• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.60 no.1
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• pp.33-37
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• 2020

The purpose of the present study was to investigate changes in hematological and serum biochemical parameters in ponies exercising 3 times a day. The study included 10 healthy 4- to 5-year-old Jeju crossbred ponies used in riding lessons at an equestrian riding school. Hematology and serum chemistry samples were obtained before the initial lesson and after the last lesson of the day. The post-exercise results showed that packed cell volume, white blood cell, red blood cell, hemoglobin, and total protein levels increased significantly (p < 0.05). Serum Na⁺ also increased significantly (p < 0.01), but serum Ca⁺⁺ decreased significantly (p < 0.01). Creatinine kinase, aspartate amino transferase, gamma glutamyl transferase, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and bilirubin levels increased significantly (p < 0.05), but the glucose level decreased significantly (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the serum cortisol hormone level increased significantly (p < 0.01). The results suggest that participating in riding lessons three times a day may result in various physiological changes, indicating the presence of exercise-related stress in riding ponies.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.292-295
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• 2019

A 2-year-old, 440 kg, thoroughbred gelding showed a lameness grade of 3 out of 5, as well as swelling and heating on the proximal interphalangeal joint (PIPJ). Periarticular new bones due to the arthritis were observed on performing radiography and ultrasonography. PIPJ arthrodesis was performed under general anesthesia. With the PIPJ open, the articular cartilage was removed by using curette, chisel, and mallet. Arthrodesis was performed with a PIP plate and two additional transarticular cortex screws inserted in lag fashion. A cast was placed over the limb distal from the proximal metatarsal bone. At 6 months after surgery, complete union of the PIPJ was confirmed by radiography, and the incision site was well closed. Based on the outcome, a PIP plate with two additional transarticular cortex screws inserted in lag fashion is recommended as a method for treating osteoarthritis of the PIPJ in horses.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.244-248
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• 2021

A 10-year-old Thoroughbred mare was referred to the Jeju National University Equine Hospital with roaring, dyspnea, and weight loss. On endoscopic examination, the horse was diagnosed with right arytenoid chondritis. Surgical treatment was selected due to the failure of a previous medical treatment. Permanent tracheostomy was performed in a standing position. The horse was restrained and tied in a proper position in the stock. The cranial parts of the 2nd to 5th tracheal cartilages were resected, as were the associated skin, mucosa, muscle, and cartilages. After the stoma was formed, external mucosa and skin were sutured using a simple interrupted method. The horse was hospitalized for 22 days receiving postoperative care including antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, dressing as required, and was pregnant six months after the surgery. A permanent tracheostomy is thought to be effective in horses with diseases causing upper respiratory tract obstruction.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.29.1-29.6
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• 2021

West Nile virus (WNV), a neurotropic arbovirus, has been detected in mosquitos, birds, wildlife, horses, and humans in Malaysia, but limited information is available on WNV infection in Malaysian pigs. We tested 80 archived swine serum samples for the presence of WNV antibody and West Nile (WN) viral RNA using ID Screen West Nile Competition Multi-species enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits and WNV-specific primers in reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assays, respectively. A WNV seroprevalence of 62.5% (50/80) at 95% confidence interval (51.6%-72.3%) was recorded, with a significantly higher seroprevalence among young pigs (weaner and grower) and pigs from south Malaysia. One sample was positive for Japanese encephalitis virus antibodies; WN viral RNA was not detected in any of the serum samples.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.94-97
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• 2021

An 18-year-old warmblood gelding was presented to Jeju National University Equine Hospital with chronic bilateral forelimb lameness. Navicular syndrome was suspected based on clinical findings, the hoof test, palmar digital nerve block, and radiographic results. Computed tomography (CT) was performed under general anesthesia. Bone cysts, enlarged vascular channels, sclerosis, and enthesophytes were identified in the navicular bone on CT images. Mineralization in the deep digital flexor tendon was also observed. CT can be a useful diagnostic tool for identifying lesions of the navicular bone and adjacent structures in horses. The horse was treated with an intra-bursal injection of triamcinolone and gentamicin. Lameness started to improve two days later and the horse was sound after two months of the injection. CT enabled us not only to diagnosis of navicular syndrome but also to determine the degree and extent of the lesions.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.59 no.3
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• pp.151-155
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• 2019

