• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.1128-1137
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• 2017

The aim of this study was to explore the accuracy and feasibility of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) in identifying bacteria from environmental sources, as compared with rpoA gene sequencing, and to evaluate the occurrence of bacteria of the genus Enterococcus in wild birds. In addition, a phyloproteomic analysis of certain Enterococcus species with spectral relationships was performed. The enterococci were isolated from 25 species of wild birds in central Europe (Poland). Proteomic (MALDI-TOF MS) and genomic (rpoA gene sequencing) methods were used to identify all the isolates. Using MALDI-TOF MS, all 54 (100%) isolates were identified as Enterococcus spp. Among these, 51 (94.4%) isolates were identified to the species level (log(score) ${\geq}2.0$), and three isolates (5.6%) were identified at a level of probable genus identification (log(score) 1.88-1.927). Phylogenetic analysis based on rpoA sequences confirmed that all enterococci had been correctly identified. Enterococcus faecalis was the most prevalent enterococcal species (50%) and Enterococcus faecium (33.3%) the second most frequent species, followed by Enterococcus hirae (9.3%), Enterococcus durans (3.7%), and Enterococcus casseliflavus (3.7%). The phyloproteomic analysis of the spectral profiles of the isolates showed that MALDI-TOF MS is able to differentiate among similar species of the genus Enterococcus.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.657-663
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• 1996

The API STAPH system was compared with conventional methods for identification of 214 strains of Staphylococcus hyicus subsp. hyicus isolated from cases of exudative epidermitis in piglets, skin of healthy pigs, skin of healthy chickens and bovine intramammary infections, and biochemical characteristics among the swine, avian and bovine strains were also compared. All of the swine and bovine strains produced acid within 24 hours from fructose, lactose and trehalose by conventional methods, but some of the avian strains showed a delayed positive reaction in these carbohydrates. These delayed positive strains in conventional methods gave usually negative results for them in the API STAPH system. With the API STAPH system, eighteen different profile numbers were encountered in 214 strains of swine, avian and bovine origin. The swine and bovine strains, respectively, were distributed among 4 profiles, while the avian strains were distributed among 17 profiles. The profile number observed most frequently in the strains of each animal species was uniformly 6 516 153. By conventional methods, approximately 96% of the swine strains were positive for ${\beta}$-glucuronidase, but not in any strains from chickens and cattle. For hyaluronidase production determined by degradation of sodium hyaluronidate in a solid culture medium, all the swine and bovine strains were positive, but only 37.5% of the avian strains were positive for it. From these findings, there were differences in the production of extracellular active substances between swine strains of Staphylococcus hyicus subsp. hyicus and those isolated from chickens and cattle.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.195-206
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• 2022

Gaining an understanding of bird communities in different habitat types is essential for the conservation of ecologically important habitats. Wetlands possess different types of habitats and provide an important environment for wintering waterbird communities. This study compares avian communities in five different habitat types in the Moeyungyi Wetland Wildlife Sanctuary (MWWS), Myanmar. From December 2014 to the first week of February in 2015, bird and habitat data were collected from representative areas of five habitat types (i.e., short grassland, tall grassland, lotus fields, open water areas, and rice fields) at MWWS. We established nine sampling plots in each habitat type, and used the point quadrat method to survey habitats and the point count method to survey birds in the habitats. Simple one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and post-hoc tests were used to determine differences between bird communities. We made 95 detections during 19 daily visits to each of the five habitat types. During the survey period, we recorded a total of 10,389 individuals belonging to 52 different bird species, based on 7-min observations at each of the 45 point count stations. Furthermore, we detected significant differences by habitat structure (i.e., vegetation coverage, height, and density; water depth; and plant species diversity) as well as bird communities (i.e., species richness, abundance, and diversity indices). In addition, the detailed analysis of 52 avian species revealed significant differences among 45 species with respect to the mean numbers of observed individuals in the survey habitats. The findings of this study revealed significant differences in the structure and composition of waterbird communities among the five assessed habitat types. Because natural marshes provide preferable habitats for a larger number and greater diversity of birds, relative to rice fields, natural marshes should be prioritized for conservation and restoration in Moeyungyi Wetland Wildlife Sanctuary.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.281-285
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• 2018

Cryptosporidium is the most common protozoan that can infect a wide range of animals, including mammals and birds. Avian Cryptosporidium spp. can cause enteric and respiratory diseases which can be fatal in birds and some species are zoonotic. Companion birds have the potential as reservoir due to their close contact with humans. Pet shops are the major source of companion birds. However, few reports are available regarding Cryptosporidium spp. infection among companion birds kept in pet shops. The present study reports the prevalence and molecular characteristics of Cryptosporidium spp. among companion birds kept in pet shops in Japan. A total of 265 fresh fecal samples were obtained from birds kept in 4 pet shops; these birds belonged to 41 species in 3 bird orders. A nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay targeting the small subunit rRNA gene was employed for the detection of Cryptosporidium spp. A total of 24 samples (9.1%) were positive, and Cryptosporidium spp. were detected from all pet shops. The prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. in each of the bird orders was 6.5% (10/153) in Psittaciformes, 14.4% (13/90) in Passeriformes, and 4.5% (1/22) in Galliformes. Based on sequence analysis, 13 (54.2%) isolates were classified to C. galli, 8 (33.3%) were avian genotype III, and the remaining 3 (12.5%) were C. baileyi. No infection with zoonotic C. meleagridis and no coinfection with multiple Cryptosporidium spp. and/or genotypes were observed. The zoonotic potential of Cryptosporidium spp. infecting companion birds kept in pet shops in Japan is likely to be low.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.9-19
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• 2020

