• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.111-116
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• 2011

Artificial insemination (AI) of swine is a very useful reproductive tool and that offers convenience in the Korean swine industry. Since many viruses have been reported to be excreted through boar semen, we investigated the presence of antibodies and antigens against viruses causing reproductive failure in semen of boar in 349 semen samples collected from six Korean AI centers. Viral antigens were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or reverse transcription-PCR predominantly. The results was as follows. The major reproductive failure causing factor was porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2), followed by porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) ($X^2$=166.64, P<0.001). PCV2 and PRRSV, Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) was detected in 73 samples (20.9%), 44 samples (12.6%), 4 samples (1.1%), 3 samples (0.9%), respectively and porcine parvovirus in one sample (0.3%) Classical swine fever virus (CSFV), bovine viral diarrhea virus and Aujeszky's disease virus (ADV) were not detected. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was carried out in 111 serum samples from three AI centers. In most pigs, antibodies response was showed prominently in CSFV (105 sera, 94.6%) ($X^2$=82.580, P<0.001), followed by, in PRRSV (100 sera, 90.1%), PCV2 (92 sera, 90.1%), and PPV (8 sera, 82.9%). ADV antibody was not detected. Thus, the experimental results will be used for the base data, with respect to the state of viral stillbirth in general pig farms, as well as AI centers and breeding farms in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.117-123
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• 2011

This experiment was conducted to investigate the presence of recognized abortifacient viruses from aborted fetuses and stillborn piglets in cases of reproductive failure in sows by PCR. A total of 219 samples of aborted fetuses or stillborn piglets, submitted to the School of Veterinary Medicine of Kangwon National University between 2006 and 2009 May, were collected from 5 provinces in Korea. Abortifacient virus infections were detected in 82 (37.4%) out of 219 aborted fetuses or stillborn piglets as well as on 39 (40.2%) out of 97 pig farms. The major viral infections were porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2), porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and Aujesky's disease virus (ADV) for which 46 (21%), 19 (8.6%) and 16 (7.3%) were positive, respectively, with 9 fetuses had complicated infection of PCV2+PRRSV or ADV or both. And 8 (3.6%) for SIV, 3 (1.3%) for PPV and 1 (0.4%) for JEV were positive as minor viral infection. The results suggest that PCV2, PRRSV, ADV is apparently the most important viral infectious agents associated with fetal infection leading to abortion or stillbirth in Korea. SIV, PPV and JEV might have a minor impact on reproductive disease.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.221-228
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• 2014

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of Codonopsis pilosula extract powder (CEP) on the reproductive performance in sows. A total of 20 pregnant sows were randomly assigned to two dietary treatments, which was given a corn and soybean meal-based diets containing 0 or 5 g/kg of the CEP from 40 days prepartum to weaning (25 days postpartum). The serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentration of sow (p<0.01) and piglets (p<0.05) was significantly increased by the feeding of CEP. And we also demonstrated that the coefficient of correlation between the colostrum and serum indicates a significant positive correlation on IgG. The stillbirth of sows and mortality rate during suckling periods were slightly lower in CEP feeding group than control, but there is no significant difference. In conclusion, our results suggest that the dietary supplementation of CEP increases the humoral immunity in both of sows and piglets, and it might contribute to improve the reproductive performance of sows. Further, additory studies are necessary on the immunomodulatory mechanism of CEP components.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.173-195
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• 2023

Objectives: To investigate and analyze the assessment indicators and tools used in clinical practice to assess Korean medicine (KM) treatment for infertility, and to establish a basis for assessment tools to diagnose and assess infertility. Methods: Relevant studies published until March 2023 were extracted from Pubmed, Research Information Sharing Service, and National Digital Science Library databases. Results: Sixty-four studies comprising 4,105 patients were included. We investigated pregnancy outcomes, and assessed pregnancy- and childbirth-related factors, overall health, reproductive health, and mental health. Pregnancy result was most common primary outcome. Ongoing pregnancy, stillbirth, miscarriage, and ectopic pregnancy rates were suggested as indicators of pregnancy and childbirth-related assessment. Overall health was most commonly assessed with Likert and Visual analogue scale (VAS). Among reproductive health variables, menstrual history was most frequently assessed. Moreover, indicators such as reproductive function, sexual intercourse, and gynecological disease were assessed. The Infertility Stress Scale and the Fertility Quality of Life tool (FertiQoL) were used to assess mental health. Conclusions: Subjective scales and objective assessment tools, such as the Likert scale and blood tests/ultrasonography, respectively, are used to assess KM infertility treatment. Inconsistent assessment tools make quantitative analyses more challenging. The development of a standardized mental and physical function assessment questionnaire with confirmed reliability and validity ensure the effectiveness of KM infertility treatment, and promote future studies on infertility treatment.

