• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.447-453
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• 2016

Acanthamoeba, a free-living amoeba, is widely distributed in the environment, water sources, soil, dust, and air. It can cause keratitis in contact lens wearers with poor hygiene and also fatal granulomatous amebic encephalitis (GAE) in immunocompromised hosts. The aim of this study was to gain some insights into the distribution and genotypes of the potentially pathogenic species of Acanthamoeba present in water sources in north of Iran. Total 43 Acanthamoeba species were isolated from 77 water samples taken from different water sources within the Mazandaran province in Northern Iran (Sari city and suburbs). Isolates were identified based on cyst and trophozoite morphological characteristics as well genetics. PCR fragments corresponding to the small-subunit 18S rRNA gene were sequenced for 20 of 43 positive isolates. The results revealed that 83.3% of sequenced isolates belonged to the T4 genotype and the rest belonged to the T2 genotype. Our results indicated that Acanthamoeba is widely distributed in Sari city. As the incidence in Iran of amoebic keratitis has increased in recent years, the exact estimation of the prevalence of this amoeba and its predominant genotype may play a crucial role in prevention of the disease. Sari city has several rivers, seashores, and natural recreational amenities, which attract visitors during the year. This is the first report of Acanthamoeba genotypes from water sources in Sari city, Mazandaran province of Iran, and the results suggest that more attention is needed to protect the visiting population and immunocompromised individuals.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.132-137
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• 1988

Twenty-six cabbage rot samples were collected from markets and main cabbage-growing areas in Korea and isolates of pathogenic bacteria were obtained from the collection. According to their bacteriological characteristics and pathogenicity, the majority of rot bacteria were identified as Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora. Pseudomollas cichorii. P. viridiflava and Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestri. Among these four species, E. carotovora subsp. carotovora and X. campestris pv. campestris were found to cause serious damage to cabbage production throughout Korea. Two species of the causal bacteria were sometimes isolates from a single cabbage rot sample and it suggest that the mixed infection of the two bacteria be occurred under field condition.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.129-132
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• 2003

Fusarium wilt of cucumber caused by Fusarium oxy-sporum f. sp. cucumerinum is a serious vascular disease worldwide. Biological control of Fusarium wilt in several crops has been accomplished by introducing non-pathogenic Fusarium sup. and other biocontrol agents in soil or in infection courts. In this study, quantitative models were used to determine the biocontrol efficacy of inundatively applied antagonist formulations and the length of their effectiveness in controlling Fusarium wilt of cucumber. Quantitative model of the form [Y=L (1${-exp}^{-kx}$)] best described the relationship between disease incidence (Y, %) and inoculum density (X) of isolates F51 and F55. Isolate F51 was selected as a more virulent isolate based on the extent of its effectiveness in causing the wilt disease. The degree of disease control (Xi/X) obtained with the density of the biocontrol agent (Z), was described by the model [Xi/X=A (1${-exp}^{-cz}$)]. The zeolite-based antagonist formulation amended with chitosan (ZAC) was better at lower rates of application and peaked at around 5 g/ kg of the potting medium, whereas the peat-based antagonist formulation (PA) peaked at around 10 g/kg of the potting medium. ZAC formulation provided significantly better suppression of Fusarium wilt as described by the curvilinear relationship of the type Y= a+bX+c$X^2$, where Y represents percent disease incidence and X represents sustaining effect of the biocontrol agent.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.263-269
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• 2019

Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) is an acute respiratory disease, causing economic losses in poultry production. IBV commonly manifests respiratory disease symptoms and poor egg quality in poultry, affecting overall performance of both broilers and layers. IBV infection further predisposes poultry to secondary opportunistic bacterial infections. IBV undergoes rapid genetic evolution resulting in various new strains. There is no cross protection among IBV serotypes which makes full protection against wild-type IBV virtually impossible. In this study, recently isolated IBVs (K24/18, K29/18, K183/18) from Korean broiler farms were genetically analyzed based on S1 gene. According to the results, IBV isolates showed highest homology with QX-IBV. However, phylogenetic tree analysis revealed that isolates were divided into distinct sub-clusters within QX-IBV. To determine pathogenicity of IBV, day-old chicks were challenged with IBV through ocular route. After challenging the chicks, we executed microscopic examination, virus detection in their organs, and observation of clinical signs and mortality. We found that the K24/18, K29/18, K183/18 challenge groups showed 28%, 57%, and 42% mortality, respectively, with high microscopic trachea lesion scores, indicating that these QX-IBV-like strains are pathogenic to chicks and can therefore be a threat to poultry production.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.36-39
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• 2014

Many bacteria colonized in the horse semen affect quality of the sperm and some may cause infection in the mare reproductive tract and infertility of susceptible mare. This study was initiated to determine the prevalence of bacteria in testes of Jeju horses by determining rRNA sequence. The samples were swabed from the testes of nine Jeju horses (aged from 8 to 12 months after birth). Bacteria isolated from testes were identified by 16S rDNA sequencing. 1.6-kbp PCR products for 16S rRNA coding region were obtained using the universal primers. The PCR products were further purified and sequenced. Maximum similar species were found by BLAST search in the GenBank DNA database. BLAST results showed that the sequences were similar to those of Acinetobacter sp (A. schindleri, A. ursingii)., Bacillus cereus, Corynebacterium glutamicum, Escherichia coli, Gamma proteobacterium, Micrococcus luteus, Pseudomonas mendocina, Shigella sonnei, Sphingomonas sp., Staphylococcus sp (S. cohnii, S. saprophyticus, S. xylosus)., and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. DNA sequences for 16S rRNA is provided useful informations for species identification of pathogenic microorganisms for the reproductive organs in horses.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.169-175
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• 2019

