• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.237-242
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• 2009

Objectives : The incidence of zoonoses in Korea has increased recently. However, the study of high risk groups for zoonoses has not been conducted to date in Korea. Thus, we did this study to obtain data on brucellosis among slaughterhouse workers in Korea. Methods : We evaluated the structure of slaughterhouses and the process of slaughtering by reviewing the relevant literature and doing field studies. We visited 73 slaughterhouses and 62 residual products handle houses across the country. In addition, we conducted a questionnaire survey of the work activities, and obtained blood samples in order to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors of brucellosis. The titers of brucellosis antibodies were measured using the standard tube agglutination test SAT). We diagnosed subjects as seropositive for Brucellosis if the titers were more than 1:160. The data collected was evaluated using SPSS ver. 17.0. Results : We included 1,503 subjects and obtained 1,482 blood samples among them: 849 workers involved in slaughtering, 351 handlers of residual products, 190 inspectors and their assistants, and 92 grading testers and their assistants. The seroprevalence of brucellosis among the slaughterhouse workers was 0.8% (95% CI=0.4-1.5). Broken down, the seroprevalence of brucellosis among the workers involved in slaughtering was 0.7% (95% CI=0.3-1.6), the handlers of residual products was 1.7% (95% CI=0.7-3.9) respectively. Risk factors for contracting brucellosis among slaughterhouse workers were being splashed with cattle blood around the mouth, cattle secretions around the body and not putting on protective apron while at work. Conclusions : An educational program is needed for high risk groups on zoonoses about the prevention of infection. Thus, effective working guidelines for workers who participate in the slaughter of animals must be developed in order to protect them from zoonoses.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.543-550
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• 2003

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of deletion of vitamin and trace mineral premixes on growth, feed efficiency, backfat thickness, hemoglobin content, muscle vitamin E content, and fecal, serum and muscle trace mineral contents in finishing pigs raised under two different housing conditions. In Exp. 1, three pens (or experimental units) of five pigs each (average weight $\pm$ s.e., 70 $\pm$ 0.5 kg) were assigned to a control diet (with vitamin and trace mineral premixes) or diets with 50 or 100% of the premixes deleted. Pigs were fed to market weight under sub-optimal housing conditions with sawdust-covered concrete floor and no electrical ventilation. In Exp. 2, three pens of four pigs each (average weight $\pm$ s.e., 56 $\pm$ 1.1 kg) were assigned to a control (with vitamin and trace mineral premixes), Diet-P (100% of the premixes deleted) or Diet-P+E (Diet-P plus 100 mg $\alpha$-tocopherol acetate/kg diet fed for the last 2 wk before slaughter). Pigs were fed to market weight under optimal housing conditions with 70%-slatted concrete floor, electrical ventilation and temperature control. No significant differences were found in average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and gain/feed among treatments in both experiments, but in Exp. 2 done with younger pigs, ADG and ADFI tended to be higher in the control group than in pigs fed diet without premixes. Hemoglobin content, hematocrit and red blood cell count were not influenced by the deletion of premixes. Backfat thickness was not different among treatments. Fecal Mn (twofold) and Zn (threefold) contents were higher in the control than in pigs fed diets without the premixes. Serum trace mineral contents were not influenced by diets. $\alpha$-Tocopherol content in gluteus maxima was decreased (P< 0.01) by deleting the dietary premixes, but increased to the level higher than the control by adding 100 mg $\alpha$-tocopheryl acetate/kg diet fed for the last 2 wk before slaughter. Results indicate that: 1) supplementary vitamins and trace minerals may not be necessary for optimum growth in finishing pigs, and 2) deletion of the dietary premixes reduces muscle vitamin E content, but the reduced content can be reversed by adding $\alpha$- tocopherol to diets fed for the last 2 wk before slaughter. The deletion may help to alleviate the environmental load of certain minerals from manure.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.812-819
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• 2018

Objective: An experiment was conducted to identify and characterize the circular RNA expression and metabolic characteristics in the liver of Jinhua pigs and Landrace pigs. Methods: Three Jinhua pigs and three Landrace pigs respectively at 70-day were slaughtered to collect the liver tissue samples. Immediately after slaughter, blood samples were taken to detect serum biochemical indicators. Total RNA extracted from liver tissue samples were used to prepare the library and then sequence on HiSeq 2500. Bioinformatic methods were employed to analyze sequence data to identify the circRNAs and predict the potential roles of differentially expressed circRNAs between the two breeds. Results: Significant differences in physiological and biochemical traits were observed between growing Jinhua and Landrace pigs. We identified 84,864 circRNA candidates in two breeds and 366 circRNAs were detected as significantly differentially expressed. Their host genes are involved in lipid biosynthetic and metabolic processes according to the gene ontology analysis and associated with metabolic pathways. Conclusion: Our research represents the first description of circRNA profiles in the porcine liver from two divergent phenotype pigs. The predicted miRNA-circRNA interaction provides important basis for miRNA-circRNA relationships in the porcine liver. These data expand the repertories of porcine circRNA and are conducive to understanding the possible molecular mechanisms involved in miRNA and circRNA. Our study provides basic data for further research of the biological functions of circRNAs in the porcine liver.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.9
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• pp.1350-1357
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• 2017