• Journal of Practical Agriculture & Fisheries Research
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.105-113
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• 2014

Equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) is an economically important pathogen of horses and exerts its major impact by inducing abortion storms and sporadic abortions in pregnant mares, early neonatal death in foals, and respiratory disease in young horses. Although equine herpesvirus type 4 (EHV-4) rarely causes clinical manifestations of disease in organs other than the respiratory track, isolated cases of myeloencephalopathy and sporadic abortions have been reported in EHV-4 infections. Here, we report an abortion storm in Thoroughbred breeding farms in Jeju island, South Korea. It occurred for 16 days from first abortion to last one. There were no clinical signs prior to abortion and stillbirth in broodmares. Two PCR-primers were made on glycoprotein B gene of EHV-1 and EHV-4 to amplify specific common regions of the viruses. We could detect the virus specific genes in aborted samples by PCR, and concluded that the cause of abortion storm was EHV infection. This report describes the first abortion storm case caused by EHV in Thoroughbred breeding farms in South Korea.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.84-88
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• 2023

Because multiple ovulation embryo transfer (MOET) in cattle includes several benefits such as wide spreading of genetically superior offspring for long distance, this biotechnological method has been widely applied to Hanwoo. When the recipients are not stayed close after embryo recovery from donor, the embryos are moved to other farms via several vehicles (car, train, and airplane). However, air travel induces lesser oxygen level, increased vibration, lower air pressure, higher noise, and increased exposure of cosmic radiation to living things than ground level. It was still unknown that fresh embryos obtained from multiple ovulation of Hanwoo could maintain their fertility after being transported via air plane, the present case report introduced a clinical case of MOET in Hanwoo after shipping fresh embryos via air transportation. The donor was multi-ovulated via follicle-stimulating hormone series of injection, which was followed by a gonadotrophin-releasing hormone injection and artificial insemination twice. The embryos were recovered by the uterine flushing, packed in ministraws, transported to recipients for 6 h including 1 h air flight, and then transferred to the synchronized recipients. During pregnancy diagnosis of early gestation period, 5 of 7 recipients (71.4%) presented no heat signs and showed fetal sacs with fluid under transrectal ultrasonography. After normal gestation period, all recipients naturally delivered healthy calves (male n = 2 and female n = 3) without abortion, stillbirth, and premature birth. The present case report indicated that transportation of fresh embryos for MOET via domestic flight in Korea did not affect to their fertility.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.22 no.1 s.25
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• pp.146-152
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• 1989

To test the validity of referral of high risk pregnancy in the MCH Center, 6,017 pregnant women who visited MCH Center of South District Health Center for delivery between 1 April 1985 and 31 March 1987 were interviewed on arrival to obtain the data for demographic characteristics and obsteric history and traced to check the delivery outcome. Out of 5,820 women whose delivery outcomes were confrmed, 704 women(12.1%) were referred to other hospital or clinic for high risk factors. The proportion of poor delivery outcome(stillbirth, low birth weight and neonatal death) among referred cases was 4.4% while that of the women delivered at the MCH Center was 2.2% (p<0.01). Decision of the midwives for the referral of high risk pregnancy based on their clinical assessment was consistent with the delivery outcome (good or poor) in 86.5%. Major reasons for referral were premature rupture of membrane(46.5%) and cephalopelvic disproportion(20.0%) and the C-section rates for these cases were 10.1%, 17.6%, respectively. Discriminant analysis of the demographic characteristics and obstertric history for the discrimination of delivery outcome showed that gestational age had the highest discriminant function coefficient(0.88) and it was followed by parity(0.37) and maternal education(0.30). Referral of high risk pregnancy by the midwives based on their clinical assessment was considered to be reasonably valid. However, a risk scoring system for an MCH Center which can improve the validity may be developed if one applies the discriminant analysis for more comprehensive independent variable(including clinical assessment of midwife, demographic characteristics and obstetric history) and dependent variable (including medically indicated C-section, complication of pregnancy and delivery, stillbirth, low birth weight, neonatal death and maternal death).

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.19-33
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• 2000

