• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.155-158
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• 2013

Paedomorphosis is the retention of juvenile morphology at maturity and is important in generating evolutionary change in domestic species and species in the wild. This preliminary study compared morphological characteristics of seven domestic cat pure breeds and felid species from around the world. An original procedure based on elliptical Fourier (EF) methods was applied to head lateral views of specimens and were assessed in order to analyse head profile. For comparative purposes three domestic kittens of different ages and three species of genus Lynx were also used. EF descriptors, allowed for the quantification of the head profile. Using the Fourier transform, reconstruction of the mean head profile revealed that there was a general shape difference between wild cats, domestic cats and kittens. Results suggested that variability in head profile differentiate quite well between adult cats and kittens, but domestic and wild cats appeared grouped into a similar cluster. The similarity between breeds can thus be attributed more to the general head profile than to flatness, i.e. to the general conformation rather than facial profile. Therefore, no effect of paedomorphism on the studied breeds can be undertaken. The present approach opens interesting ethnological perspectives for the aloidic characterisation for domestic breeds.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.55-63
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• 2022

The African swine fever virus (ASFV) remains contagious for a long time, not only in the carcass, but also in the bone marrow of an infected animal. The scavenging activity of various animals on ASFV-infected carcasses is a likely risk factor for ASFV transmission. Thus, we conducted this study to determine whether scavengers are potential vectors for ASFV. In nonprotected wild boar carcasses on the forest floor, we investigated the seasonal patterns of carcass decomposition and scavenger visits for feeding on them. The duration from fresh to early skeletonization (only bones and leather remaining) of adult carcasses was 37.6±23.1 days (n=3, range=11-51 days) in winter. The duration from fresh to later skeletonization (only bones and some fur remaining) of all carcasses, including subadult carcasses, was 8.3±2.5 days (n=4, range=7-12 days) in summer. At all three study sites, leopard cats (30.3%), large-billed crows (21.6%), and golden eagles (18.1%) were the frequently visiting species, representing more than 10% of the total visits (343 visits) in winter, whereas raccoons (21.9%), grey-backed thrushes (39.4%), and eyebrowed thrushes (14.7%) were the most frequent visitors in summer. In winter, crows or cinereous vultures were the first animals to arrive at a carcass; in summer, raccoons or crows arrived first. Our results showed that wild boars, raccoons, and leopard cats relatively frequently visited wild boar carcasses and stayed there for a long time. Wild rodents chewing on or staying near carcasses were photographed during winter. In addition to wild boars, thus, mammals, such as raccoons, leopard cats and rodents, and birds, such as accipitrids and thrushes, may be spreaders of ASFV in South Korea.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.65-68
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• 2012

Feline parasites were investigated in the area of Suwon in Korea from September to October, 2003. Wild cat had spread to zoonotic parasites, these parasites could cause infection with a person. People have a lot of interest in parasite infection of wild cat. This article reviews rate of infection of a parasites and kind of a parasite of wild cats. We will report the critical characteristic features of parasites to a better understanding of the disease. The incidence rates of Toxocara cati, Trichuris felis, Ancylostoma braziliense and Capillaria sp were 37.0, 4.3, 1.1 and 1.1% in nematodes. Those of Taenia taeniaformis and Opisthorchis sp were 2.2 and 1.1% in cestode and trematode. Those of Isospora felis, Toxoplasma gondii, and Sarcocystis sp were 8.7, 9.8, and 2.2% in protozoa. Almost of these were zoonotic parasites without Isospora felis.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.68.1-68.6
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• 2023

Leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis euptilurus) is a small wild cat assessed as an endangered wildlife in Korea. There have been very few reports of their diseases. Herein, we describe fibrinous pleuritis caused by Streptococcus canis infection with excessive pleural effusion, hydropericardium, mild ascites, and liver fibrosis in a leopard cat. S. canis is a commensal microflora in domestic cats and often affects the upper respiratory tract inducing chronic and severe respiratory diseases. However, there is no literature regarding the S. canis in leopard cats. Therefore, we first report fibrinous pleuritis associated with an S. canis infection in a leopard cat.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.275-279
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• 2009

