• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.41-44
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• 2015

We reported an outbreak of clinical strangles in thoroughbred horses due to capnophilic Streptococcus equi subsp equi in South Korea. On three different farms, we isolated 17 S equi subsp equi isolates from 29 horses with or without abscesses in their lymph nodes. Of the 17 isolates, two isolates from clinical cases grew well in aerobic conditions, whereas 7/7 isolates from clinical cases and 8/22 isolates from the nasal discharges of horses did not. The latter 15 isolates were capnophilic, oxygen-sensitive, and $CO_2$-requiring S equi subsp equi, which could not grow in aerobic conditions, but which grew well in a $CO_2$ incubator with 5% $CO_2$, in anaerobic conditions using a GasPak, and with reduced oxygen tension in a candle jar. This study is the first report of a strangles outbreak caused by capnophilic S equi subsp equi in South Korea.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.158-163
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• 2006

This work describes an outbreak of strangles due to Streptococcus equi subsp. equi in 1 to 2 years old Thoroughbred horses. A total of 7 samples were collected from 5 horses in two different horse farms during 2003. Six ${\beta}$-hemolytic colonies selected from each sample were identified by biochemical tests using API STREPTO followed by PCR amplification which is able to recognize unique region of SeM gene of S. equi subsp. equi. All colonies selected from the ruptured lymphadenitis of 2 horses in farm A were identified as S. dysgalactiae subsp. equisimillis. It seems to be secondary infection because the sampling sites have been already opened and the horses have been treated with antibiotics for a week. All colonies from 2 submandibular lymphadenitis samples in Farm B were S. equi subsp. equi while the isolates from 3 nasal discharges in this farm were mixed with S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.67-71
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• 2014

In November 2012, a 4-month-old foal with anorexia, neurologic signs with ataxia and death was submitted for necropsy to the diagnostic laboratory of Jeju Self-Governing Provincial Veterinary Research Institute. Grossly, yellowish-white fibrinous materials were seen on the ventral cerebrum, cerebellum, medulla oblongata and cervical spinal cord of the foal. Histologically, severe fibrino-purulent meningitis characterized by the infiltration of neutrophils and fibrionous exudates with bacterial colonies were presented in cerebrum, cerebellum, brain stem and cervical spinal cord. In the bacterial isolation using meningeal exudate, the small white colonies on blood agar plate with ${\beta}$-hemolysis were observed. Isolated bacteria were Gram-positive cocci and confirmed as Streptococcus (S.) equi subsp. zooepidemicus by VITEK 2 system. Based on the histopathological features and the bacterial test, this case was diagnosed as meningitis associated with S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus infection in a foal. In our best knowledge, this is the first report for fibrino-purulent meningitis caused by S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus infection in Jeju.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.409-415
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• 2007

An eight years old female barbary sheep (Ammotragus lervia), which bred at the Gwangju Uchi Park Zoo had shown anorexia, depression, respiratory problem for several weeks after parturition. In necropsy, extensive necrotizing pneumonia was found with severe immunocytes infiltration in the alveolar spaces and bronchioles. Pulmonary pleura were thickened with fibrin and inflammatory cells. Bacteria were isolated from lung and identified as Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus (SEZ) by biochemical tests and PCR on sodA and gusA genes, though seel gene was not detected. Isolation of zoonotic SEZ in public place such as a zoo should be emphasized for the public health mangagement.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.315-319
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• 2007

Fibrinopurulent peritonitis and abdominal abscesses associated with Streptococcus (S.) equi subsp. zooepidemicus is reported in a 1-year-old female thoroughbred horse. The horse died after showing 5-day history of the cold, severe abdominal distention, abdominal breathing, hyperthermia, anorexia, and loss of intestinal sound. At necropsy, several liters of turbid yellowish green fluid were seen in the abdominal cavity. Yellowish creamy and fibrinous or bloody materials were presented on the serosa of various abdominal organs that were intensively adhered with each other. Spleen and mesenteric lymph node were remarkably enlarged. Affected lobes of the lung showed severe congestion, hemorrhage and doughy consistency. Histologically, the lung showed hemorrhagic pneumonia with diffuse congestion and edema. Severe diffuse fibrinopurulent peritonitis with Gram-positive bacterial cocci and adjacent fibrosis were showed in the serosa of various abdominal organs such as liver, spleen, stomach, and intestine. And multifocal abscess pouches were presented in the granulation tissue of abdominal viscera. S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus was isolated from the peritoneal swab, abdominal organs, and lung. Hematogenous dissemination of bacteria from hemorrhagic pneumonia is proposed as the route of infection in this case.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.187-190
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• 2011

The Thoroughbred horse was an approximately 4-years-old castrated male with highly emaciation, nasal epistaxis and subsequently died. Gross necropsy revealed epistaxis and hyperemia on the lung, multiple hemorrhage in muscle, and liver was focally attached to the peritoneum with fibrin. According to polymerase chain reaction (PCR), Equine herpes virus type 1 and 4 (EHV type 1, 4) was detected in the lung and trachea. In bacterial culture from kidney, liver, spleen, muscle and blood, Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus was isolated. Based on the gross lesion and PCR, this horse was diagnosed as EHV type 1, 4 and S. zooepidemicus coinfection.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.201-208
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• 2011

Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus (S. zooepidemicus) is a pathogen of a variety of infections in horse. We studied biochemical and molecular characteristics of S. zooepidemicus isolated from the genital tract of Thoroughbred mares in Korea. Seventy-nine isolates were identified as S. zooepidemicus by biochemical and PCR method from 374 horses. The biochemical characteristics of S. zooepidemicus isolates were positive reaction of lactose and sorbitol. However, S. zooepidemicus isoltes were negative reaction of inulin, mannitol, raffinose, trehalose, aesculin hydrolysis, growth in 6.5% NaCl and variable reaction of maltose. Epidemiological investigations of S. zooepidemicus isolates were performed by fragment analysis of SzP (S. zooepidemicus protective protein) gene, CNE (collagen binding protein) gene and ISR (16s rRNA intergenic spacer region) gene using ABI Prism $3,130{\times}1$ Genetic Analyzer System. All isolates were shown single amplification size of 906 bp in CNE gene, but SzP and ISR gene were shown variable patterns of fragment size. The characteristics of S. zooepidemicus investigated in this study will be very useful for the prevention of infection and the studies of epidemiologic characteristics of S. zooepidemicus, causing the severe economic losses due to reproductive failures.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.649-654
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• 2010

A total of 68 samples were collected including vaginal mucosa (n=66) from Jangsu stud farm, an equine aborted fetus (n=1), and uterine contents (n=1) from Jeju island. Seventeen Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus (S. zooepidemicus) strains isolated from horses in Korea were identified as S. zooepidemicus by biochemical tests and sodA.seeI specific multiplex PCR. All isolated strains were divided into 4 clusters: group 1 (No. 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15), group 2 (No. 4, 9), group 3 (No. 10, 16, 17), and group 4 (No. 1, 8) by RAPD typing. In group 3, No. 10 isolate that was isolated from vaginal mucosa was indistinguishable from No. 16 and 17 isolates, which were isolated from the equine uterine contents and the equine aborted fetus, respectively. The results of this study suggest that a limited epidemiological relationship exists between the strains from Jangsu (No. 10) and Jeju (No. 16 and No. 17). All isolates showed a high susceptibility to ampicillin, cefoxitin, ceftiofur, cephalothin, florofenicol, gentamicin, nalidixic acid, oxacillin, penicillin, tiamulin, tylosin and vancomycin in antimicrobial susceptibility tests. These results may provide the basic information needed to establish strategies for the treatment and prevention of reproductive diseases in mares in Korea.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.19 no.9
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• pp.1041-1050
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• 2009

Equine respiratory disease is a common cause of poor performance and training interruptions. The higher incidence rate of infectious upper respiratory disease (IURD) in thoroughbred racehorses at the Seoul Race Park coincided with the frequent stabling season, shorter stabling periods, and younger ages in this study. Incidence rates were also correlated with significantly lower proportions of cells expressing MHC class II-, CD2 antigen-, $CD4^+$- or $CD8^+$-T lymphocyte-, and B lymphocyte in IURD patients compared with healthy control groups in the summer and fall and in 2-and-3-year-old groups. The data suggested that movement and new environments may have resulted in immunosuppression and inappropriate responses to respiratory pathogens in IURD patients. The IURD incidence decreased with age, perhaps by the acquisition of immunity, and study results suggested that immunologic protection was associated with IURD, particularly in young thoroughbred racehorses. Streptococci isolates were identified in 11 of 72 IURD horses, and 3 of these isolates were identified as Streptococcus. equi subsp. equi. S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus was isolated from 2 of 23 IURD horses in the spring (8.7%), 5 of 23 in the summer (21.7%), and 1 of 6 in winter (16.7%). S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus (5%) was also identified in 3 of 61 isolates from clinically normal horses. Racetracks should implement anti-IURD protective measures by assessing the capacity of equine immunologic protection at the Park and by limiting the introduction of specific respiratory pathogens (such as S. equi subsp. equi) by preventing the access of infected but subclinical horses with a specified respiratory pathogen-free certification system prior to Park entry.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.132-134
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• 2017

Streptococcus equi subsp. equi which is a Gram-positive bacteria causes strangles a highly contagious disease that affects the respiratory system of the horse. The disease is characterized by fever, nasal discharges and enlargement of the lymph nodes in the head and upper neck region. This study was performed to monitor the level of serum strangles antibody titers of horses in Jeju. A total of clinically healthy 122 horses (41 horses less than 5 months, 81 horses more than 1 years old) were included in this study. Serum antibody titers against strangles were measured by means of Passive haemagglutination (PHA) titers. As the results, the level of foals was definitely low. The results of this study have shown that there is a need to consider the vaccination against strangles infection at foals.