• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.49-55
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• 2008

White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV) is one of the most virulent viral agents in the penaeid shrimp culture industry. In this study, WSSV in a Fenneropenaeus chinensis shrimp farm and an adjacent seawater were concentrated using a membrane filtration and quantified using the quantitative real-time PCR (QRT-PCR) method with newly designed primers and Taqman probe. Sensitivity of primers and probe was proven by WSSV standard curve assay in QRT-PCR. In order to demonstrate the relationship between WSSV and environmental parameters, physicochemical and biological parameters of the farm and influent seawaters were monitored from June to September, 2007. The abundance of WSSV ranged 3,814-121,546 copies per 1 liter of seawater, which was correlated with fecal enterococci ($r^2=0.9$, p=0.02), chlorophyll ${\alpha}$ ($r^2=0.8$, p=0.03) and $BOD_5$ ($r^2=0.8$, p=0.07). Subsequently, it is concluded that the QRT-PCR method using Taqman probe established in this study was efficient to clarify the quantification of WSSV in seawaters. Statistical analyses of environmental parameters obtained in this study also showed that the abundance of WSSV was correlated with several biological parameters rather than physicochemical parameters.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.93-100
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• 2020

Hybrid grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus ♀×E. lanceolatus ♂) (mean weight 27.3±3.8 g, mean length 11.6±0.7 cm) were exposed to waterborne nitrite at 0, 100, 200, 400, 800, and 1600mg L^-1 for 96 hours. The hematocrit and hemoglobin values were significantly decreased by exposure to 100 mg L^-1 and 400 mg L^-1, respectively. In plasma components, no significant change was observed in magnesium. Glucose was significantly increased by 200 and 400 mg L^-1 nitrite but reduced by 800 mg L^-1. Cholesterol was significantly decreased by 400 mg L^-1 nitrite, but there was no significant change in total protein. GPT(glutamic pyruvate transaminase) was significantly increased by exposure to 200 and 400mg L^-1. ALP(Alkaline phosphatase) was significantly increased by 800 mg L^-1. The results of this study indicate that acute exposure to nitrite changes physiological parameters, such as hematological properties and plasma components.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.40-46
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• 2020

Hybrid grouper(Epinephelus fuscoguttatus ♀×E. lanceolatus ♂) (mean weight 25.7±3.5g, mean length 11.2±0.9cm) were exposed to different ammonia concentrations of 0, 5, 10, 20, and 40mg L^-1 for 96 hours. The hematological hematocrit and hemoglobin parameters of the hybrid grouper were significantly decreased by 20 mg L^-1 ammonia exposure. In the organic plasma components, calcium was significantly decreased, whereas there was no change in magnesium. In the organic plasma components, the glucose and cholesterol values of the hybrid grouper were significantly increased by ammonia exposure. In the enzymatic plasma components, the ALP(Alkaline phosphatase) value of the hybrid grouper was also significantly increased by ammonia exposure. The results of this study demonstrate that acute ammonia exposure to hybrid grouper induced changes in hematological parameters and plasma components. Therefore, acute ammonia exposure over 20 mg L^-1 appears to be toxic to hybrid grouper and the results can be used as a major indicator in breeding hybrid grouper.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.382-388
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• 2014

Shortfin eel (Anguilla bicolor pacifica) is a species of commercial importance and its production is greatly affected due to the infection by Heterosporis anguillarum. In this study, we evaluated the effect of H. anguillarum infection on the growth of Shortfin eel. A disease that trunk muscle of cultured shortfin eel, Anguilla bicolor pacifica, were irregular and resulted in death, breakout of the commercial eel culture farm. We observed that the trunk muscle of infected eels were irregular and represented white or yellowish externally. Histopathologically, a great numbers of large or small spores and sporophorocysts were also observed in degenerated muscle layer. The cloning of specific gene of H. anguillarum, encoding small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU-rRNA) was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction(PCR) from the muscle lesion of diseased eel. The size of clone gene is well matched with the size of small subunit ribosomal RNA of H. anguillarum and thus confirming the infection by H. anguillarum.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.109-109
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• 2002