Toxoplasma gondii is one of the most common protozoa parasites of human and other warm-blooded animals. Cats and wild felidae play crucial roles in the epidemiology of toxoplasmosis. This study was performed to survey the prevalence of T. gondii infection among stray cats in the Seoul. A total of 422 stray cat blood samples were collected from Seoul area. Positive sera for T. gondii were identified in 56 samples (13.3%) exclusively via the latex agglutination test and the detection no antigen particles among seropositive samples by PCR. The overall infection rate of male stray cats (14.4%) presented as higher than that of female cats (10.7%). This study suggested that T. gondii is widespread in stray cats of Seoul area. It is needed to control urban stray cat population and to reduced the risk of zoonotic transmission of toxolasmosis to other animals and humans.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.41-48
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• 2024

Feline bocavirus (FBoV) is considered an emerging pathogen recently identified in domestic cats worldwide. To date, three species of FBoVs (FBoV-1, FBoV-2, and FBoV-3) have been reported, but there are no reports identifying FBoVs in Korea. In this study, we detected novel FBoVs for the first time in Korea in captive wild felids (four European lynx and a lion) kept at Seoul Zoo. In FBoV-positive fecal samples, not only singular infections but also dual or triple infections with three different species of FBoVs were confirmed, suggesting that three species of FBoVs are already introduced and co-circulated in susceptible host animals in Korea. These results will help expand our understanding of the geographical distribution and host susceptibility of novel FBoVs. Further studies are necessary to determine the infection status of FBoVs in domestic cats and the genetic characteristics of the viruses circulating in Korea.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.199-201
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• 2008

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular zoonotic protozoan with a worldwide distribution. It infects humans as well as a broad spectrum of vertebrate hosts. Cats and wild felidae play crucial roles in the epidemiology of toxoplasmosis. This study was performed to survey the prevalence of T. gondii infection among stray cats in the Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea. A total of 174 stray cat blood samples were collected from Gwacheon-si (n = 20), Bucheon-si (82), and Yangju-si (72). Positive sera for T. gondii were identified in 14 samples (8.1%) exclusively via the latex agglutination test, 28 (16.1%) via ELISA, and 23 (13.2%) via PCR analysis. The overall infection rate of female stray cats (29.2%) presented as higher than that of male cats (24.0%). This study suggests that T. gondii is widespread in the stray cat population of Gyeonggi-do, Korea. It is urgently needed to control urban stray cat population and to reduce the risk of zoonotic transmission of toxoplasmosis to other animal hosts and humans.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.17-26
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• 1977