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate whether the long-lasting, recurrent restricting of sows leads to the physiological and psychological reaction of discomfort. Methods: Sows (Large White) that had experienced restricting for about 0.5 or 3 years and agematched sows kept in a group housing system (loose sows) were compared. Pupillary light reflex parameters were measured at the weaning stage. Immediately after slaughter, blood samples were taken to measure serum cortisol levels, and the brain was dissected, gene expression in the hippo-campus, frontal cortex and hypothalamus was analyzed. Results: The serum cortisol levels were higher in the confined sows than in the loose sows. The full maturity, but not the young adolescent, confined sows had longer latency time in the onset of pupil constriction than their loose counterparts. Real-time polymerase chain reaction analyses revealed an increased expression of interleukin 6 mRNA in the hippocampus and decreased expression of brain derived neurotrophic factor mRNA in hippocampus and hypothalamus and to a lesser extent in the frontal cortex of the full maturity confined sows, compared with the full maturity loose sows. Conclusion: Taken together, these data indicated that recurrent restricting stress in full maturity sows leads to the physiological and psychological reaction of discomfort.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.9
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• pp.1361-1366
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• 2007

In this project, ovarian size and activity during the peak (November-April) and the low (May-October) breeding seasons in young and adult camels were studied. Ovaries of 92 camels (Camelus dromedarius), with clinically normal reproductive tracts, aged 3-15 years and slaughtered at Faisalabad or Lahore abattoirs over a period of 24 months, were collected. Jugular blood was collected from each animal before slaughter; the serum was separated and analyzed for oestradiol concentration. The size (length, width and thickness) and weight of each ovary were measured. Grossly observable Graafian follicles were counted and their diameter was measured using Vernier Calipers. The camels having ovaries presenting follicles more than 5 mm in diameter were taken as having active ovaries. The results showed that ovarian length, width and weight were significantly higher (p<0.05) during the peak than the low breeding season. The percentage of active ovaries was also significantly higher (p<0.01) during the peak than the low breeding season. However, the effect of season on ovarian thickness was non-significant. Similarly, the ovarian length, width, thickness, weight and activity did not vary significantly between young (3-7 years old) and adult (8-15 years old) animals. Serum oestradiol concentrations were significantly higher (p<0.05) during the peak ($67.70{\pm}1.36$ pg/ml) than the low breeding season ($15.25{\pm}1.54$ pg/ml). It was concluded that in Pakistani camels ovarian size and activity were higher during the peak than the low breeding season. However, age of the camel (from 3 to 15 years) had no effect on these parameters.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.335-341
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• 2003

Carcass weight and backfat thickness are two of important elements in determining the carcass trait in pigs and are studied on animal genetics, nutrition, and endocrinology. Growth factors stimulate or inhibit the proliferation and differentiation of various cells. In particular, insulin-like growth factors (IGFs), transforming growth factor (TGF)-$\beta$, and epidermal growth factor (EGF) are involved in the growth and maintenance of muscle. Also, dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S) and cortisol are known to be related to the obesity and subcutaneous fat depth in pigs. Therefore, this study was performed to relate growth factors (IGFs, TGF-${\beta}1$, and EGF) and hormones (cortisol and DHEA-S) concentrations at antemortem and postmortem periods to carcass traits including carcass weight and backfat thickness. Blood and m. Longissimus were collected in pigs at antemortem (30 days before slaughter) and postmortem periods. After slaughtered, carcass weight and backfat thickness were measured. Growth factors and hormones in serum and m. Longissimus were measured by radioimmunoassay or enzyme-linked imuunosorbent assay. Before antemortem period, serum IGF-I and -II concentrations were positively correlated with the carcass weight and backfat thickness in gilts, and the concentrations of TGF- ${\beta}1$ and cortisol in barrows show the correlation with only carcass weight. Also, the positive correlations of muscular IGFs and TGF-${\beta}1$ at postmortem 45 min with the carcass weight and backfat thickness were detected. Consequently, these results suggest that the serum and muscular endocrine factors are involved in the carcass weight and backfat thickness in pigs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.35-41
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• 2008

