• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.175-183
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• 2004

The dinoflagellate Alexandrium tamiyavanichii Balech, a producer of toxins causing paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP), has recently been considered as one of main organisms responsible for toxication of shellfish in Japan. In this study, A. tamiyavanichii was subjected to a molecular phylogenetic analysis inferred from 28S rDNA D1-D2 sequences and a species-specific LSU rRNA-targeted oligonucleotide DNA probe was designed to identify A. tamiyavanichii using the whole cell-FISH (fluorescence in situ hybridization). The sequences of the 28S rDNA D1-D2 region of A. tamiyavanichii showed no difference from A. cohorticular AF1746l4 (present name A. tamiyavanichii) and formed a distinct clade from the 'tamarensis species complex'. The probe, TAMID2, reacted specifically with A. tamiyavanichii cultured cells, without any cross-reaction with other species belonging to the same genus, including A. tamarense, A. catenella, A. affine, A. fraterculus, A. insuetum and A. pseudogonyaulax. In a test of cross-reactivity with a field sample, TAMID2 reacted consistently with only A. tamiyavanichii, indicating that the present protocol involving the TAMID2 probe might be useful for detecting toxic A. tamiyavanichii in a simple and rapid manner.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.55-61
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• 1993

Soil samples and the intestinal contents of arthropods, mollusca, pisces, aves, and mammals were examined for the presence of Clostridium botulinum. Demonstration of Clostridium botulimun was accomplished by identifying its toxin in liquid cultures inoculated with soil or material from the alimentary tract of tested animals with toxin neutralization tests in addition to morphological, cultural and biochemical tests. Incidences of Clostridium botulinum in tested samples were 5.0% in soil, 6.7% in mammal and 8.7% in fish, respectively. All of the positive cultures were identified as Clostridium botulinum type E and any other type was not demonstrated throughout the survey. Canned foods and solid ham/sausage mixture formulated as can with distilled water were inoculated with Clostridium botulinum type E and checked for toxin production by using the mouse bioassay. Clostridium botulinum type E toxin was produced as a large quantity in canned foods of fish, shell, meat and ham and, however, no significant toxin was detected in sausages and fruit samples.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.669-675
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• 2002

Introduction of sliced raw fish meat(SRFM) to fast food business has been considered seriously. However bacteria causing food poisoning should be controlled. Organic acids such as vinegar and lactic acid used in the sauce for SRFM were evaluated for their antibacterial activities. At low concentration levels of vinegar and lactic acid exerted strong antibacterial activities toward Vibriu sp.. In contrast, in case of Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli O157:H7 low anitbacterial activities were observed even at relatively high concentrations. Minimum inhibitory concentrations(MIC) of vinegar for V. vulnificus, V. cholerae non-O1, V. parahaemolyticus, V. mimicus, S. typhimurium and E. coli O157:H7 were 16, 18, 16, 12, 26, and $20{\mu}\ell /m\ell, respertively. MIC of lactic acid for V. vilnificus, V. cholerae non-O1, V. parahaemolyticus, V. mimicus, S. typhimurium and E. coli O157:H7 were 20, 25, 25, 25, 40, and $35{\mu}\ell /m\ell, respectively. In case of vinegar bactericidal concentration upon 10 second contact for V. vulnificus, V. cholerae non-O1, V. parahaenolyticus, V. mimicus and E. coli O157:H7 were 8, 14, 10, 4, and 48%, respectively; however, even at 50% colony of S. typhimurium was observed. In case of lactic acid any colony was observed for V. vulnificus, V. cholerae non-O1, V. parahaemolyticus, V. mimicus, S. typhimurium and E. coli O157:H7 at the concentration of 2, 3, 4, 3, 14, and 17%, respectively. Vinegar and lactic acid of low concentration inhibited the growth of Vibrio sp., food poisoning pathogen in SRFM; in contrast, at high concentration these organic acids inhibited Salmonella sp. and Escherichia sp., food poisoning pathogen in other than SRFM.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.74-83
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• 2014

