• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.883-893
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• 2021

Clostridium difficile present in feces of food animals may contaminate their meats and act as a potential source of C. difficile infection (CDI) to humans. C. difficile resistance to antibiotics, its production of toxins and spores play major roles in the pathogenesis of CDI. This is the first study to evaluate C. difficile prevalence in retail raw animal meats, its antibiotics susceptibilities and toxigenic activities in Al-Jouf, Saudi Arabia. Totally, 240 meat samples were tested. C. difficile was identified by standard microbiological and biochemical methods. Vitek-2 compact system confirmed C. difficile isolates were 15/240 (6.3%). Toxins A/B were not detected by Xpect C. difficile toxin A/B tests. Although all isolates were susceptible to vancomycin and metronidazole, variable degrees of reduced susceptibilities to moxifloxacin, clindamycin or tetracycline antibiotics were detected by Epsilon tests. C. difficile strains with reduced susceptibility to antibiotics should be investigated. Variability between the worldwide reported C. difficile contamination levels could be due to absence of a gold standard procedure for its isolation. Establishment of a unified testing algorithm for C. difficile detection in food products is definitely essential to evaluate the inter-regional variation in its prevalence on national and international levels. Proper use of antimicrobials during animal husbandry is crucial to control the selective drug pressure on C. difficile strains associated with food animals. Investigating the protective or pathogenic potential of non-toxigenic C. difficile strains and the possibility of gene transfer from certain toxigenic/ antibiotics-resistant to non-toxigenic/antibiotics-sensitive strains, respectively, should be worthy of attention.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.252-265
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• 2022

Kocuria salsicia can survive in extreme environments and cause infections, including catheter-related bacteremia, in humans. Here, we investigated and evaluated the characteristics of nine K. salsicia strains (KS1-KS9) isolated from cheese brine from a farmstead cheese-manufacturing plant in Korea from June to December, 2020. Staphylococcus aureus American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) 29213 was used as a positive control in the growth curve analysis and biofilm-formation assays. All K. salsicia isolates showed growth at 15% salt concentration and temperatures of 15℃, 25℃, 30℃, 37℃, and 42℃. KS6 and KS8 showed growth at 5℃, suggesting that they are potential psychrotrophs. In the biofilm-formation analysis via crystal violet staining, KS6 exhibited the highest biofilm-forming ability at various temperatures and media [phosphate buffered saline, nutrient broth (NB), and NB containing 15% sodium chloride]. At 25℃ and 30℃, KS3, KS6, and KS8 showed higher biofilm-forming ability than S. aureus ATCC 29213. The antimicrobial resistance of the isolates was evaluated using the VITEK^® 2 system; most isolates were resistant to marbofloxacin and nitrofurantoin (both 9/9, 100%), followed by enrofloxacin (7/9, 77.8%). Five of the nine isolates (5/9, 55.6%) showed multidrug resistance. Our study reports the abilities of K. salsicia to grow in the presence of high salt concentrations and at relatively low temperatures, along with its multidrug resistance and tendency to form biofilms.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.256-262
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• 2023

The purpose of this study is to investigate microbial contamination in water purifiers from two universities (A and B) in Chungcheong region and to evaluate about the harmfulness of the isolated bacteria to the human. The degree of microbiological contamination of six water purifiers at university A was investigated three times from July 2018 to September 2019, and nine water purifiers at university B were investigated in 2023. The isolated bacteria were biochemically identified using an API kit and Vitek-2 system, and then the bacteria were identified to the species level using MALDI-TOF MS. In addition, the possibility of human infection of the isolated bacteria was evaluated through a literature search. In July 2018 and September 2019, the number of bacteria isolated inside the faucet was below the acceptable standard for hot water, but exceed for cold water in all water purifiers. In January and September 2019, bacteria exceeding the acceptable standards were isolated nine times from the cold water of six water purifies (a total of 12 water purifiers). Bacteria identified by MALDI-TOF MS included anaerobic bacteria (Clostridium novyi, Clostridium themopalmarium etc.), Gram-positive bacilli (Microbacterium testaceum, Arthrobacter woluwensis etc.), and Gramnegative bacilli (Acinetobacter nosocomialis, Comamonas kerstersii etc.), which are difficult identify by biochemical methods. In conclusion, bacteria exceeding the acceptable standard were isolated from the cold water of most of the water purifiers. Most of the isolated bacteria were low-pathogenic bacteria from natural environment, but opportunistic bacteria that can cause infection in humans were also isolated from some water purifiers.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.319-326
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• 2010