Avian influenza (AI) viruses are highly contagious viruses that infect many bird species and are zoonotic. Ducks are resistant to the deadly and highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) and remain asymptomatic to the low pathogenic avian influenza virus (LPAIV). In this study, we identified common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) after a reanalysis of previous transcriptomic data for the HPAIV and LPAIV infected duck lung cells. Microarray datasets from a previous study were reanalyzed to identify common target genes from DEGs and their biological functions. A total of 731 and 439 DEGs were identified in HPAIV- and LPAIV-infected duck lung cells, respectively. Of these, 227 genes were common to cells infected with both viruses, in which 193 genes were upregulated and 34 genes were downregulated. Functional annotation of common DEGs revealed that translation related gene ontology (GO) terms were enriched, including ribosome, protein metabolism, and gene expression. REACTOME analyses also identified pathways for protein and RNA metabolism as well as for tissue repair, including collagen biosynthesis and modification, suggesting that AIVs may evade the host defense system by suppressing host translation machinery or may be suppressed before being exported to the cytosol for translation. AIV infection also increased collagen synthesis, showing that tissue lesions by virus infection may be mediated by this pathway. Further studies should focus on these genes to clarify their roles in AIV pathogenesis and their possible use in AIV therapeutics.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Environment and Ecology Conference
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• 2007.04a
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• pp.176-177
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• 2007

We determined how presence of heterospecific individuals in the vicinity of a focal individual affects the behavior of two critically endangered species of cranes on their wintering grounds at Cheolwon in the Korean Demilitarized Zone(DMZ). The Red-crowned crane, Grus japonensis, is larger than the White-naped crane, Grus vipio, and it dominates the White-naped crane in aggressive interactions. We showed that the dominant species increases foraging activity in the presence of the subordinate species presumably because of scrounging of the food from the subordinate. Because interspecific interactions may affect avian endangerments this behavioral findings should be taken into account when managing winter refuges for the two engendered crane species.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.459-466
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• 1994

Primordial germ cells (PGCs) in aves are the progenitor cells for the gametes. These cells first appear in the epiblast (Eyal-Giladi et al.. 1981). Then translocate and concentrate to endoderm of germinal crescent area in the junction of the area opaca and area pellucida lateral to the primitive streak in stage 4 through 7. They separate from the endoderm, temporarily circulate via the blood vascular system, leave the blood vessels, and finally settle down in the gonadal anlagen at stage 20-24 where they rapidly proliferate to form germ cells. Recently, several attempts have been made to introduce foreign gene into the avian genome to form a transgenic chicken. The stem cells most readily available as vehicles for genetic manipulation of germline in avian species are the PGCs. PGCs have recently been manipulated genetically and used successfully as a vector for gene transfer.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.47-55
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• 2005

Avian vocalization has been main topics in studying animal communication. The structure and usage as well as development and function of vocalization vary enormously among species and even among populations, and thus we reviewed the general patterns of song learning and the consequences of song communication in birds at the behavioural level: first, we compared the different learning phenomena between non-songbird and songbird, and we investigated the learning process of songbird both in the field and in the lab, which are needed to fully understand vocal communication. Second, we discussed a recent trend of sexual selection hypothesis explaining the structural and functional diversity of song in songbirds with repertoire and presented how the repertoire is actually used between neighbours based on individual recognition.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.456-464
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• 2008

Avian and mammalian skeletal muscles exhibit a remarkable ability to adjust to physiological stressors induced by growth, exercise, injury and disease. The process of muscle recovery following injury and myonuclear accretion during growth is attributed to a small population of satellite cells located beneath the basal lamina of the myofiber. Several metabolic factors contribute to the activation of satellite cells in response to stress mediated by illness, injury or aging. This review will describe the regenerative properties of satellite cells, the processes of satellite cell activation and highlight the potential role of satellite cells in skeletal muscle growth, tissue engineering and meat production.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.59 no.2
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• pp.69-74
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• 2019

Avian malaria is one of the most important general blood parasites of poultry in Southeast Asia. Plasmodium (P.) juxtanucleare causes avian malaria in wild and domestic fowl. This study aimed to identify and characterize the Plasmodium species infecting in Thai native fowl. Blood samples were collected for microscopic examination, followed by detection of the Plasmodium cox I gene by using PCR. Five of the 10 sampled fowl had the desired 588 base pair amplicons. Sequence analysis of the five amplicons indicated that the nucleotide and amino acid sequences were homologous to each other and were closely related (100% identity) to a P. juxtanucleare strain isolated in Japan (AB250415). Furthermore, the phylogenetic tree of the cox I gene showed that the P. juxtanucleare in this study were grouped together and clustered with the Japan strain. The presence of P. juxtanucleare described in this study is the first report of P. juxtanucleare in the Thai native fowl of Thailand.