This study was undertaken to investigate the distribution of major histocompatibility complex class II positive (MHC II+) (HLA-DP-like) cells in the cow uterus (cervix, corpus and cornu uteri) and to compare these cells between the estrus and diestrus phases of the estrous cycle. Twenty-nine multiparous cows were used. Tissue samples from the middle of the cervix, the corpus and the right cornu were taken immediately after slaughter at the estrus or diestrus phase. Streptavidin-biotin peroxidase complex staining was used to detect MHC II+ cells. The number of MHC II+ cells per unit area of tissue was counted using image analysis software under a light microscope. Numerous MHC II+ cells were found in the endometrium (cervix, corpus and cornu uteri) in both estrus and diestrus. MHC II+ cells were found in the surface epithelium of the cervix uteri in diestrus, but in the corpus uteri in both estrus and diestrus and in the cornu uteri in estrus. MHC II+ cells were also found freely in the lumen of the glands and between the gland epithelia of the corpus and cornu uteri in both estrus and diestrus. There were also MHC II+ cells in the connective tissue of the myometrium and perimetrium (outside the endometrium) and around the blood vessels. Endothelial cells were frequently positive for MHC II staining. More MHC II+ cells were found in the endometrium than outside the endometrium in both estrus and diestrus (p<0.001). However, there was no difference in the numbers of positive cells between estrus and diestrus either in the endometrium or outside it. These results are the first evidence for HLA-DP-like MHC II+ cells in the bovine uterus. They indicate that antigen presentation by HLA-DP-like MHC II+ cells of the uterus is not influenced by hormonal status.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.197-207
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• 2004

Identification of animals has been used with an e ar tag with dummy code and blood typing has been used for paternity and individual identification in live animals. Various genetic markers are different for breeds of pig and hence, it is necessary to identity the discrete genetic marker in korean native pig. A total of 240 pigs were used to find korean native pig population specific markers that expressed in population of korean native pigs. To identify the individual traceability, 20 animals were randomly chosen and tested for a whole process from being live to slaughter stages. The candidate genetic marker used in the study were 18 DNA microsatellites which were identified in pig genome. The number of alleles of those DNA microsatellites ranged form a minimum of 3 to maximum of 6. The heterozygote frequency rang6d from 0.44 to 0.69. Effective number of alleles for each DNA microsatellotes were 2 to 4. By choosing 6 candidate genetic markers among all, the traceability of individual identification was estimated as accurate as 99.99%(p>0.0014), nearly.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.221-225
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• 2015

The bacterium causing Johne's disease (JD), Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP), is distributed worldwide and causes progressive intestinal disease, also known as paratuberculosis, in domestic and exotic ruminants, including cattle. The subclinical form of this disease results in progressive weight loss, reduced milk production, lower slaughter value, and premature culling, with possible impacts on fertility and udder health. Eventually, infection can lead to the clinical form that manifests chronic diarrhea, emaciation, debilitation, and eventual death. JD is a major cause of economic loss in cattle industry. In this study, serological testing was conducted by ELISA to determine the prevalence of MAP in Korean native cattle of Jeju during the duration of 2010 to 2013. A total of 5,150 blood sera were collected in 111 farms and the samples were classified into four different age groups for MAP; group 1 (2 years or less), group 2 (2~4 years), group 3 (5~7 years), and group 4 (over 8 years). Overall seroprevalence of MAP was 5.2% (269/5,150), and annually from 2010 to 2013, they were 11.6% (106/915), 2.1% (10/474), 5.5% (89/1,627), and 3.0% (64/2,134), respectively. Also, the prevalence rates was determined by age groups: 48 of group 1 (17.8%), 154 of group 2 (57.3%), 48 of group 3 (17.8%), and 19 of group 4 (7.1%) were seropositive for MAP. Although seropositive samples were found in all age groups, the highest seroprevalence was found in group 2. This study showed that during the investigation the seroprevalence of MAP tended to decrease.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.23-29
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• 2017

This study investigated the effects of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) vaccine on pig growth, carcass quality, and sensory perceptions of pork meat by Thai consumers. Male crossbred pigs (n = 30) were separated into three groups of 10 pigs each: boars, immunocastrated pigs, and surgically castrated pigs. The immunocastrated group was immunized at 13 and 19 weeks of age with GnRH vaccine ($400{\mu}g/dose$). All pigs were slaughtered at 24 weeks of age. Blood samples were collected and testes size determined. Testes weight and back fat thickness were recorded at the time of slaughter, and meat samples were collected for sensory assessment by Thai consumers. Testosterone and progesterone concentration levels decreased significantly two weeks after the second dose of GnRH (p < 0.05), and the GnRH antibody titer of the immunocastrated pigs was significantly high two weeks after the second dose of GnRH (p < 0.05). GnRH vaccine significantly reduced the weight and size of testes. Thai consumers reported no significant differences in odor or flavor among meat samples from the three groups. In conclusion, immunocastration improved growth performance, removed the need for castration surgery, and avoided "boar taint" in the meat. It has also no distinct trace of the boar taint same as pork that is currently produced from physically castrated pig which is making it acceptable to consumers.