Bacteroiospermia is a frequently finding in fresh raw and extended porcine semen and can results in detrimental effects on semen quality and longevity. This study aims to evaluate the type of bacterial contaminants in raw and extended porcine semen and the reducing effect of antibiotic test. To investigate bacterial contaminants, out of 387 sample (raw semen 201, extended semen 186) were collected from 6 artifical insemination centers in Gyeongsangnam-do, were inoculated onto blood agar and MacKonkey agar, respectively. Bacterial colonies were selected after culturing for 48 hours, at $37^{\circ}C$, followed by Gram staining, KOH test, oxidase test, catalase test and eventually identified using VITEK System. Total 15 genus and 24 species of bacteria were isolated from these semen samlpes. In raw semen, the most prevalent contaminants were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Staphylococcus auricularis, Delftia acidovorans, Acinetobacter lowffii, S. aureus and others. And in extended porcine semen, A. lowffii, S. aureus, S. auricularis and other bacteria were identified. Most of them was G(-), which is nonpathogenic bacteria. It seems that bacterial contaminants in fresh raw and extended porcine semen originated from multiple sources at the farms/stud, and were from animal origin and non-animal origins. Whereas, the 7 virus which is known to be detected in porcine semen in 75 cases was not detected. This results showed that removal of bacterial contamination in raw and extended porcine semen is essential and farms were kept for biosecurity and individual hygienes.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.547-554
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• 2008

Bacteriospermia is a frequent finding in fresh boar semen and can result in detrimental effects on semen quality and longevity. The objectives of this study was to evaluate types of bacterial contaminants in porcine fresh semen and the reducing effect of antibiotic and density gradient with percoll on the bacterial contaminants. Fresh semen was collected by gloved-hand method into a pre-warmed($37^{\circ}C$) thermostable bottle, and was inoculated onto blood agar and MacConkey agar, respectively. After incubated for 48 hour, 7.5% $CO_2$ at $37^{\circ}C$, bacterial colonies were selected and identified by Gram staining, oxidase test, catalase test and finally identified using API kits and Vitek system. Aerobic culture yielded a variety of bacteria from different genera. The most prevalent contaminant of fresh semen were Leclecia adecarboxylata, Acineobacter banmanni, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus cohni spp urealyticus, Proteus mirabilis. Most of identified bacteria were Gram(-) and non-pathogenic bacteria. It seems that bacterial contaminants in fresh semen were seem originated from multiple sources at the stud/farm, and were from animal and non-animal origins. Gentamicin treatment did not eliminate the bacterial contaminants completely but 3 step-density gradient with percoll completely removed the bacterial contaminants in fresh semen. Therefore, future study is necessary to prove that density gradient method with percoll can eliminate bacteria in fresh semen without significantly affecting sperm viability or function.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.51-55
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• 2003

To develop environment-friendly biofertilizer solubilizing insoluble phosphates, a bacterium possessing a high ability to solubilize $Ca_{3}(PO_{4})_{2}$) was isolated from the rhizosphere of peas. On the basis of its morphological, cultural, physiological characteristics, and Vitek analysis, this bacterium was identified as Pantoea agglomerans. The optimal medium composition and cultural conditions for the solubilization of insoluble phosphate by P. agglomerans R-38 were 3% of glucose.0.1% of TEX>$NH_{4}NO_{3}$, 0.02% of $MgSO_{4}\cdot\7H_{2}O$, and 0.06% of $CaCl_{2}\cdot\2H_{2}O$ along with initial pH 7.5 at $30^{\circ}C$. The highest soluble phosphate production under optimum condition was 898 mg/L after 5 days of cultivation. The solubilization of insoluble phosphate was associated with a drop in the pH of the culture medium. The strain produced soluble phosphate to the culture broth with the concentrations of 698 mg/L against CaHPO$_4$, 912 mg/L against hydroxyapatite, 28 mg/L against $FePO_{4}\cdot\4H_{2}O$, and 19 mg/L against $AIPO_{4}$, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.167-177
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• 2007