Mercury exists naturally and as a man-made contaminant. The release of processed mercury can lead to a progressive increase in the amount of atmospheric mercury, which enters the atmospheric-soil-water distribution cycles where it can remain in circulation for years. Mercury poisoning is the result of exposure to mercury or mercury compounds resulting in various toxic effects depend on its chemical form and route of exposure. The major route of human exposure to methylmercury (MeHg) is largely through eating contaminated fish, seafood, and wildlife which have been exposed to mercury through ingestion of contaminated lower organisms. MeHg toxicity is associated with nervous system damage in adults and impaired neurological development in infants and children. Ingested mercury may undergo bioaccumulation leading to progressive increases in body burdens. This review addresses the systemic pathophysiology of individual organ systems associated with mercury poisoning. Mercury has profound cellular, cardiovascular, hematological, pulmonary, renal, immunological, neurological, endocrine, reproductive, and embryonic toxicological effects.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.65-71
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• 2012

Gambierdiscus toxicus, Adachi et. Fukuyo, is a benthic ciguatoxin-producing armored dinoflagellate, often attached to macroalgae. This organism is the primary causative agent of ciguatera fish poisoning which occurs in tropical and subtropical regions. However, regardless of the fact that the population of Gambierdiscus spp. has expanded to such temperate areas from sub-trophic and trophic areas, monitoring of G. toxicus has been lacking in the Korean coastal waters of temperate areas. This study was performed at the uninhabited Baekdo Islands off the southern coast of Korea and at Seopsom Island in the vicinity of Seogwipo, Jeju Province during April and May, 2011. Cell densities of Gambierdiscus spp. on macroalgae at Baekdo and Jeju Island ranged from zero to 56.4 cells $g^{-1}$. Maximum density was recorded on the brown alga Cladophora japonica at St. 3 of Jeju Island. In particular, the cell densities of Gambierdiscus spp. were influenced by the substrate characteristics of macroalgae. In the future, the continuous monitoring of toxic benthic dinoflagellate is necessary to predict and prevent ciguatera poisoning in Korean coastal waters.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.91-97
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• 2008

Kimchi is a representative traditional food in Korea and a type of vegetable product that is the unique complex lactic acid fermentation in the world. It can be considered as a unique fermented food generated by various flavors, which are not included in raw materials, that can be generated by mixing and fermenting various spices and seasonings, such as red pepper powder, garlic, ginger, and salted fish, added to Chinese cabbages. Functionalities in Kimchi have been approved through several studies and the probiotic function that is mainly based on lactic acid bacteria including their physical functions in its contents has also verified. Studies on the verification of the safety of Kimchi including its physiological functions have been conducted. In particular, the function of lactic acid bacteria, which is a caused of the fermentation of Kimchi. Although the lactic acid bacteria contributed to the fermentation of Kimchi is generated from raw and sub-materials, the lactic acid bacteria attached on Chinese cabbages has a major role in the process in which the fermentation temperature and dominant bacteria are also related to the process. The salt used in a salt pickling process inhibits the growth of the putrefactive and food poisoning bacteria included in the fermentation process of Kimchi and of other bacteria except for such lactic acid bacteria due to the lactic acid and several antimicrobial substances generated in the fermentation process, such as bacteriocin and hydrogen peroxide. In addition, the carbon dioxide gas caused by heterolactic acid bacteria contributes to the inhibition of aerobic bacteria. Furthermore, special ingredients included in sub-materials, such as garlic, ginger, and red pepper powder, contribute to the inhibition of putrefactive and food poisoning bacteria. The induction of the change in the intestinal bacteria as taking Kimchi have already verified. In conclusion, Kimchi has been approved as a safety food due to the fact that the inhibition of food poisoning bacteria occurs in the fermentation process of Kimchi and the extinction of such bacteria.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.136-140
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• 1986

