• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.130-136
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• 2010

Norovirus (NV) is becoming a major cause of foodborne illness in many countries. At present, very little is known about the survival of NV in the environment or the disinfection procedures needed to remove NV from contaminated surfaces. Feline calicivirus (FCV, $1{\times}10^{6.75}\;TCID_{50}/mL$) was used as a surrogate model for NV to investigate the effectiveness of sanitizing treatments for the viruses attached to food and food contact surfaces. Ammonium chloride (2%), organic acids (3000 ppm), and ethanol (70%) were most effective, providing $4\;log_{10}$ (99.99%) reductions in FCV titers on food or food contact surfaces. The disinfection efficacies of most agents on ceramic and glass surfaces were greater than stainless steel. The results from this study can be applied in the food industry to reduce NV-associated foodborne illnesses.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.925-930
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• 2008

Norovirus has become the most common cause of human gastroenteritis in developed countries. Detection procedures of foodborne viruses from foods require several steps. The concentration step using polyethylene glycol (PEG) is time-consuming and the detection efficiency of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is affected by inhibitors from food components. In this study, a rapid detection method based on buoyant density centrifugation was developed to replace the time-consuming chloroform-polyethylene glycol-Tris Tween method. Feline calicivirus that belongs to the family Caliciviridae was used as a surrogate model for norovirus. After artificial inoculation of feline calcivirus (FCV) to oyster and lettuce, 830 ${\mu}L$ of homogenized sample suspension was layered on the top of 670 ${\mu}L$ 20% percoll and centrifuged. Then RNA extraction step was proceeded with the supernatant. By varying several physical conditions, the detection limits were lowered to $2.4{\times}10^2$ PFU per 1 g in oyster and $2.4{\times}10^0$ PFU per 1 g in lettuce. The protocol obtained in this study could be used to develop new detection method for norovirus in foods.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.71-76
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• 2007

Foodborne illness caused by Noroviruses (NVs) is increasing rapidly in Korea. This study developed an effective detection protocol for NVs found in contaminated oysters and lettuce through an investigation using the major steps of virus particle separation, concentration and RT-PCR. As a surrogate model for NVs, the cultivable feline calicivirus (FCV) that belongs to the same Caliciviridae family was used. Instead of using a time-consuming ultracentrifugation method, efficient methods based on solvent extraction and PEG precipitation procedure were applied. Direct homogenization of a 25g sample of whole oyster and lettuce in 175mL PBS provided the simplicity that would be needed in the actual field of food product examination. The overnight PEG precipitation step at $4^{\circ}C$ was reduced to 3 h by placing the reaction tube in ice and by adjusting the PEG concentrations. The application of the use of chloroform and 0.2 ${\mu}m$ syringe filtration together showed a better detection efficiency than the use of chloroform alone in removing PCR inhibitors for both oyster and lettuce samples. Also, dilution of the extracted RNA solution before PCR provided increased sensitivity. The improved detection protocol developed in this study could be efficiently applied to detect FCV and most likely NVs from oysters and lettuce.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.31-39
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• 2014

Norovirus causes acute gastroenteritis in all age groups and its food poisoning outbreaks are rapidly increasing in Korea. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is most widely used for the rapid detection of foodborne viruses due to high sensitivity. However, the false positive results of RT-PCR obtained against already inactivated viruses could be a serious drawbacks in food safety area. In this study, we investigated a method to yield true positive RT-PCR results only with alive viruses. To decompose the RNA genes from dead viruses, the enzymatic treatments composed of proteinse K and Ribonuclease A were applied to the sanitized and inactivated virus particles. Another aim of this study was to quantify the efficiencies of several major sanitizing treatments using real-time RT-PCR. Feline calicivirus (FCV) that belongs to the same Caliciviridae family with norovirus was used as a surrogate model for norovirus. The initial level of virus in control suspension was approximately $10^4$ PFU/mL. Most of inactivated viruses treated with the enzymatic treatment for 30 min at $37^{\circ}C$ were not detected in RT-PCR, Quantification results to verify the inactivation efficiencies of sanitizing treatments using real-time RT-PCR showed no false positive in most cases. We could successfully develope a numerical quantification process for the inactivated viruses after major sanitizing treatments using real-time RT-PCR. The results obtained in this study could provide a novel basis of rapid virus quantification in food safety area.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.223-229
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• 2006

[ $PGE_1$ ]-ethyl ester intraurethral solutions were prepared in ethanol/propylene glycol mixture with penetration enhancer and viscosity-enhancing agent. The stability of $PGE_1$-ethyl ester in intraurethral solution was investigated at various temperature. Simultaneous determination of $PGE_1$-ethyl ester and $PGE_1$ was performed using a validated HPLC technique. In pentobarbital anesthetized cats, increase in intracavernous pressure(ICP), increase in penile length and duration of erectile response were determined after intraurethral application of $PGE_1$-ethyl ester solutions. $PGE_1$-ethyl ester solutions, when instilled into the eyes of rabbits, produces no noticeable irritation, or slight transient conjunctival irritation. From these results, ocular irritation of this solutions was judged as practically non-irritating. The stability study indicates that the therapeutically effective content in solution is well maintained for 46 weeks or longer when they are stored at $4^{\circ}C$. After intraurethral application of $PGE_1$-ethyl ester, ICP was increased and penile erection was induced. $PGE_1$-ethyl ester intraurethral solutions for erectile dysfunction could be developed and evaluated by employing feline erection model.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.415-420
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• 2010

