandy soils and their severities were much higher at lowland than upland in the same localty. The disease increased with aging of the balloon flower. The causal fungi were identified as Fusarium solani and F. oxysporum on the basis of their mycological characteristics. The optimum temperature ranges of their mycelial growths was found to be $24^{\circ}C$. The pathogenic characters of F. solani and F. oxysporum treated by artificial wounding inoculation on healthy roots of balloon flower revealed that F. solani was more virulent than F. oxysporum. This study identified the causal agents of root rot of balloon flower as Fusarium solani and F. oxysporum, probably for the first time.

Dietary addition of a standardized extract of turmeric (TurmaFEEDTM) improves growth performance and carcass quality of broilers

  • Johannah, NM;Ashil, Joseph;Balu, Maliakel;Krishnakumar, IM
    • Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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    • v.60 no.5
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    • pp.8.1-8.9
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    • 2018
  • Background: Indiscriminate use of antibiotics in livestock and poultry farming has caused emergence of new pathogenic strains. The situation has warrented the development of safe and alternative growth promoters and immunity enhancers in livestock. Herbal additives in animal and bird feed is a centuries-old practice. Thus, the present study investigated the efficacy of a standardized formulation of lipophilic turmeric extract containing curcumin and turmerones, (TF-36), as a natural growth promoter poultry feed additive. Methods: The study was designed on 180 one-day old chicks, assigned into three groups. Control group ($T_0$) kept on basal diet and supplemented groups $T_{0.5}$ and $T_1$ fed with 0.5% and 1% TF-36 fortified basal diet for 42 days. Each dietary group consisted of six replicates of ten birds. Body weight, food intake, food conversion ratio, skin colour, blood biochemical analysis and antioxidant status of serum were investigated. Results: Body weight improved significantly in $T_1$ with a 10% decrease in FCR as compared to the control. TF-36 supplementation in $T_1$ enhanced the antioxidant enzyme activity significantly (p < 0.05) with a decrease (p < 0.05) in lipid peroxidation. It also caused a slight yellow skin pigmentation without any change in meat color, indicating the bioavailability of curcumin from TF-36. However, no significant change in the concentration of serum creatinine, total protein and liver enzyme activities were observed, indicating the safety. Conclusion: In summary, we concluded that TF-36 can be a natural feed additive to improve growth performance in poultry, probably due to the better antioxidant activity and antimicrobial effects contributed by the better bioavailability of curcuminoids and turmerones. Besides, curcuminoids and turmerones were also known to be gastroprotective and anti-inflammatory agents.

Antimicrobial Resistance and Implicated Genes of E. coli Isolated from Commercial and Cooked Foods in Seoul (서울시내 유통식품에서 분리한 대장균의 항생제 내성 및 내성유전자)

  • Yoo, Young-Ah;Kim, Moo-Sang;Kim, Kyong-Sik;Park, Sun-Hee;Jung, Sung-Kuk
    • Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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    • v.25 no.3
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    • pp.220-225
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    • 2010
  • Distribution of foodborne E. coli strains, antimicrobial resistant genes and antimicrobial susceptibility have been carried out on E. coli isolated from commercial and cooked foods distributed food in Seoul. Of total 1,313 samples, fifty samples(3.8%) were found E. coli that included one of the ETEC and EPEC, respectively. The serotype of ETEC in seasoning raw meat was E. coli O26 and produced Verotoxin 2. Fifty percentage of total isolates were susceptible to all antimicrobial agents. Specially, there were ampicillin(36%), amoxicillin/clavulanic acid(32%) and tetracycline(22%) etc. Resistant gene (tetB) were found in four tetracycline resistant E. coli strains, and TEM gene was found in one ampicillin resistant E. coli isolate.

Identification of Salmonella Enteritidis and S. Typhimurium by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (Multiplex PCR 기법을 이용한 Salmonella Enteritidis와 S. Typhimurium의 특이적 검출에 관한 연구)

  • Lee, Woo-Won;Lee, Seung-Mi;Lee, Gang-Rok;Lee, Dong-Soo;Park, Ho-Kuk
    • Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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    • v.32 no.2
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    • pp.147-153
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    • 2009
  • Salmonella species are the most important etiologic agents of food-borne acute gastroenteritis. The most common serotypes isolated from humans are Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) and S. Enteritidis. Traditional detection methods for Salmonella are based on cultures using selective media and characterization of suspicious colonies by biochemical and serological tests. These methods are generally time-consuming and not so highly sensitive. Recently, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been used as a highly sensitive, specific, and rapid test for the presence of pathogenic bacteria. In this study, a multiplex PCR (m-PCR) was used to detect S. Typhimurium and S. Enteritidis. We selected m-PCR target genes, which were the spv (virulence plasmid specific for S. Enteritidis) and sefA (S. Enteritidis fimbrial antigen) genes, fliC (H1-i antigen specific for S. Typhimurium) and a randomly cloned sequence specific for the genus Salmonella. With m-PCR, random sequence was detected from all strains of Salmonella spp, spv and sefA were detected from all strains of S. Enteritidis (100%), and fliC was detected from all strains of S. Typhimurium (100%). This assay indicate that the specificity of the m-PCR make them potentially valuable tools for detection of S. Typhimurium and S. Enteritidis.