Detection of protozoan parasites Perkinsus sp. and P. atlanticus was developed in this study using a specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to diagnose the presence of those organisms that causes extensive mortalities of marine shellfishes. The PCR was conducted together with fluid thioglycollate medium (FTM) method and 2 M NaOH lysis method. For the test, Manila clams, Ruditapes philippinarum, were collected from four coastal locations in Korea including Wando Island, Gimnyeong, Sungsan and Sogwipo in Jeju. In addition, trophozites of Perkinsus sp. cultivated in vitro and the granular ark clam, Tegillarca granosa, taken from Gangjin on the south coast of Korea, were used as positive and negative controls, respectively. Expected DNA bands were detected in the samples from Wando Island, Sungsan and the in vitro cultured Perkinsus sp. when the probes specific for the genus Perkinsus and P. atlanticus were used. The samples were also positively diagnosed by the FTM and 2 M NaOH methods. In contrast, the Manila clams from Gimnyeong and Sogwipo, and the granular arks clams from Gangjin showed no detectable signs of infection with the PCR, the FTM method and the 2 M NaOH lysis method. On the other hand, being amplified by p. atlanticus specific primer, it is suggested that the protozoan parasite Perkinsus sp. found in the Korean Manila clam is P. atlanticus. Finally the PCR- based assay developed in the present study can be used in detection of Perkinsus infection and discrimination of Peykinsus species in quarantine stations or laboratories due to the high sensitivity and specificity as well as its rapid detection.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.259-265
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• 2021

A diagnostic test for viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV), which infects more than 80 species of freshwater and marine fish at home and abroad, causing mass mortality, was conducted to provide quantitative data on the amount of virus expression in various tissues of flounder in chronological order. The tissues were collected in chronological order after the intraperitoneal injection of 3.0E+07 tissue culture infective dose₅₀ (TCID₅₀) per 0.1mL per fish of VHSV to randomly selected flounder. As a result of relative quantification through real-time PCR, the highest levels of virus expression were found in the spleen, kidney, gill, and liver on day 5. This study proved that the spleen was an appropriate site for the final diagnosis of VHSV in the early stages of infection and will provide important information for the diagnosis of legal infectious diseases in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.373-379
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• 2017

Juvenile Paralichthys olivaceus (mean length $19.8{\pm}2.6cm$, mean weight $97.8{\pm}15.8g$) were exposed for 96 hours to different nitrate concentrations of 0, 62.5, 125, 250, 500, 1,000, and $1,500mg\;L^{-1}$ in biofloc and 0, 62.5, 125, 250, 500, and $1,000mg\;L^{-1}$ in seawater. Median lethal concentration values ($LC_{50}$, the concentration at which 50% of mortality occurred after 96 hours of exposure) of nitrate to P. olivaceus in biofloc and seawater were 1,226 and $597mg\;NO_3L^{-1}$ (P<0.05), respectively, revealing a higher toxicity of nitrate to P. olivaceus in seawater than in biofloc. In hematological parameters, hematocrit level in P. olivaceus exposed to nitrate was significantly increased only at a concentration of $1,000mg\;L^{-1}$ in biofloc and at concentrations higher than $250mg\;L^{-1}$ in seawater, but no significant changes in hemoglobin were found in biofloc and seawater. In plasma parameters, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransminase (ALT) were significantly increased by nitrate exposure in biofloc and seawater, but no significant changes in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were found in biofloc and seawater. Results of this study indicate that nitrate exposure to P. olivaceus have a lethal toxic effect and alter hematological and plasma constituents of flatfish P. olivaceus. Given relatively lower toxicity of nitrate in biofloc than in seawater, the use of biofloc in aquaculture may reduce potential toxic effect caused by nitrate in feces and feed residue.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2018