Eighty dairy farms (38 farms responded) in Palmerston North area of New Zealand were questioned by mail questionnaire on: 1) general characteristics, 2) milk yield and feed supplementary, 3) reproductive efficiencies (12 questions) and 4) reproductive disorders (12 questions) from February to July, 1998. Among those 4 items, the reproductive efficiencies (3) and disorders (4), various diseases and culling rates were surveyed and analyzed for Korean dairy farmers (especially in Cheju island) and compared with New Zealand. The results are as follows: 1. Fifteen farms in 38 dairy farms relied entirely on artificial insemination, the rest of 23 dairy farms (60.5%) raised 5∼6 bulls to increase conception rate. The dairy farmers in Palmerston North used artificial insemination from Oct 4th to Dec 10th for 42.8 days, and then used bulls from that point to coming Jan 10th for 41.4 days. The submission rate within 3, 6 and 10 weeks following the initiation of AI season was 84.7, 93.9 and 97.9% respectively. 2. The average age of heifers at the first estrus, pregnancy and calving was 11.0, 18.0 and 24.7 months respectively, and an average 1.4 estrus cycles were required for conception. The intervals of estrus recurrence and the following conception after calving were 38 and 68 days respectively. 3. Among inseminated cows, calving, abortion and empty cow was 90.9, 1.6 and 7.4% respectively. Calving rate decreased according to increasing farm size, while the number of empty cows decreased. 4. Stillbirth, retained placenta and delivery abnormalities were 5.3, 3.7 and 5.5% respectively, not different depend on herd size. 5. The incidence of milk fever, grass tetany, and ketosis was 3.6, 3.0 and 1.0%, respectively. The delivery abnormality and mastitis treated with medicine were 3.1 and 6.7%, but decreased according to farm size. Lameness was 8.6% on average, but over 10% in farms which has more than 400 milking cows. 6. Among the culled cows (15.5% of the total), those culled due to an old age, lameness and other diseases were 2.9, 1.8 and 4.3% respectively and those culled due to low milk production, reproductive abnormality reduced with farm size. 7. Compared with the data collected in Korea, the reproductive efficiency was better, and lameness, metabolic problem and culling rate were higher in New Zealand

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.129-138
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• 1976

The causes and problems underlying deaths in perinatal period are often similar and might be expected to yield to same type of preventive measures. This is one of the reasons for attempting to develop a reporting of perinatal mortality and its related matters. This study aims at figuring out the biologic risk factors onto the perinatal death. Considering stillbirth and early neonatal mortality separately, considerable associations between stillbirth and reproductive history of women, are observed, ana it is found that prematurity is the the far most important factor in the early neonatal mortality.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.11-24
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• 1996

The number of multifetal pregnancies has increased dramatically as a result of the widespread clinical use of ovulation induction and assisted reproductive technology(ART) in infertile patients. In multifetal pregnancies, the adverse outcome is directly proportional to the number of fetuses within the uterus, primarily because of an increased predisposition to premature delivery. It is extremely difficult to counsel patients about the expected outcome of pregnancies involving three or more fetuses. To increase the chances of delivering infants mature enough to survive without being irreversibly damaged by the sequelae of marked prematurity, selective fetal reduction(SFR) to the smaller number of fetuses should be considered in multifetal pregnancies. From January, 1991 to December, 1992, transabdominal SFR in multifetal pregnancies was performed in 22 patients including 13 triplet, 7 quadruplet, 1 quintuplet and 1 heptuplet pregnancies. Transabdominal SFR using intracardiac KCI injection and aspiration of amniotic fluid was carried out in 8-13 weeks of gestation. After procedure, 20 patients were remained as twin pregnancies, and 2 patients as triplet pregnancies. There have been 11 sets of twin delivery including 2 stillbirths, 2 sets of triplet delivery including 1 stillbirth, and 1 singleton delivery. Six cases were delivered after 37 weeks of gestation, 4 cases in 33 - 37 weeks, and 1 case in 30 weeks. Unfortunately, 3 stillbirths occurred in 20-24 weeks of gestation, and 4 cases were aborted. As 7 losses of pregnanancy including 1 case of septic abortion occurred, the delayed fetal loss rate was 38.9%(7/18) in transabdominal SFR. All babies born after 30 weeks of gestation were healthy, and no fetal anomaly directly related to the procedure was encountered. From July, 1993 to February, 1995, transvaginal SFR was performed in 20 patients including 15 triplet, 4 quadruplet and 1 quintuplet pregnancies. Transvaginal SFR using the same method as transabdominal SFR was carried out in 8-11 weeks of gestation. After procedure, 19 patients were remained as twin pregnancies, and 1 patient as singleton pregnancy. There have been 13 sets of twin delivery including 2 stillbirths, and 1 singleton delivery. Six cases were delivered after 37 weeks of gestation, 5 cases in 36-37 weeks, and 1 case in 30 weeks. Unfortunately, 2 still-births occurred in 20 weeks and 21 weeks of gestation, respectively, and 2 cases were aborted. As 4 losses of pregnancy including 1 case of septic abortion occurred, the delayed fetal loss rate was 25.0%(4/16) in transvaginal SFR. No fetal anomaly directly related to the procedure was encountered. It is suggested that transvaginal SFR could be performed more easily and earlier with the lower fetal loss rate as compared with transabdominal SFR. In conclusion, SFR is a rather safe and ethically justified procedure that may improve the outcome of multifetal pregnancies.