A Survey on Microbial Contamination of Currently-Sold Drugs (I) -Bacterial contamination of marketed liquid- (시장의약품(市販醫藥品)의 미생물(微生物) 오염도(汚染度) 조사(調査) (제1보)(第1報) -시판내복액제(市販內服液劑)의 세균오염도(細菌汚染度)-)

  • Park, Young-Ju;Kim, Young-Il
    • Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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    • v.3 no.4
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    • pp.5-15
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    • 1973
  • An investigation was carried out on a basis of the bacteriological examination with a view to detecting the degree of bacterial contamination for the 77 samples collected from the locally-sold liquid specialties. It's test period was 50 days from July 10 to August 30, 1971. Specially, the survey has put emphasis on the population of general bacteria and the identification of coli-form group, staphylococcus species, streptococcus species, bacillus species, fungi, and yeast species from liquid samples. The results obtained are summarized as follows; (1) For the 77 samples tested, the contamination of general bacteria was found out as minimun 0, i,e., maximum, $12{\times}10^4$ and the total average $45{\times}10^2$ per milliliter. (2) Although streptococcus species could not be detected with the samples, the contamination of the coli-form and staphylococcus species means the strong suggestion of the possibility of pathogenic bacterial contamination. (3) Specially, the products which stay in the neutral pH range and use suspending agents need to care for the microbial contamination in the manufacturing crocess. (4) It is thought necessary to perform the microbiological quality control in the liquid preparations only at least. (5) As the microbial contamination degree in the liquid decreases according to the elapse of time, the microbiological quality control will have to be carried out immediately after the completion of the manufacturing process in order to know the accurate degree. (6) The author thinks that the main reason of the microbial contamination in the liquid is the contamination during the manufacturing process. (7) For the purpose of prevention of the microbial contamination in liquid, therefore, it is more important to make efforts for the rationalization of manufacturing process, the improvement of equipment and environment, the specific training of workers for hygienic knowledges, etc. rather than the use of preservatives for the preparations.

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Emerging Foodborne Diseases: What we know so far

  • Mensah, Dylis-Judith Fafa;Ofosu, Fred Kwame
    • Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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    • v.35 no.1
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    • pp.1-5
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    • 2020
  • Foodborne diseases (FBD) pose significant public health problems and economic losses worldwide. In recent years, emerging foodborne diseases have resulted mainly from novel bacteria, viruses, protozoa, mycotoxins, prions in animal and plant sources. The consumption of unsafe food contaminated with harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemical agents or naturally occurring toxins results in high morbidity and mortality. However, estimating the incidence and burden of FBD is a huge global challenge due to the difficulty in food source attribution to specific pathogenic or chemical hazards, underreported cases, diagnosing how infections are transmitted or when a person is infected are not well understood and thus makes the control of FBD very challenging. Therefore, implementing comprehensive food safety strategies and policies, enhancing surveillance, ensuring resilient health system, and intensifying education and training to ensure safe food and prevent foodborne diseases is everybody's responsibility.

Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio alginolyticus from Fish Farms on the Southern Coast of Korea (남해안 어류양식장에서 분리된 Vibrio parahaemolyticus와 Vibrio aiginolyticus의 항균제 감수성)

  • SON Kwang-Tae;OH Eun-Gyoung;LEE Tae-Seek;LEE Hee-Jung;Kim Poong-Ho;KIM Ji-Hoe
    • Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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    • v.38 no.6
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    • pp.365-371
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    • 2005
  • The antimicrobial resistance patterns to the 10 antimicrobial agents of potential pathogenic vibrios isolated from seawater and a variety of farmed fishes, including oliver flounder (Payalichthys olivaceus), black rock fish (Sebastes schlegeli), red sea bream (Pagyus major) and sea bass (Lateolabyax japonicus), were investigated from May to October, 2004. A total of 314 strains of the genus vibrios were isolated from 126 collected samples, and the number of isolated strains of Vibrio payahaemolyticus and Vibrio alginolyticus were 194 and 120, respectively. Apparently $98.5\%$ of V. parahaemolyticus and $100\%$ of V. alginolyticus isolates demonstrated antimicrobial resistance against at least one antimicrobial agent. The resistance of V. parahaernolyticus isolates to ampicillin ($97.9\%$) was highest, followed by oxolinic acid ($26.8\%$), amikacin ($19.1\%$) and tetracycline and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid ($6.7\%$). V. alginolyticus isolates were resistant to ampicillin ($100\%$), solfamethoxazoleit,imethopenem ($25\%$), amikacln ($21.7\%$), amoxicillin/clavulanic acid ($15.8\%$), ciprofloxacin ($13.3\%$), and tetracycline and doxycycline ($11.7\%$). The rate of multiple antimicrobial resistance to at least four antimicrobials was higher in the V. alginolyticus isolates ($20.8\%$) than in the V. parahaemolyticus ($6.7\%$).