In Korea, oysters are used as an ingredient of Kimchi (Korean pickled cabbage) in early winter. Although viral contamination of oysters, including contamination by norovirus, can provoke gastroenteric illness, little is known of the epidemiological relationship to outbreaks. We postulated that Kimchi ripening can reduce the infectivity of norovirus, in order to test this hypothesis, we carried out a model experiment. Since norovirus is currently regarded as non-culturable, feline calicivirus (FCV) was used as a surrogate to examine the activation of norovirus with Kimchi ripening. In commercial well-prepared Kimchi, the infectivity ($TCID_{50}$) of FCV decreased by 2 log every 12 hours and reached the limit of detection after 48 hours during over-aging at $25^{\circ}C$. During storage at $4^{\circ}C$, the infectivity ($TCID_{50}$) of FCV decreased slowly and reached 5.00 $TCID_{50}$ after 48 hours. The low pH appears to affect the infectivity of FCV directly via organic acids produced by ripening during over-aging and storage. In neutralized lab-prepared Kimchi (pH 7.0), the infectivity ($TCID_{50}$) of FCV also decreased and reached the limit of detection after 72 hours at $4^{\circ}C$. This indicates that there are substances beside organic acids in Kimchi that originate from the raw materials and are produced during ripening. Among the raw materials, salt-fermented anchovies and garlic showed high direct antiviral activity. The main factor decreasing the infectivity of FCV in Kimchi was the high acidity caused by organic acids, regardless of the type, produced by ripening. Furthermore, unknown secondary products of microorganisms associated with Kimchi ripening and antiviral materials originating from raw material might contribute to the decreased infectivity of FCV, the surrogate of norovirus.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.18.1-18.17
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• 2020

Cat vocalizes to communicate with another and express their internal states. The vocal repertoire of the cat is wide and up to 21 different vocalizations have been described in the literatures. But it is more than probable that the repertoire contains more types of vocalizations. An ethogram was created in this paper describing the actual known vocalisations of the domestic cat based on an auditory classification. However, the audiogram allows also a visual classification which can increase the accuracy of vocalization differentiation. The classification can be risky as it is sometimes unclear if different types of vocalizations are produced in different environments or if a unique type of vocalization is used with variation in the acoustic parameters. As an example, isolation calls produced by kittens differ depending on the context. The environment has an important impact on the vocal behaviour and thus feral cats and pet cats vocalize differently. Pet cats are thus able to create an efficient communication with humans thanks to the flexibility of vocalisation behaviours. This review allowed us to create a simple model of the cat vocal repertory.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.52.1-52.13
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• 2023

Background: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been investigated as therapeutic agents for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Stimulation of MSCs with pro-inflammatory cytokines is an approach to enhance their immunomodulatory effects. However, further investigation is required to support their application in immune-mediated disorders and companion animals. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the therapeutic effect of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-stimulated feline adipose tissue-derived MSCs (fAT-MSCs) in a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mouse model. Methods: Colitis mice was made by drinking water with 3% DSS and fAT-MSCs were injected intraperitoneally. Colons were collected on day 10. The severity of the disease was evaluated and compared. Raw 264.7 cells were cultured with the conditioned medium to determine the mechanism, using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: TNF-α-stimulated fAT-MSCs more improved severity of DSS-induced colitis in disease activity, colon length, histologic score, and inflammatory cytokine. In sectionized colon tissues, the group comprising TNF-α-stimulated fAT-MSCs had higher proportion of CD11b⁺CD206⁺ macrophages than in the other groups. In vitro, TNF-α-stimulation increased cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) secretion from fAT-MSCs. The conditioned medium from TNF-α-stimulated fAT-MSCs enhanced the expression of interleukin-10 and arginase-1 in LPS-activated Raw 264.7 cells. Conclusions: These results represent that TNF-α-stimulated fat-mscs ameliorate the inflamed colon more effectively. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the effectiveness was interlinked with the COX-2/PGE₂ pathway.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.60 no.4
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• pp.241-246
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• 2022

Felids are the unique definitive host of Toxoplasma gondii. The intestine of felid is the only site for initiating Toxoplasma gondii sexual reproduction. T. gondii excretes millions of infectious oocysts from the intestine, which are the primary source of infection. There are many difficulties in developing vaccines and drugs to control oocyst excretion due to the lack of an appropriate experimental model. Here, we established an in vitro feline intestinal epithelial cell (IEC) infection system and an efficient animal model of T. gondii Chinese 1 genotype, Wh6 strain (TgCtwh6). The Kunming mice brain tissues containing TgCtwh6 cysts were harvested 42-day post-infection. The bradyzoites were co-cultured with cat IECs in vitro at a ratio of 1:10. Five 3-month-old domestic cats were orally inoculated with 600 cysts each. The oocysts were detected by daily observation of cat feces by microscopy and polymerase chain reaction. We found that the parasite adhered and invaded cat IECs in vitro, transformed into tachyzoites, and then divided to form rose-like structures. These parasites eventually destroyed host cells, escaped, and finished the asexual reproduction process. Schizonts associated with sexual reproduction have not been observed during development in vitro cultured cells. However, schizonts were detected in all infected cat intestinal epithelial cells, and oocysts were presented in all cat feces. Our study provides a feasible cell model and an efficient infection system for the following studies of T. gondii sexual reproduction, and also lays a foundation to develop drugs and vaccines for blocking excretion and transmission of oocysts.