From the total 121,294 clinical materials submitted to the Department of Laboratory Medicine of "C" hospital from December 1, 2004 to November 30, 2006, 3,408 Pseudomonas spp. were isolated. The isolation frequencies of Pseudomonas spp. were as follows, P. aeruginosa 95.5%, P. putida 2.5%, P. fluorescens 0.8%, along with low frequencies of P. luteola, P. alcaligenes, P. stutzeri, P. oryzihabitants, P. mendocina and unidentified Pseudomonas species. The isolation rates of Pseudomonas spp. according to season and sex were evenly distributed. The isolated frequency of Pseudomonas spp. in male was two times higher than that of in female showing significantly more male patients in surgical areas and more female patients in internal areas (p<0.001). In monthly analysis, Pseudomonas spp. were the most frequently isolated in July (10.4%), but lowest in February (5.6%). Half of Pseudomonas spp. were isolated from sputum (48.2%). In the susceptibility analysis of Pseudomonas spp. by VITEK II AST cards, the Pseudomonas spp showing higher susceptibility against antimicrobial agents were piperacillin/tazobactam (82.7%) in P. aeruginosa; amikacin (84.7%), colistin (83.3%) in P. putida; and amikacin (96.3%), cefepime (87.5%), ceftazidime (87.5%) ciprofloxacin (92.3%), colistin (88.5%) gentamicin (96.2%), isepamicin (96,1%), meropenem (92.3%), netilmicin (96.0%), piperacillin/ tazobactam (95.4%) and tobramycin (92.6%) in P. fluorescens.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.31-37
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• 2020

Clostridial bacteria are zoonotic agents, which cause severe necrotizing enteritis, pseudo-membrane colitis, enterotoxemia to both humans and animals. The objective of this study was to monitor the antibiotic resistance of Clostridium isolates on clinical specimens from wild animals in Seoul zoo for 5 years. Clostridium isolates were verified by using Vitek2 compact machine. Antibiotic susceptibility was assessed by antibiotic disc diffusion test, which was followed by Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion test method. The frequency of Antimicrobial resistance of Clostridium isolate was the greatest in gentamicin (87%), then in order of amikacin (80%). There were 55.6% of Clostridium isolates showed multiple drug resistance (MDR). These results showed that a lot of Clostridial bacteria from wild animals in Seoul zoo were acquired antibiotic resistance. Because of the wild animal's aggressive manner, it has been hard to collect clinical samples from wild animals in a zoo to exam antibiotic susceptibility. For these reasons, empirical use of antibiotics has been performed in frequently. It may cause to increase the emergence of antibiotic resistance bacteria. In addition, the antibiotic resistance bacteria from zoo animals can be spread to other wild animals which inhabit around the zoo. Therefore, regular monitoring of antibiotic resistance Clostridial bacteria is important to protect animals and humans from Clostridial diseases.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.352-355
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• 2012

Hypospadias is a rare congenital malformation of the urethra reported in cattle. The urethral lumen of male indigenous Korean calf is open along the ventral aspect of the penis in the perineal region. Renal abscess and renal stone formation causing urinary tact infection has not been reported in hypospadia calves. The objective of this study was investigation for renal abscess and renal stone formation through autopsy. Histopathological examination and laboratory tests were performed. At autopsy, the pustules were formed on the right renal cortex, and the renal medulla abscess were formed on right and left part of the renal pelvis. Histopathological finding, this case was diagnosed as severe acute suppurative and necrotizing pyelonephritis, and severe chronic interstitial nephritis with fibrosis and moderate multifocal acute cystitis with edema. Milky exudate of the kidney has been identified as Actinomyces meyeri using the VITEK-2 system for identification of bacteria, and the stone has been identified as carbonate apatite using FT-IR system for quantification analysis. This case report describe the hypospadias complicated with urinary tract infection due to carbonate apatite stones and Actinomyces meyeri.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.102-105
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• 2008

The most common abnormality of the umbilicus in the foal is the patent urachus. Patent urachus may be a congenital or acquired condition in foals in which the urachus fails to close spontaneously at or shortly after parturition. A 17-day-old male Thoroughbred foal was requested to the Veterinary Pathology Laboratory of Cheju National University. The foal showed clinical signs such as umbilical urination, anorexia, depression, lethargy, and abdominal pain for 10 days. Because of the umbilical urination, the surgery for patent urachus was performed, but he died next day. Grossly, many pale yellowish foci 10-20 mm in diameter were scattered on the throughout surface of lungs. Severe subcapsular hemorrhage was observed in left kidney. Large milky yellow mass 10X6-7 cm in size was found in the adjacent area of right kidney. Histopathologically, many abscesses with bacterial cocci were scattered in the blood vessels or adjacent pulmonary parenchyma of lungs. Severe numerous abscesses with intralesional bacterial cocci were mostly occupied in the abdominal mass from right kidney. Gram staining for tissue sections demonstrated numerous Gram positive cocci in pulmonary and abdominal abscesses. In bacterial culture, catalase-positive beta-hemolytic colonies were isolated and confirmed as Staphylococcus (S.) aureus by Vitek system. Based on the results, acquired patent urachus and then multiple abscesses may be originated from the umbilical cord infected with S. aureus in this foal.