• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.515-519
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• 2009

Antibodies to Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Ehrlichia chaffeensis were detected by the immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) test in sera collected from cats, thoroughbred horses and Holstein cattle in Gwangju, Jeonju and Jeju Island of Korea. Two hundred fifty four sera (33 feral and pet cats, 92 grazing horses and 129 grazing cattle) were obtained from Republic of Korea. Antibodies to A. phagocytophilum (titer $\geq$ 80) were detected in 6 of the 33 feral and pet cats (18.2%), and 1 seropositive cat (3.0%) also had antibodies to E. chaffeensis. Only 1 of 129 (0.8%) cattle and 2 of 92 (2.2%) horses had antibodies to A. phagocytophilum. Antibodies to E. chaffeensis were not detected in either of these animals. This is the first report of serological evidence of A. phagocytophilum and E. chaffeensis from cats, cattle and horses in Korea. These rickettsial agents could have an important impact on human health or impact animal health with economic losses among industrial grazing animals in Korea.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.661-666
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• 2009

Purpose : To determine the prevalence and clinical features of codetected respiratory etiological agents for acute respiratory infection in hospitalized children. Methods : Nasopharyngeal aspirates were obtained from hospitalized children with acute respiratory infection at Dankook University Hospital from September 2003 through June 2005. Immunofluorescent staining and culture were used for the detection of respiratory viruses (influenza virus [IFV] types A, B; parainfluenza virus [PIV] types 1, 2, 3; respiratory syncytial virus [RSV]; adenovirus [AdV]). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays were used for Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) and Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) detection, and PCR and culture were performed for enterovirus detection. Acid-fast staining and culture were performed for tuberculosis detection. The demographic and clinical characteristics were reviewed retrospectively from the patients medical records. Results : Evidence of two or more microbes was found in 28 children: RSV was detected in 14, PIV 3 in 10, AdV in 10, MP in 8, PIV 2 in 8, CT in 4, and PIV 1 in 3. Codetected agents were found as follows: RSV＋PIV 2, 6 patients; AdV＋MP, 4 patients; AdV＋PIV, 3 patients; RSV＋MP, 3 patients; PIV 1＋PIV 3, 3 patients. Distinct peaks of codetected agents were found in epidemics of MP and each respiratory virus. Conclusion : The codetected infectious agents were RSV, PIV, AdV, and MP, with distinct peaks found in epidemics of MP and each respiratory virus. Although advances in diagnostic methods have increased the prevalence of codetection, its clinical significance should be interpreted cautiously.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.249-258
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• 1994

Recently, the importance of toxoplasmosis is raised as a complication in immunosuppressed or AIDS patients. Our study focused on the identification of a variety of Toxoplasma antigens by immunoblotting. Rabbits and BALB/c mice were immunized with Toxoplosmo Iysate (RH strain) , frozen tachyzoites (RH strain) or cysts (Beverly and Fukaya strain) . Blood were collected from ear vein, heart or orbital plexus for detecting the serum antibody levels. For excretory-secretory (E.S) antigens, T gondii (RH) tachyzoite were cultured in CHL (Chinese hamster lung) cells with MEM containing of 5% FCS. After 72hrs, culture supernatant was collected. BALB/c mice were inoculated with RH tachyzoite intraperitoneally and peritoneal fluids were extracted three days later. E.S antigens were detected in culture supernatant and infected mouse peritoneal fluid by EITB. Serum IgG levels in rabbit were 1 :512 of 10 days after primary immunization, 1 : 2,048 of 10 days after secondary immunization, 1: 1,024 of 20 days after secondary immunization by IFAT, respectively. Serum IgG levels of immunized mice were 1:128 after 7 weeks. Tachyzoite antigens of the RH strain were detected 25 protein bands ranging 10 kDa-220 kDa of molecular weights with Coomassie blue stain. Toxoplcsma major antigens corresponding to n of 24 kDa, 27 kDa,30 kDa, 35 kDa, 38 kDa were recognized by IgG and IgM antibodies. Excretory-secretory antigens present in culture supernatant with M. W. of 20, 30 kDa and in infected mouse peritoneal fluid with M.W. of 33 (P30), 45 kDa. When RH tachyzoite antigen was probed with different mice sera immunized with 2 strains of T gondii, the IgG antibody bud of Fukaya and Beverly strain (8 week-serum) is identical to those of RH strain. It is considered that the 30 kDa polypeptide detected in excretory- secretory materials and Iysate was important major antigen of T gondii (RH).

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.339-354
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• 1991

Localization and characterization of the antigenic components of sparganum which induced IgG and IsM antibodies in the host were studied by immunohistochemical techniques and SDS-PAGT and Western blotting. The antigen recognized by IgG antibody of rats or mice which were immunised by infection or injection of crude extracts of metacestodes of Spirometra erinacei, was located in the parenchyme of sparganum, especially at the cortex and around the calcareous corpuscles. The immunoreaction was demonstrated not only in the encysted fibrous wall of host but around the arterioles or venules in the connective tissue of host. The antigen recognized by IgM antibody of rats or mice was also observed in the parenchyme of sparganum and in the connective tissue of host. By 5∼20% gradient SDS-PAGE and EIBT, we detected antigenic components by IgG and 1gG antibodies of the rat or mouse immunized by infection or injection of crude extract of spargana. Twenty-three antigenic bands from crude extracts of spargana were recognized by IgG antibody and 15 components by IgM antibody of immunized rats. Out of the bands recognized by IgG and IgM antibodies, 15 were cross-reacted each other. Twenty components of eBlcretory-secretory proteins from spargana were recognized by IgG, and 5 components by IgM antibody of immunized rats. By IgG and IgM antibodies of immunized mice, 16 components of crude extracts were recognized by IgG antibody and 9 components by IgM antibody. Twenty components of excretory-secretory preparation were recognized by IgG antibody and 5 components by IgM antibody. Thirteen components of crude extracts were cross-reacted by IgG antibody of rats and mice.