• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제56권5호
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• pp.521-525
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• 2018

Rodents are well-known reservoirs and vectors of many emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, but little is known about their role in zoonotic disease transmission in Bhutan. In this study, a cross-sectional investigation of zoonotic disease pathogens in rodents was performed in Chukha district, Bhutan, where a high incidence of scrub typhus and cases of acute undifferentiated febrile illness had been reported in people during the preceding 4-6 months. Twelve rodents were trapped alive using wire-mesh traps. Following euthanasia, liver and kidney tissues were removed and tested using PCR for Orientia tsutsugamushi and other bacterial and rickettsial pathogens causing bartonellosis, borreliosis, human monocytic ehrlichiosis, human granulocytic anaplasmosis, leptospirosis, and rickettsiosis. A phylogenetic analysis was performed on all rodent species captured and pathogens detected. Four out of the 12 rodents (33.3%) tested positive by PCR for zoonotic pathogens. Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Bartonella grahamii, and B. queenslandensis were identified for the first time in Bhutan. Leptospira interrogans was also detected for the first time from rodents in Bhutan. The findings demonstrate the presence of these zoonotic pathogens in rodents in Bhutan, which may pose a risk of disease transmission to humans.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제58권6호
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• pp.609-617
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• 2020

Plasmodium vivax reemerged in 1993. It has been sustained for more than 25 years and become one of the important indigenous parasitic diseases in northern and western parts of the Republic of Korea near the demilitarized zone. In particular, relapse is a significant concern for the control of malaria, as short- and long-term incubation periods vary among those infected in Korea. In this study, the prevalence of asymptomatic carriers was examined among residents of high endemic areas of vivax malaria during nonseasonal transmission of mosquitoes. Blood samples from 3 endemic regions in northwestern Korea were evaluated by microscopic examination, rapid diagnostic testing, and nested PCR to identify asymptomatic patients carrying malaria parasites in the community. However, no positive malaria case among residents of endemic areas was detected. Additionally, serological analysis was carried out to measure antibodies against 3 antigenic recombinant proteins of P. vivax, merozoite surface protein 1-19, circumsporozoite surface protein-VK210, and liver-stage antigen (PvLSA-N), by the protein array method. Interestingly, seropositivity of sera between previous exposure and samples without exposure to malaria was significantly higher using the PvLSA-N antigen than the other antigens, suggesting that PvLSA-N can be used as a serological marker to analyze the degree of exposure for malaria transmission in endemic areas. This indicates a very low asymptomatic carrier prevalence during the nonmalaria season in the endemic areas of Korea.

• 한국어병학회지
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• 제35권2호
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• pp.167-176
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• 2022

We injected infectious myonecrosis virus (IMNV) to pacific whiteleg shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, and observed closely with using light microscope and transmission electron microscope (TEM) for 4-8 days post infection (dpi). As clinical signs, abdominal bodies had mild opaque muscles at 5 dpi. And the mortality was shown at 6 dpi. At 8 dpi, most injected shrimps had severe opaque muscles and humped back that cause of movement disorder. As results of histopathological examinations, local parts of abdominal body muscle had muscle fiber hyalinization, muscle fiber atrophy, rounded muscle fibers, myofibrillar hypertrophy in size, a decrease in number of myofibrils and phagocytosis from the sarcolemmas by multiple hemocytes at 4 dpi. Especially, myofibrillar hypertrophy appeared at the whole or random part of single muscle fiber not in specific locations like the center or edge of muscle fiber. At 6-7 dpi, multiple muscle necrosis, muscle fiber segmentation, myofibril lysis ap- peared and a few hemocytes were infiltrated at lesions. At 8 dpi, extensive muscle necrosis, multiple myofibril lysis and muscle fiber atrophy were shown, and very few hemocytes were infiltrated. In early stage of infection, local viral myositis with zenker's degeneration were shown. These lesions appeared multiply after the early stage. In late stage of infection, extensive coagulative muscle necrosis appeared with few of inflammatory response such as hemocytes infiltration. The lack of hemocytes infiltration response at the late stage might be disadvantage for Litopenaeus vannamei to defense against IMNV and to recover, because hematocytes (granulocyte, semi-granulocyte) eliminate pathogen and damaged tissues from infection sites and help recover. As results of the TEM observation, IMNVs that had nonenveloped icosahedral capsid which was 30-40 nm diameter were in myofibril and beside tubules of sarcoplasmic reticulum and moved to the certain direction. The micro-tears and micro-trau- mas in myofibrils caused muscle fiber necrosis. And semi-granulocytes engulfed IMNVs to eliminate virus.

• 대한수학회논문집
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• 제34권2호
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• pp.685-699
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• 2019

This research is focused on a continuous epidemic model of transmission of Plasmodium vivax malaria with a time delay. The model is represented as a system of ordinary differential equations with delay. There are two equilibria, which are the disease-free state and the endemic equilibrium, depending on the basic reproduction number, $R_0$, which is calculated and decreases with the time delay. Moreover, the disease-free equilibrium is locally asymptotically stable if $R_0<1$. If $R_0>1$, a unique endemic steady state exists and is locally stable. Furthermore, Hopf bifurcation is applied to determine the conditions for periodic solutions.