Parasites of wild animals are closely related with parasites of domestic animals. Wild animals take charge of an important role at parasitic infestation of domestic animals because of unrestrained movement. The authors carried out the work of actual condition of parasitic infestation on wild animals, total 1,014 cases, in the Korean Zoo. The results are summarized as follows: 1. Total rate of parasitic infestation was 36.1% with infestation of 366 among 1,014 cases. The rate of single infestation was 32.6% with infestation of 331 cases, double infestation 3.1% with 31 cases, triple infestation 0.2% with 2 cases and quadrople infestation 0.2% with 2 cases. 2. The parasites on the zoo animals were identified as follows: Lion: Sarcoptiform, Toxocara sp., Toxascaris leonina, Ancylostoma sp. and Isospora spp. Puma: Toxocara sp., Ancylostoma sp. and Isospora sp. Leopard: Toxocara spp., Ancylostoma sp., Trichuris sp., Dibothriocephalus sp. and Physaloptera sp. Wolf: Sarcoptiform and Dibothriocephalus spp. Fox: Trichuris sp., Capillaria aerophila, Spirocerca sp., Paragonimas kellicotti. Jackal: Sarcoptiform, Ascaris sp. and Echinococcus granulosus. Wild Cat: Dibothriocephalus sp. Tiger: Toxascaris leonina. Bear: Sarcoptiform, Metastrongylus apri, Ancylostoma sp. and Ascaris sp. Raccoon and Raccoon dog: Sarcoptiform, Paragonimus kelliotti, and Isospora sp. Boar: Oesophagostomum spp. and Eimeria spp. Mortkey: Sarcoptiform, Trichuris sp., Physaloptera spp.. Enterobius sp. and Isospora sp. Elephant: Sarcoptiform, Strongyloides sp. and Strongylus spp. Deer: Sarcoptiform, Strongyloides sp., Trichuris ovis, Mccistocirrus digitatus, Haemonchus sp., Oesophagostomum radiatum, Paramphistornum spp., Bunostomum phlebotomum, Fasciola hepatica and Eimeria spp. Bison: Sarcoptiform, Haernonchus sp., Marshallagia sp., Nematodirus sp. and Eimeria sp. Zebra: Strongylus sp. and Parascaris equorum. Goral and Barbary: Sarcoptiform, Haemonchus sp., Oesophagostomum venulosum, Moniezia sp. and Eimeria spp. Lama: Strongyloides sp. and Haemonchus sp. Kangaroo: Strongyloides sp. and Haemonchus sp. Camel: Strongyloides sp., Trichuris ovis and Eimeria sp. Peacock and the Other Birds: Sarcoptiform, Capillaria contorta, Capillaria caudinflata, Ascaridia spp., Heterakis spp., Hymenolepis sp., Eimeria spp., Histomonas, Ornithionyssus bacoti, Macrochelidae and Trichomonas. 3. Among the zoo animals, wild carnivora were infestated with the parasites which are common parasites of dogs and cats, wild herbivora were infestated with the parasites of herbivora domestic animals. and wild fowls were infestated with the parasites of domestic fowls.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.287-294
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• 2017

The present study was performed to record new definitive hosts of Isthmiophora hortensis, and to describe morphological characteristics derived from a variety of worm samples for clarification of its taxonomic validity. Morphological characteristics with dimensions were observed in worm samples (n=21) from naturally infected wild animals, including a raccoon dog Nyctereutes procyonoides from Gimhae-si (City), Gyeongsangnam-do, stray cats and a striped field mouse from several localities, and a wild boar Sus scrofa, from Gurye-gun (County), Jeollanam-do. In addition, adult flukes (n=45) recovered in albino rats experimentally infected with the metacercariae from a freshwater fish species were also subjected to morphological studies. The mean ratios of the body length (BL) to body width (BW) were 5.86 and 5.76 in worms from wild animals and experimental rats, respectively. Those of the ventral sucker to oral sucker were 2.92 and 3.01 in worms from 2 groups. The mean percentages of the hindbody length (HBL) to BL were 42.1 and 41.2 in 2 groups. Those of uterine fields to BL were 9.8 and 12.2 in the 2 worm groups. By the present study, the 2 species of wild animals, the raccoon dog and wild boar, have been added as new definitive hosts for I. hortensis. The morphological characteristics of adult flukes derived from a variety of host source were redescribed to support the taxonomic validity of this echinostome species.

• BMB Reports
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.3-4
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• 2017

Recent advances in genome sequencing technologies have enabled humans to generate and investigate the genomes of wild species. This includes the big cat family, such as tigers, lions, and leopards. Adding the first high quality leopard genome, we have performed an in-depth comparative analysis to identify the genomic signatures in the evolution of felid to become the top predators on land. Our study focused on how the carnivore genomes, as compared to the omnivore or herbivore genomes, shared evolutionary adaptations in genes associated with nutrient metabolism, muscle strength, agility, and other traits responsible for hunting and meat digestion. We found genetic evidence that genomes represent what animals eat through modifying genes. Highly conserved genetically relevant regions were discovered in genomes at the family level. Also, the Felidae family genomes exhibited low levels of genetic diversity associated with decreased population sizes, presumably because of their strict diet, suggesting their vulnerability and critical conservation status. Our findings can be used for human health enhancement, since we share the same genes as cats with some variation. This is an example how wildlife genomes can be a critical resource for human evolution, providing key genetic marker information for disease treatment.