The change of cell counts of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in fish muscle by the storage time and temperature was examined to get basic informations for precautionary steps against food poisoning of slices of raw fish (sashimi). There fore, we inoculated fish homogenate of oceanic bonito (Katsuwonus pelamis), yellow tail (Seriola quinqueradiata) with Kanagawa positive Vibrio parahaemolyticus and stored it at $30^{\circ}C,\;18^{\circ}C,\;4^{\circ}C\;and\;-20^{\circ}C$ for 24 hours. The number of the Vibrio parahaemolyticus upon fish homogenate stored at $30^{\circ}C\;and\;18^{\circ}C$ decreased for the first two hours and increased thereafter. When the fish homogenates inoculated with Vibrio parahaemolyticus at about $10^3$ per gram were stored at $18^{\circ}C\;and\;30^{\circ}C$ for 10 hours, the cell numbers increased about 10 times and 1,000 times initial cell numbers, respectively. The survival rate of Vibrio parahaemolyticus was about $20\%$, when the inoculated fish homogenates were stored at $-20^{\circ}C$ for 24 hours. Vibrio parahaemolyticus inoculated in fish homogenates was decreased by about $10\%$ of initial cell numbers by the storage at $4^{\circ}C$ for 4 hours and it was decreased by about $50\%$ after 24 hours storage of the samples at the same temperature. The decreasing rate of inoculated Vibrio parahaemolyticus in fresh fish muscle homogenate was higher than that in frozen fish muscle homogenate during the storage time at a refrigerator.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.19-26
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• 2019

The objective of this study was to analyze bacteriological and chemical hazards in minimally processed commercial fish products, including Hwangtae (freeze-dried pollock), dried anchovy, fermented anchovy sauce, and salted and dried yellow croaker. Escherichia coli counts from all samples were below the regulation limits of the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety Standards on Quality of Seafood and Seafood Products (Food Code). However, the food poisoning bacterium Staphylococcus aureus was detected at levels above $1.0{\times}10^2$ colony forming units (CFU)/g in Hwangtae, dried anchovy, and salted and dried yellow croaker, which are commonly ingested without heating and pose bacteriological hazards. The detection of S. aureus, an organism indicative of poor personal hygiene, which can be introduced by employees and multiply during distribution, indicates the necessity of improving the sanitary control of minimally processed commercial fish products. Histamine was not detected from dried anchovy or salted and dried yellow croaker, but was detected at some of the highest levels in fermented anchovy sauces. This result suggests that efforts to reduce the amount of histamine in fermented anchovy sauces are required.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.672-677
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• 2001

There was an outbreak of food poisoning due to eating well-cooked imported tropical fish, Stromateus stellatus on May, 2000, in Korea. Gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea ($92\%$), nausea ($77\%$), abdominal pain ($54\%$), vomiting ($46\%$) and headache ($23\%$) were experienced within $0.5\~2$ hours (median 1 hour) after eating, Any specific natural toxins were not confirmed concerned to those poisoning, but large amount of abnormal lipid ($23\%$) was found from the muscle such as 1-O-diacyl glyceryl ethers (DAGE), which was consisted of $61.8\%$ of total lipid. The 16:0 ($66.3\%$) and 18:1 ($15.8\%$) alkyl chains were dominant in all alkyl chains of DAGE which were presumed as the causative agent for the diarrheal food poisoning. O1eic acid (18:1) was found as a major fatty acid at the sn-2 or 3 in DAGEs. O-16:0-18:1-18:1 ($16.2\%$),O-16:0-18:1-22:1 ($14.7\%$) and O-18:0-18:1-22:1 ($11.0\%$) were contained as the major molecular species of DAGEs by RI-HPLC.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.31-36
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• 1977

The monthly distribution of marine bacteria in the coastal waters of Chung-Mu was investigated from April, 1976 to March, 1977. The aim of this study was to obtain basic data for the prevention of food poisoning and for the efficient aquaculture of the area. Samples of sea water, mud, fish and shell fish were taken every month. The results are as follows: 1. One thousand four hundred and twenty-six strains were isolated from 732 samples of sea water, mud, fish and shell fish. They were 450 strains of Pseudomonas fluorescens, 422 strains of Achromobacter liquefacience, 72 strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus, 234 strain of Vibrio alginolyticus, and 248 strains of Proteus vulgaris. 2. V. parahaemolyticus occupied $9.84\%$ of the total samples and $52\%$ of them were found in the sea water and mud. 3. The muds sampled districtly beneath the aquaculture raft contained much gas. They seemed to originate from the deposition of excretion of shell fish. The fatness of the shell fish was low where the gas was abundant. 4. It was .found that the shell fish with low fatness contained much Vibrio sp. 5. Regional distribution shows that marine bacteria were abundant in the order of station 10, 9, 8, 11, 1. The area around station 9 was polluted by reclamation of the area, and station 8 showed the influence of the excrement treat tank located nearly.