• 한국어병학회지
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• 제35권2호
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• pp.215-223
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• 2022

Disease including parasite, bacteria and virus cause serious mortality to salmonid fish in the aquaculture. In this study, we investigated the current disease status of the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) in Yanayang, Pyeongchang, Jeongseon and Yeongwol of Gangwon province in 2021 and performed molecular characterization of those pathogen. For parasites, Ichthyophthirius multifiliis was observed at 2 farms. For bacteria, we identified Aeromonas sobria from kidney of rainbow trout using phylogenetic analysis of gyrB gene. A. salmonicida were isolated from necrosis site of gill cover and fin in coho salmon and necrotic lesion of fin in rainbow trout. Phylogenetic analysis using vap gene indicated that A. salmonicida isolated in this study were clustered with previously reported A. salmonicida subsp. salmonicida isolates. For virus, JRt-Nagano type of infectious haematopoietic necrosis virus was detected in rainbow trout, but infectious pancreatic necrosis virus and Oncorhynchus masou virus were not detected. These results provide useful information for the prevention of disease spread and transmission when cultivating new species such as Atlantic salmon in Korea.

• 의료법학
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• 제23권4호
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• pp.29-74
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• 2022

2020년 예상하지 못한 형태의 COVID-19 감염병의 급속도로 전파·확산으로 국민의 "생명·신체·재산"에 피해를 줄 수 있는 재난관리법상 사회재난이 발생하면서, 감염병병원체의 검사 및 발생 사실에 대한 신고 및 보고(제11조), 실태조사(제17조), 역학조사(제18조), 예방접종을 위한 역학조사(제29조) 등을 통하여 수집된 정보는 발전된 데이터 인식 및 처리 기술, 인공지능을 통한 학습 기술 등과 결합하여 (1) 의료자원 배분을 위한 정책적 근거 마련(병상배정, 방역물품 공급), (2) 감염병 확산 방지를 위한 방역 정책적 근거 마련(집합금지·영업제한 등 정책 결정, 확진자 발생 현황 예측을 위한 연구 및 정책 결정), (3) 예방접종 촉진 및 피해 현황 파악 등 감염병 위기 상황에서 의사결정의 중요한 근거로 활용되어 왔다. 이러한 감염병 데이터를 활용한 의료정책의 결정은 방역정책 결정, 정보제공, 의약품 개발 및 연구 기술 발전에 기여하여 왔으며, 국제적으로 감염병 데이터의 활용 법제 마련에 관한 논의가 증가하면서 감염병 데이터 활용의 법적인정 범위와 한계에 대한 관심이 높아졌다. 감염병 데이터의 활용은 감염병 전파 및 확산 차단 목적, 감염병의 예방·관리·치료업무 목적, 감염병 연구 목적으로 분류할 수 있으며, 정보의 활용은 감염병 위기 상황을 전제로 논의된다. 먼저 민감정보인 "진료기록, 예방접종약, 예방접종, 기저질환 유무, 건강순위, 장기요양인정등급, 임신여부 등"에 관한 정보의 경우, 업무 목적으로 수집·제공·활용하는 경우 개인정보보호법상 활용이 인정되는 "타법에서 정하는 업무" 범위에 대한 해석이 요구된다. "감염병 전파 및 확산 차단, 감염병의 예방·관리·치료" 목적의 업무수행의 경우 입법적으로 명확하게 사전에 규율하기 쉽지 않다. 따라서 이를 인정하기 위한 전제로 먼저 대법원 및 헌법재판소에서 의료행위의 개념을 명확하게 정의하기 어렵다는 부분을 차용할 수 있다. 따라서 현실적으로 구체적인 업무수행의 행위 유형은 후행적으로 "입법목적, 학문적 원리, 전문성, 사회통념"을 기준으로 판단하여 재량권의 일탈 또는 남용의 논리로 해석하게 된다. 목적 달성에 필요한 정보수집 대상의 확정, 수집 정보의 활용방안의 한계 설정을 위하여 감염병으로 인한 공중보건 위기 상황에서 데이터 활용의 공익적 필요성이 있는지를 우선 판단하되 해당 정보의 활용이 정보주체나 제3자의 이익을 부당하게 침해하지 않았는지를 기준으로 판단한다. 이익형량의 세부 기준으로 위기 상황에서 감염병의 전파속도와 정도, 해당 민감정보의 처리 없이 목적달성을 할 수 있었는지, 민감정보의 처리를 통한 방역정책 도입의 효과성 등을 기준으로 판단하게 된다. 한편, 연구목적 감염병데이터의 수집·제공·활용은 원칙적으로 개인정보보호법상 가명처리, 생명윤리법상 동의와 기관생명윤리위원회의 심의, 국민건강보험공단 자료 활용 시 자료제공 심의위원회 절차를 거쳐 활용되게 된다. 따라서 가명처리 및 데이터심의위원회의 심의 또는 정보주체의 동의 및 기관생명윤리심의위원회의 심의를 거치므로 원칙적으로 절차적 타당성을 확보하는 한 연구목적 활용은 인정된다. 다만, 가명화 또는 익명화 절차를 명확히하여 연구책임자의 부담을 줄여야 하며, 포괄적 동의제도와 옵트아웃 제도의 도입 또는 동의 절차가 명확히 마련되어야 하며, 기술발전으로 나타날 수 있는 재식별 가능성 또는 보안성 확보 절차를 명확히 규정할 필요가 있을 것으로 생각된다.