Equine influenza (EI) is the main cause of respiratory illness in equines across the globe and is caused by equine influenza A virus (EIV-A), which has impacted the equine industry internationally because of the marginal mortality and high morbidity. In the present study, the immune responses after equine influenza vaccination were evaluated in 4,144 horses in Korea using the hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay. The equine influenza virus (EIV), A/equine/South Africa/4/03 (H3N8), was used as the antigen in the HI assay. The mean seropositive rates were 89.2% (97.4% in 2016, 77.6% in 2017, and 92.4% in 2018). This paper highlights the advances in understanding the effects of vaccines and control strategies for mitigating the emerging menace by EIV.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.8
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• pp.1184-1192
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• 2019

The influenza A virus is a highly infectious respiratory pathogen that sickens many people with respiratory disease annually. To prevent outbreaks of this viral infection, an understanding of the characteristics of virus-host interaction and development of an anti-viral agent is urgently needed. The influenza A virus can infect mammalian species including humans, pigs, horses and seals. Furthermore, this virus can switch hosts and form a novel lineage. This so-called zoonotic infection provides an opportunity for virus adaptation to the new host and leads to pandemics. Most influenza A viruses express proteins that antagonize the antiviral defense of the host cell. The non-structural protein 1 (NS1) of the influenza A virus is the most important viral regulatory factor controlling cellular processes to modulate host cell gene expression and double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-mediated antiviral response. This review focuses on the influenza A virus NS1 protein and outlines current issues including the life cycle of the influenza A virus, structural characterization of the influenza A virus NS1, interaction between NS1 and host immune response factor, and design of inhibitors resistant to the influenza A virus.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.65-69
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• 2022

A 5 day-old Warmblood foal was presented with a quarter crack due to the dam accidentally stepping on his left hind foot. Physical examination revealed the vertical crack included the coronary band of the medial side of the left hind hoof (quarter crack) with the lower pastern avulsion wound. Different from adult horses, the foot of the 5 day-old foal lacked adequate hoof wall thickness for stainless steel wire insertion and hoof size for a reinforcing fabric to be applied. Therefore, the authors decided to stabilize the edges of the cracked wall only by the polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) composites without wiring and a reinforcing fabric application; and gluing a plastic shoe that was reshaped to protect the lower pastern and to spread pressure to other parts of the hoof when bearing weight. Disinfection and a supportive bandage were applied daily for 2 weeks. A month after the hoof crack accident, lameness had diminished. The quarter crack in this foal was treated successfully by the application of the composites three times with a reshaped gluing shoe, with approximately a month interval over the 4 months. After 4 months, it presented a successful functional recovery and needed no further treatment. When followed up 8 months after the accident, it revealed successful outcomes without hoof shape distortion and unbalanced hoof/limb growth.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.123-126
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• 2024

A seven-month pregnant 15-year-old Thoroughbred mare presented with acute abdominal pain to Jeju National University Equine Hospital. At presentation, a nasogastric intubation revealed 10 L of gastric reflux; rectal palpation and ultrasound revealed dilated loops and thickening of the walls of the small intestine. An exploratory laparotomy revealed strangulation of the small intestine due to a large abdominal mass. The mass was double-ligated and resected blindly due to the short pedicle. An enterectomy was not performed as intestinal motility was detected following the mass removal. Histopathological examination confirmed that the mass was a lipoma, measuring 24 cm × 16 cm × 16 cm in size. On day 8 post-surgery, the mare was discharged without complications. This case report describes the diagnosis and treatment of strangulation of the small intestine by a pedunculated lipoma, thus providing useful information on lipoma in horses.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.62 no.1
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• pp.151-156
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• 2024

Bovine borreliosis, caused by Borrelia theileri which is transmitted via hard tick bites, is associated with mild clinical symptoms, such as fever, lethargy, hemoglobinuria, anorexia, and anemia. Borrelia theileri infects various animals, such as cattle, deer, horses, goats, sheep, and wild ruminants, in Africa, Australia, and South America. Notably, no case of B. theileri infection has been reported in Korean cattle to date. In this study, 101 blood samples were collected from a Korean indigenous cattle breed, among which 1.98% tested positive for B. theileri via nested PCR. The obtained sequences exhibited high homology with B. theileri strains identified in other regions. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA confirmed the B. theileri group affiliation; however, flagellin B sequences exhibited divergence, potentially due to regional evolutionary differences. This study provides the first molecular confirmation of B. theileri infection in Korean livestock. Further isolation and nucleotide sequence analyses are necessary to better understand the presence of B. theileri strains in cows in Korea.