• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.59 no.1
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• pp.33-36
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• 2019

This study examined complex infections with various enteropathogens and the genetic diversity of bovine norovirus (BNoV) in 932 fecal samples from diarrheic calves in South Korea. Overall, seventeen (1.8%) of the samples tested positive for BNoV following RT-PCR examination. All BNoV-positive samples were co-infected with other intestinal pathogens, including bovine Rotavirus, Giardia, Cryptosporidium, and Escherichia coli. The genetic diversity of the BNoVs shared high nucleotide identity (98.1-99.5%) and amino acid homology (93.5-98.1%) with genotype 2 BNoV (GIII.2) strains. In conclusion, BNoV infections with GIII genotypes were detected in complex infections of diarrheic calves in South Korea.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.243-248
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was 2-fold: 1) to investigate the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasite infection in cats reared in Daegu, Republic of Korea and 2) to assess the efficacy and safety of a topical emodepside/praziquantel formulation for cats with parasitic infections. The gastrointestinal parasite infections were examined microscopically using the flotation method. Of 407 cats, 162 (39.8%) were infected by at least one gastrointestinal parasite, including Toxocara cati (63.0%), Toxascaris leonina (31.5%), Taenia taeniaeformis (3.7%), and Cystoisospora felis (1.9%). None of the infected animals had multiple infections. When the data were analyzed according to sex, age, and type of cat, stray cats showed statistically higher prevalence than companion cats (P<0.05). On the 5th day after treatment, no parasitic eggs were detected using microscopic examination. In addition, no adverse effects, such as abnormal behaviors and clinical symptoms, were observed in the cats treated with the drug. These results quantify the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in cats in Daegu, Republic of Korea, and show that topical emodepside/praziquantel is a safe and effective choice for treating the parasitic infections in cats.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.62 no.3
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• pp.79-84
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• 2019

Newborn infants, including premature infants, are high-risk patients susceptible to various microorganisms. Catheter-related bloodstream infections are the most common type of nosocomial infections in this population. Regular education and training of medical staffs are most important as a preventive strategy for central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs). Bundle approaches and the use of checklists during the insertion and maintenance of central catheters are effective measures to reduce the incidence of CLABSIs. Chlorhexidine, commonly used as a skin disinfectant before catheter insertion and dressing replacement, is not approved for infants <2 months of age, but is usually used in many neonatal intensive care units due to the lack of alternatives. Chlorhexidine-impregnated dressing and bathing, recommended for adults, cannot be applied to newborns. Appropriate replacement intervals for dressing and care sets are similar to those recommended for adults. Umbilical catheters should not be used longer than 5 days for the umbilical arterial catheter and 14 days for the umbilical venous catheter. It is most important to regularly educate, train and give feedback to the medical staffs about the various preventive measures required at each stage from before insertion to removal of the catheter. Continuous efforts are needed to develop effective and safe infection control strategies for neonates and young infants.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.285-294
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• 2021

In general, mycoviruses remain latent and rarely cause visible symptoms in fungal hosts; however, some viral infections have demonstrated abnormal mycelial growth and fruiting body development in commercial macrofungi, including Lentinula edodes. Compared to other cultivated mushrooms, L. edodes is more vulnerable to viral infections as it is still widely cultivated under near-natural conditions. In this study, we investigated whether Korean wild strains of L. edodes were infected by RNA mycoviruses that have previously been reported in other parts of the world (LeSV, LePV1, LeV-HKB, LeNSRV1, and LeNSRV2). Using specific primer sets that target the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase genes of each of the RNA mycovirus, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect viral infection. Viral infection was detected in about 90% of the 112 wild strains that were collected in Korea between 1983 and 2020. Moreover, multiple infections with RNA mycoviruses were detected in strains that had normal fruiting bodies. This work contributes to our understanding of the distribution of RNA mycoviruses in Korea and the impact of multiple viral infections in a single strain of L. edodes.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.58 no.5
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• pp.559-564
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• 2020

A survey of rodents and chiggers associated with Orientia tsutsugamushi was conducted in a rural region of the Republic of Korea (Korea) between 2014 and 2018. Overall Apodemus agrarius 15.2% had the highest seropisitive for O. tsutsugamushi, followed by Myodes regulus 11.4%. Monthly risk factors using logistic regression analysis were not associated with O. tsutsugamushi infections in rodents. The overall prevalence rate of O. tsutsugamushi among chiggers was 0.3%. The chigger (Leptotrombidium scutellare) and monthly (October) risk factors were associated with O. tsutsugamushi human infections (P<0.05). Orientia tsutsugamushi infections are endemic in rodents in Korea and people, for example, soldiers who are active outdoors, must employ preventive measures, especially during October (P<0.05). When there are many reports of O. tsutsugamushi infections in Korea. The Boryong strain 85.7% (2/14) was the most common strain detected in chiggers, followed by the Shimokoshi 7.1% (1/14) and Karp 7.1% strains.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.249-254
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• 2021

The study of the impact of weather on viral respiratory infections enables the assignment of causality to disease outbreaks caused by climatic factors. A better understanding of the seasonal distribution of viruses may facilitate the development of potential treatment approaches and effective preventive strategies for respiratory viral infections. We analyzed the incidence of human mastadenovirus infection using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction in 9,010 test samples obtained from Cheonan, South Korea, and simultaneously collected the weather data from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2018. We used the data collected on the infection frequency to detect seasonal patterns of human mastadenovirus prevalence, which were directly compared with local weather data obtained over the same period. Descriptive statistical analysis, frequency analysis, t-test, and binomial logistic regression analysis were performed to examine the relationship between weather, particulate matter, and human mastadenovirus infections. Patients under 10 years of age showed the highest mastadenovirus infection rates (89.78%) at an average monthly temperature of 18.2℃. Moreover, we observed a negative correlation between human mastadenovirus infection and temperature, wind chill, and air pressure. The obtained results indicate that climatic factors affect the rate of human mastadenovirus infection. Therefore, it may be possible to predict the instance when preventive strategies would yield the most effective results.