• 한국수산과학회지
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• 제54권5호
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• pp.596-616
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• 2021

A global increase in fish consumption has led to a rapid expansion of aquaculture production, which has been linked to enhancing the spread of infectious diseases. Viral diseases can cause high mortality in many cultured fish species, posing a serious threat to the aquaculture industry. Infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) is one of the primary threats to aquacultured salmonid species, causing huge economic losses. Since the first report in cultured sockeye salmon Oncorhynchus nerka during the 1950s in North America, IHNV has spread to other regions, including Europe, Asia, South America, and Africa by transportation of infected fish and eggs, causing disease and increasing mortality in a wide variety of salmonid species. Here, we review existing information relevant to IHNV: its phylogenetic characteristics, origin, infection history, virulence determinants, susceptible hosts, vectors, and vaccine development. This review also addresses a possible cross-species transmission of IHNV to a new host, olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus, a cultured fish of economic importance in East Asian countries.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• 제44권3호
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• pp.327-335
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• 2006

An epidemiological survey of human enterobacterial infections was conducted to determine the prevalence of enteropathogens in the Republic of Korea during one year, 2003. We tested for infectious diseases in 26,992 stool samples obtained from people who visited clinics located in six big cities and six rural provinces. From these samples, we isolated 1,291 cases of enteritis bacterial infection (4.8%). In the urban areas, 821 cases of bacterial infection (6.4%) were identified and, in the rural areas, 479 bacterial strains (3.3%) were isolated. Seasonal patterns were seen for diarrhea associated with S. aureus, S. coli and V. parahaemolyticus, while Salmonella and Shigella infections showed slight seasonal variation. We found that S. aureus and Salmonella were more frequently isolated from children and the elderly; however, the prevalence of E. coli, V. parahaemolyticus, and Shigella were similar in different age groups. Routine monitoring of these infections is considered a worthwhile means by which to elucidate their epidemiology and modes of transmission and ultimately to control them more effectively. Continuous laboratory-based surveillance for findings of enteritis bacterial infection should be emphasized in the prevention of these infections.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.12.1-12.11
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• 2021

Background: Bats have been considered natural reservoirs for several pathogenic human coronaviruses (CoVs) in the last two decades. Recently, a bat CoV was detected in the Republic of Korea; its entire genome was sequenced and reported to be genetically similar to that of the severe acute respiratory syndrome CoV (SARS-CoV). Objectives: The objective of this study was to compare the genetic sequences of SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2, and the two Korean bat CoV strains 16BO133 and B15-21, to estimate the likelihood of an interaction between the Korean bat CoVs and the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor. Methods: The phylogenetic analysis was conducted with the maximum-likelihood (ML) method using MEGA 7 software. The Korean bat CoVs receptor binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein was analyzed by comparative homology modeling using the SWISS-MODEL server. The binding energies of the complexes were calculated using PRODIGY and MM/GBGA. Results: Phylogenetic analyses of the entire RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, spike regions, and the complete genome revealed that the Korean CoVs, along with SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2, belong to the subgenus Sarbecovirus, within BetaCoVs. However, the two Korean CoVs were distinct from SARS-CoV-2. Specifically, the spike gene of the Korean CoVs, which is involved in host infection, differed from that of SARS-CoV-2, showing only 66.8%-67.0% nucleotide homology and presented deletions within the RBD, particularly within regions critical for cross-species transmission and that mediate interaction with ACE2. Binding free energy calculation revealed that the binding affinity of Korean bat CoV RBD to hACE2 was drastically lower than that of SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2. Conclusions: These results suggest that Korean bat CoVs are unlikely to bind to the human ACE2 receptor.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• 제24권6호
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• pp.78.1-78.6
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• 2023

Avian-origin H3N2 canine influenza A viruses (CIVs) have become enzootic in China and Korea and have sporadically transmitted to North America, causing multiple epidemics. We isolated six CIVs in Korea from CIV-infected patients during 2014-2017 and conducted whole genome sequencing and phylogenetic analyses. Results revealed that CIVs have circulated and evolved in Korea since the early 2000s and then diversified into a new clade, probably contributing to multiple epidemics in China, the USA, and Canada. Our findings bridge an evolutionary gap for understanding the global transmission of CIVs, emphasizing the significance of continuous monitoring of CIVs.