The objective of this study was to identify the effects of farming practices on the Misgurnus anguillicaudatus population, including their habitat characteristics, length frequency and the length-weight relationships of M. anguillicaudatus population; this study investigated the differences of the population living in environment-friendly (EFP) and conventional paddy fields (CP). As the result of age distribution by length frequency of M. anguillicaudatus, the EFP showed various age distributions which were not present in the CP. In particular, the age $0^+$ (28-51 mm) of individuals in the CP were significantly lower than those in the EFP. In May, the number of individuals was similar in CP and EFP, which led to the assumption that the M. anguillicaudatus population living in a shallow depth was killed by rotary and tillage works. The regression coefficient (b) in relation to the length-weight of M. anguillicaudatus population was 3.0, which appeared relatively stable as a habitat condition in the CP and EFP, except in June. The condition factor for M. anguillicaudatus population in the CP and the EFP showed a relatively stable monthly population, except in June which was likely to be influenced by the stress to lay their eggs or chemicals such as the use of pesticides. This change of habitat characteristics and length-weight relationship on M. anguillicaudatus population in rice paddy fields was influenced by farming practices as well as the time of year.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.61 no.2
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• pp.357-368
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• 2022

We investigated the developmental characteristics of super mealworm (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) at four different temperatures (25℃, 27℃, 30℃, and 33℃). The rearing conditions were 9L/15D, 65% RH, and 1,330 to 1,800 lux with wheat bran. The length of developmental period of 1 to 18 instars at each temperature showed that 30℃ was the shortest at 120.0±5.8 days, compared to that at 27℃ (132.6±10.7 days), 33℃ (136.5±9.2 days), and 25℃ (156.7±7.5 days). The larval developmental period was statistically significantly longer at 25℃, 27℃, and 30℃ compared to the length at 33℃. However, the death rate of larvae at 33℃ was 2.7-3.3 times higher than the rate at other temperatures. Body weight was heaviest at 30℃ followed by 27℃, 33℃, and 25℃. The patterns of head capsule, body capsule, and body length were similar to that of body weight. Regression analyses of developmental period, larval body weight, and length according to temperature revealed 29-30℃ as the most suitable temperature. The prepupa rate was 43.1% in 17 instars, 30.3% in 18 instars, 15.4% in 16 instars, 7.1% in 19 instars, 2.2% in 15 instars, and 1.9% in 20 instars, accounting for 88.8% in 16-18 instars. Prepupal period was longer at lower temperatures. For the average prepupal period of 15-18 instars, prepupa time was 18.8±1.9 days at 27℃, 18.8±2.3 days at 30℃, 23.0±2.4 days at 33℃, and 23.1±2.9 days at 25℃. The average pupal period of females and males was 11.1±2.2 and 11.6±2.4 days, respectively. The data indicate that the most suitable rearing temperature of super mealworm was 30℃.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.523-530
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• 2020

Based on the results of harmful algal blooms (HABs) monitoring by the National Institute of Fisheries Science and local governments, the effects of changes in the marine environment on HABs are described. Since the beginning of HABs monitoring in 1972, they continued to increase from the 1980s to the 1990s. After the largest number of HAB incidents (109) in 1998; the trend declined until the 2010s. Most HABs in the 1970s were caused by diatoms. In the 1980s, coastal dinoflagellates caused HABs; Cochlodinium polykrikoides blooms have been occurring continuously since 1993. There are three HAB species that cause damage to fisheries in Korea. The high-density bloom of Karenia mikimotoi caused mass mortality in shellfish in Jinhae Bay in 1981. Karenia sp. blooms occurring around Tongyeong in 1992 killed aquaculture fish. Since the occurrence of the largest fisheries damage of KRW 76.6 billion in 1995 caused by C. polykrikoides blooms, they have been occurring continuously. The concentration of nutrients in coastal waters was the highest in the 1980s and has declined since the mid-1990s. This reduction in nutrient concentration is a good explanation for the decreasing number of HABs. Since 2016, a summer high water temperature of 30℃ or more has appeared, and the range and scale of C. polykrikoides blooms have been greatly reduced. In 2016, K. mikimotoi blooms occurred around Wando, Jangheung and Goheung and small scale blooms of C. polykrikoides occurred around Yeosu. There were no C. polykrikoides blooms in 2017; however, Alexandrium affine blooms occurred from Yeosu to Tongyeong. There was a small-scale blooms of C. polykrikoides in 2018 compared to those in the previous years. Our results show that reduction in nutrients and the high water temperature owing to climate change are a good explanation for variation in HABs in Korean coastal waters.