Effect of Dietary Protein Level on Caecal Content pH and Serum Protein in Rats to Axenically Cultured Protozoa (식이 단백질 수준의 차이가 흰쥐에서 무균 배양된 원충 감염시에 Caecal Content의 pH와 혈청 단백질에 미치는 영향)

  • 명춘옥
    • Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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    • v.30 no.3
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    • pp.91-99
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    • 1992
  • Cell structure is based on proteins. Since the antibody is proteous substance, the continous low protein feeding decreases the resistance of host against pathogenic agents. The present study was designed to investigate the infectivity of protozoa to rats which were fed with variously prescribed diets. Experimental group was divided into 4 groups according to the level of casein in the diet, group I: casein 0%, group II: casein 5%, group III: casein 15%, group IV: casein 30%. Each animal was fed for 5 weeks followed by inoculation of protozoa in cecum and sacrified each 1 week later of the infection. Each diet group, non infected with protozoa was recognized as the control. Result are summerized as follows : 1. All the rats of group I died in 2∼4 weeks and 2 of 12 rats in group II were also died in the period. 2. The growth rate and FER were high in group III and IV compared with group II. Therefore low protein feeding decrease growth and feed efficaly ratio(FER). 3. The pH of caecal contents between the infected group and control showed no difference, but the values of group III and IV were higher than the group II. Low pH of the caecal contents provides a suitable condition for determining their susceptibility to Entameoeba histolytical trophozoite. 4. Amounts of serum total protein in group II, III and IV showed no significant difference with the control and infected group, but amounts in group III and IV were higher than the group II. Therefore, continuous low protein feeding decrease serum total protein. 5. Albumin, ${\alpha}$1, gloulin, ${\alpha}$2 globulin, ${\beta}$ globulin, ${\gamma}$ gloulin of group III and IV were all high to compare than the group II. Albumins of group III and IV of control was higher than infected group, but there was no difference in ${\gamma}$ globulin between the infected and control group.

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Detection of Clarithromycin-resistant Strains from Clinical Isolates of Mycobacterium abscessus (Clarithromycin 약제에 대한 Mycobacterium abscessus 임상 내성 균주 분리)

  • Lee, Seung Heon;Park, Young Kil;Ryo, Sung Weon;Shim, Myung Sup;Lew, Woo Jin;Kim, Hee Jin
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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    • v.64 no.6
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    • pp.422-426
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    • 2008
  • Background: Mycobacterium abscessus is the most pathogenic and drug-resistant rapid-growing mycobacterium. Clarithromycin or azithromycin are the only regular oral antimycobacterial agents that have an effect on M. abscessus. We tried to detect the clarithromycin-resistant strains from the clinical isolates of M. abscessus. Methods: We tried to isolate the clarithromycin-resistant strains from 220 clinical isolates of M. abscessus by performing using reverse hybridization assay (RHA) and the broth microdilution test (BMT). Results: Seven resistant strains (3.2%) from all the tested clinical isolates were detected by BMT. Three of these resistant strains were also detected by RHA and it was confirmed that they had point mutants. Conclusion: These results showed that clarithromycin resistance in M. abscessus clinical isolates is related to a point mutation and other unknown mechanisms.

Microbiological Safety of Infant Formula and Baby Food (조제분유와 이유식의 미생물학적 안전성)

  • Lee, Seung-Bae;Choe, Jae-Won;Choe, Seok-Ho
    • Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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    • v.23 no.1
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    • pp.65-71
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    • 2005
  • Powered infant formula and baby food contaminated with Enterobacter sakazakii were reported to cause infection among infants and to be associated with sporadic cases and outbreaks of sepsis, menigitis, cerebritis, and necrotizing enterocolitis. Salmonella contamination of infant formula has also been responsible for multiple outbreaks. Other species of Enterobacteriaceae in powdered infant formula may be causative agents, about which there has been no report. Other pathogenic bacteria have been isolated from powdered infant formula but they were not associated with outbreaks among infant. While Enterobacter sakazakii caused disease in all age groups, premature infants under 28 days old and with birth weight are most sensitive to its infection. Even if low contamination level of the bacteria in powdered infant formula and baby food may not cause infection, the possibility to multiplicate during preparation and storage of reconstituted formula may increase. The etiological factors and pathogenecity of S. sakazakii have not been elucidated. There were wide variability in phenotype and genotype between its strains. S. sakazakii has been isolated from factory facility and surroundings more frequently than Salmonella and thus factory environment should be the source for post-processing contamination of the formula with S. sakazakii. Considering current technology to manufacture power infant formula and baby food it is impossible to sterilize powdered formula but the frequency of outbreak hazard by S. sakazakii can be reduced by pasteurizing the formula base before drying and shortening storage time of the reconstituted formula.

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