• Journal of Information Technology Applications and Management
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.33-41
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• 2021

In this study, we estimated the number of secondary COVID-19 infections caused by students with potential transmission potential home. When the existing Monte Carlo method was applied to Korean data, the average number of household members of the second COVID-19 infected was predicted. The summary of this study is as follows. First, in general, the number of secondary infections by students returning home from school is greatly influenced by the virus infection rate of each student group they contact while returning home from school. Korea-based empirical research on this is needed. Second, the number of secondary infections by Korean students was relatively lower than that of previous studies. This can be interpreted as being due to the domestic furniture structure. Third, unlike previous studies that assumed the distribution of secondary infected individuals as normal distribution, assuming a negative binomial distribution, the number of secondary infected individuals was sensitively changed according to the estimated parameters. Interpretation of this result shows that the number of secondary infections may vary depending on the time of decision making, the target region, and the target student group. Finally, according to the results of this analysis, a proposal was made to support education policy decisions.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.141-151
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• 2023

Purpose: Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) are a major health problem worldwide, especially in developing countries. According to the literature, children are more likely to get infected due to more frequent exposure to sources of infection. Methods: In this study, we collected 500 fecal samples from children under 15 years of age who referred to labs in Ilam city. All samples were microscopically examined using formalin-ether concentration and Trichrome staining techniques. The results were analyzed using SPSS 20.0. Results: Among 500 investigated samples, 4 types of parasites were detected. Giardia lamblia, Entameba coli, and Blastocystis hominis were identified as intestinal protozoa, and pinworm as intestinal worm. In this study, 23 cases (4.6%) had parasitic infections. 13 patients (2.6%) were infected with Giardia parasite, 4 patients (0.8%) with E. coli, 3 patients (0.6%) with B. hominis and 3 patients (0.6%) had pinworms. Conclusions: The findings of this study showed that the prevalence of IPIs among children aged under 15 years in Ilam is relatively down, which can be attributed of sufficient information of parents and children about the modes of parasite transmission and the important role of carriers in the pathogen cycle.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.449-453
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• 2011

Orbital infection is typically caused by spread of inflammation from the paranasal sinuses. Less common causes can be skin infections, trauma, and hematogenous spread from other infections located elsewhere in the body. Odontogenic orbital infections account for 2~5% of all orbital infections, and occur as a result of periodontitis, odontogenic abscess from caries, tooth extraction, and oral surgery. Orbital infections can be divided into preseptal infection, orbital subperiosteal abscess, orbital abscess, and postorbital abscess. Symptoms which can be observed are swelling of the eyelids and erythema, orbital edema, displacement of the eyeball, exophthalmos, ophthalmoplegia, and even impairment of the optic nerve. Here we present the case of a patient who had an orbital abscess secondary to an abscess of the right maxillary third molar. Rapid recovery occurred following surgical treatment and antibiotic therapy. In addition a brief review of the literature is included.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.36 no.7
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• pp.1204-1214
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• 2006

Purpose: This retrospective study was done to evaluate the status of nosocomial urinary tract infections and to determine the risk factors and transmission route of causal IRPA through molecular epidemiology. Method: Two hundred ninety-nine of 423 patients admitted to the internal medicine and surgery ICU at a university hospital incity B had a positiveurine culture. Twelve of the 299 patients who had a urinary tract infection had IRPA strains. The data was collected from November 1, 2004 to January 31, 2005. The following results were obtained after the data was analyzed using percentile and UPGMA. Result: The rate of nosocomial urinary tract infections in the ICU was 10.8%. Therewere 16.8 cases of infection based on the period of hospitalization. There were 16.9 cases of infection based on the use of a foley catheter. The rate of nosocomial urinary tract infection in the ICU and urinary tract infections related to IRPA were higher in patients with the following characteristics: men, old age, admission through the emergency room, longer than seven days admission, severity of admitting causes, disturbance of consciousness, hydration less than 300cc in 24hours, a long course of antibiotics, a long period of foley catheterization and perineal care. Most of the microorganisms that caused the urinary tract infection were gram negative bacilli, among which P. aeruginosa was found in 70 patients (18.5%) and IRPA in 12 (4.0%). Among the 12 IRPA strains that were tested with PFGE, eight showed a dice coefficient higher than 80%, suggesting a genetic relationship. They were related with the period of hospitalization in the same ICU. These patients all received direct care for a urinary tract infection. Conclusion: Through these results, IRPA can be consideredas a contributing factors to urinary tract infections thus, active preventative measures are needed by the medical staff.