Naegleria fowleri, a pathogenic free-living amoeba, leads to a fatal infection known as primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) in human and animals. PAM is an acute, fulminant, necrotizing, and hemorrhagic disease that leads to death in approximately seven days. In this study, we investigate the cytotoxicity of target cells and the secreted molecules of N. fowleri under the non-contact condition. The target cell (U87MG cell) treated with N. fowleri lysates showed no morphological changes and no cytotoxicity. By contrast, the U87MG cells co-cultured with N. fowleri trophozoites under the non-contact condition induced morphological changes and reduction in number. When U87MG cells were co-cultured with N. fowleri trophozoites under the non-contact condition for 30 min, 2 hr, and 4 hr, the levels of cytotoxicity of target cells were 32.3, 35.5, and 37.8%, respectively. Particularly, when the ratio of amoeba to target cells is 10 to 1, the level of cytotoxicity of target cells was 49.7% at 30 min. To show the proteins secreted from N. fowleri under the non-contact condition, we carried out 2D electrophoresis and observed 6 major proteins. Finally, these results suggest that the molecules released from N. fowleri under the non-contact condition induce the cell death and this process is an important step in pathogenesis of N. fowleri.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.248-253
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• 2018

Freshwater farms are primarily located adjacent to rivers and lakes, facilitating the introduction and spread of pathogens into natural systems. Therefore, it is necessary to continuously monitor natural aquatic organisms, the breeding environment, and infection rates by pathogenic organisms. Fish and crustaceans were sampled 4 times in the Geum River estuary in 2016. The samples were analyzed for the presence of pathogens for reportable communicable diseases, including KHVD (koi herpesvirus disease), SVC (spring viraemia of carp), EUS (epizootic ulcerative syndrome) and WSD (white spot disease); parasite abundance was also examined. The dominant fish species were deep body bitterling Acanthorhodes macropterus (21.4%), followed by skygager Erythroculter erythropterus (12.7%). For crustaceans, Palaemon paucidens and Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis were dominant. Sixty fish and 36 crustacean species were examined for reportable communicable diseases. When using a specific primer set for each disease, PCR analysis did not detect any reportable communicable diseases in the samples. Some instances of Dactylogyrus, copepods, nematodes and metacercaria were detected. However, the PCR results indicated that the metacercaria were not Clonorchis sinensis.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.666-674
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• 2012

We examined the cause of a disease outbreak in adult olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus, which occurred at a Korean aquaculture farm in Korea in 2011. The principal signs included an expanded abdomen and congested liver, with persistent mortality (a little over two months). At the beginning of the outbreak, farm administrators misjudged the disease as bacterial in origin, because of the aforementioned signs, persistent mortality, and the detection of bacterial species, including Vibrio spp. and Streptococcus spp. Moreover, the detection of viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) by reverse trasnscription-PCR analysis was complicated by use of the VHS-VN primer set, which has been in general use recently, because it produced weak bands in some samples. Therefore, we recommend the use of at least two different primer sets in the diagnosis of VHSV. Our histopathological findings indicate that necrotizing myocarditis could be considered a pathogenic sign of VHSV infection.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.150-154
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• 2009

In this paper, we described a case of mass mortality of doctor fish from a private fish hatchery farm in Korea with a history of abnormal swimming behavior, diffuse bleeding on the skin and fins and sudden death caused by fish pathogenic bacteria, Citrobacter freundii. Twelve moribund fish fingerling samples were submitted to College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University in October 2008 for diagnostic examination. Diagnostic results showed that the morphological and biochemical properties of the bacteria isolated from the moribund fish were C. freundii. The remaining diseased fish from the hatchery farm were given treatment based on our recommendation and successfully recovered.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.85-92
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• 1999

To determine the pathogenicity of Acanthamoeba spp. isolated in Korea and to develop a isoenzymatic maker, the mortality rate of infected mice, in vitro cytotoxicity against target cells and isoenzyme band pattern were observed. Five isolates of Acanthamoeba spp. (YM-2, YM-3, YM-4, YM-5 and YM-7) were used in this study as well as three reference Acanthamoeba spp. (A. culbertsoni, A. hatchetti, and A. royreba). According to the mortality rate of infected mice, Korean isolated could be categorized into three groups: high virulent (YM-4), low virulent (YM-2, YM-5, YM-7) and the nonpathogenic group (YM-4), In addition, the virulence of Acanthamoeba spp. was enhanced by brain passage in mice. In the cytotoxicity assay against chinese hamster ovary cells, especially, the cytotoxicity of brain-passaged amoebae was relatively higher than the long-term cultivated ones. The zymodeme patterns of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), malate dehydrogenase (MDH), hexokinase (HK), glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) and malic enzyme (ME)of Acanthamoeba spp. were different among each isolate, and also between long-term cultrued amoebae and brain passaged ones. In spites of the polymorphic zymodemes, a slow band of G6PD and K, and an intermediate band of MDH were only observed in pathogenic Acanthamoeba spp., which should be used as isoenzymatic makers.