• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.7
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• pp.1092-1100
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• 2010

Bacteria, fungi, and protozoa inhabiting the rumen, the largest chamber of the ruminants' stomach, release large quantities of hydrogen during the fermentation of carbohydrates. The hydrogen is used by coexisting methanogens to produce methane in energy-yielding processes. This work shows, for the first time, a fundamental possibility of using a hydrogen-rich fermentation gas produced by selected rumen ciliates to feed a low-temperature hydrogen fuel cell. A biohydrogen fuel cell (BHFC) was constructed consisting of (i) a bioreactor, in which a hydrogen-rich gas was produced from glucose by rumen ciliates, mainly of the Isotrichidae family, deprived of intra- and extracellular bacteria, methanogens, and fungi; and (ii) a chemical fuel cell of the polymer-electrolyte type (PEFC). The fuel cell was used as a tester of the technical applicability of the fermentation gas produced by the rumen ciliates for power generation. The average estimated hydrogen yield was ca. 1.15 mol $H_2$ per mole of fermented glucose. The BHFC performance was equal to the performance of the PEFC running on pure hydrogen. No fuel cell poisoning effects were detected. A maximum power density of $1.66\;kW/m^2$ (PEFC geometric area) was obtained at room temperature. The maximum volumetric power density was $128\;W/m^3$ but the coulombic efficiency was only ca. 3.8%. The configuration of the bioreactor limited the continuous operation time of this BHFC to ca. 14 h.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.841-848
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• 2004

Rapid detection of viable Salmonella in pasteurized milk is important to protect public health from food poisoning. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) is recognized as a molecular genetical method to differentiate between live and dead bacteria The RT-PCR in this study was designed to detect specifically viable Salmonella in milk by using the primers whose nucleotide sequences were determined based on fimA gene which encodes the submit of type 1 fimbriae. Treatment of RNA preparation with RNase-free DNase was adequate enough to destroy DNA, which may otherwise be amplified in the RT PCR Seven strains of Salmonella were detected in the RT-PCR but Escherichia coli, Shigella sonnei, Citrobacter freundii, and Klebsiella pneumoniae were not. $10^7/ml$ and $10^6/ml$ of dead Salmonella which were heat-treated in milk were detectable by using the RT-PCR but $10^5{\sim}10/ml$ of the dead bacteria were not. The sensitivity of the RT-PCR in detecting viable Salmonella was 100 cells/ml.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.734-742
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• 2021

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the occurrence and species of coagulase-positive staphylococci (CoPS) and coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) in retail pork meat samples collected during nationwide monitoring. The staphylococcal isolates were characterized for antimicrobial and zinc chloride resistance and enterotoxigenic potential. Methods: A total of 260 pre-packaged pork meat samples were collected from 35 retail markets in 8 provinces in Korea for isolation of staphylococci. Antimicrobial and zinc chloride resistance phenotypes, and genes associated with the resistance phenotypes were determined on the isolates. Furthermore, the presence and distribution of 19 staphylococcal enterotoxin (SE) genes and enterotoxin-like genes among the pork-associated staphylococci were determined by multiplex polymerase chain reaction-based assays using the specific primer sets. Results: A total of 29 staphylococcal strains (29/260, 11.1%) were isolated from samples of retail pork meat, 24 (83%) of which were CoNS. The four CoNS species identified were S. saprophyticus (n = 16, 55%), S. sciuri (n = 3, 10%), S. warneri (n = 3, 10%), and S. epidermidis (n = 2, 7%). Among the 29 isolates, four methicillin-resistant CoNS (MR-CoNS; three S. sciuri and one S. epidermidis) and one methicillin-resistant CoPS (MR-CoPS; one S. aureus) were identified. In addition, a relatively high level of tetracycline (TET) resistance (52%) was confirmed in CoNS, along with a predominant distribution of tet(K). The most prevalent SEs were sep (45%), and sen (28%), which were carried by 81% of S. saprophyticus. Conclusion: These findings suggest that CoNS, especially S. saprophyticus strains, in raw pork meat could be a potential risk factor for staphylococcal food poisoning (SFP), and therefore, requires further investigation to elucidate the role of SEls in SFP and virulence of the pathogen. Our results also suggest that CoNS from raw pork meat may act as a source for transmission of antimicrobial resistance genes such as staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec and tet(K).

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.38-46
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• 2000

Since generalization of cold storage of raw and processed milk, psychrotrophic bacteria has become more important. The number present in raw milk is related to sanitary conditions during pro-duction and to length and temperature of storage before pasteurization. Growth of psychrotrophs In raw milk often reduces the quality of pasteurized products. Recently, some pathogenic bacteria like Listeria monocytogenes, Yersinia enterocolitica, Bacillus cereus are reported to grow at low temperature and cause food poisoning. The presence of gram positive psychrotrophic bacteria which can survive pasteurization can limit the shelf life of pasteurized milk during extended storage and the survival of heat stable proteases and lipases produced by gram negative psychrotrophic bacteria often brings about proteolytic damage to milk protein in the products. Therefore, in order to prevent the deteorioration of milk and milk products by the growth of psychrotrophs, it is necessary to cool down the temperature of raw milk as soon as possible after milking and to keep the temperature below 5t during storage at farm. As psychrotrophic bacteria become readily predominant in raw milk under refregeration, it can be considered to change the traditional incubating temperature for SPC from 30${\sim}$32$^{\circ}C$ to 25${\sim}$27$^{\circ}C$ at which the psychrotrophs prefer to grow. The psychrotrophic bacterial count(PBC) is of limited use in dairy industry, because of the 10 days incubation period. Although estimates of psychrotrophic bacteria may provide an acceptable shelf-life prediction, there is no single, generally acceptable rapid method for replacing the PBC at the moment. Consequently, faster method for esmating psychrotrophic bacteria has to be developed.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.9-21
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• 2024

Paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) including Saxitoxin (STX) is caused by harmful algae, and poisoning occurs when the contaminated seafood is consumed. The mouse bioassay (MBA), a standard test method for detecting PSP, is being sanctioned in many countries due to its low detection limit and the animal concerns. An alternative to the MBA is the Neuro-2a cell-based assay. This study aimed to establish various test conditions for Neuro-2a assay, including cell density, culture conditions, and STX treatment conditions, to suit the domestic laboratory environment. As a result, the initial cell density was set to 40,000 cells/well and the incubation time to 24 hours. Additionally, the concentration of Ouabain and Veratridine (O/V) was set to 500/50 μM, at which most cells died. In this study, we identified eight concentrations of STX, ranging from 368 to 47,056 fg/μl, which produced an S-shaped dose-response curve when treated with O/V. Through inter-laboratory variability comparison of the Neuro-2a assay, we established five Quality Control Criteria to verify the appropriateness of the experiments and six Data Criteria (Top and Bottom OD, EC₅₀, EC₂₀, Hill slop, and R² of graph) to determine the reliability of the experimental data. The Neuro-2a assay conducted under the established conditions showed an EC₅₀ value of approximately 1,800~3,500 fg/μl. The intra- & inter-lab variability comparison results showed that the coefficients of variation (CVs) for the Quality Control and Data values ranged from 1.98% to 29.15%, confirming the reproducibility of the experiments. This study presented Quality Control Criteria and Data Criteria to assess the appropriateness of the experiments and confirmed the excellent repeatability and reproducibility of the Neuro-2a assay. To apply the Neuro-2a assay as an alternative method for detecting PSP in domestic seafood, it is essential to establish a toxin extraction method from seafood and toxin quantification methods, and perform correlation analysis with MBA and instrumental analysis methods.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.33-44
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• 1979

These studies were carried out to investigate the effects of liver-fluke infection on the reproductive disorder and milk and meat production in Korean Native Goat. A survey of infected goat in Chungnam district was conducted with 474 head by interdermal reaction and also a clinical observation was founded. A experiment was carried out to determine the effects of liver fluke extract on the reproductive disorder by subcutaneous injection and milk and meat yield were measured from treat ed goats. The results obtained were summarized as follows. 1. The rate of positive goat was 71.3% among the surveyed goat and the highest rate was appeared at 3~4 years old goats as 81.4%. 2. The treated goats lost condition and failed to thrive, and became progressive weaker. 3. In hemogram, observation, the rate of eosinophil leucocyte was increased significantly by extract treated. 4. It was appeared the pathogenic signs such symptoms poisoning liver function disturbance and reproductive disorder from treated goats with liver fluke extract. 5. In milking goat the milk yield droped significantly and fattening goat did not fatten. 6. The gross income value per capita was lower from infected goat and it was analysed more sensitivly in net income value.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.251-260
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• 2014

The number of farmers who have suffered from non-fatal acute pesticide poisoning has been reported to vary from 5.7% to 86.7% in South Korea since 1975. Absorption through the skin is the main route of exposure to pesticides for farmers who operate with them. Several in vitro tests using the skins of humans or animal and in vivo tests using laboratory animals are introduced for the assessment of human dermal absorption level of pesticides. The objective of this study is to evaluate and compare international guidelines and strategies of dermal absorption assessments and to propose unique approaches for applications into pesticide registration process in our situation. Until present in our situation, pesticide exposure level to operator is determined just using default value of 10 as for skin absorption ratio because of data shortage. Dermal absorption tests are requested to get exposure level of pesticides and to ultimately know the safety of pesticides for operators through the comparison with the value of AOEL. When the exposure level is higher than AOEL, the pesticide cannot be approved. We reviewed the skin absorption test guidelines recommended by OECD, EFSA and EPA. The EPA recommends assessment of skin absorption of pesticides for humans through the TPA which includes all the results of in vitro human and animal and animal in vivo skin absorption studies. OECD and EFSA, employ a tiered approach, which the requirement of further study depends on the results of the former stage study. OECD guidelines accept the analysis of pesticide level absorbed through skin without radioisotope when the recovery using the non-labeled method is within 80~120%. Various factors are reviewed in this study, including the origin of skin (gender, animal species and sites of skin), thickness, temperature and, etc., which can influence the integrity of results.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.13-18
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• 1980

The ultimate goal of treatment of carton monoxide poisoning is to promote dissociation of carboxyhemoglobin and to maintain arterial $PO_2$ above 50mmHg throughout the course of treatment to protect vital organs from damage caused by hypoxia. The hyperbaric chamber designed and manufactured for this purpose has obviousely made an enormous contribution and yet has several handicaps to be overcome by any means. These handicaps are: the financial impact to purchase the chamber (especially in a small, remote community), an extra manpower requirement to operate the device, limitation in the capacity of the chamber (one man type), and the possible hazard of oxygen intoxication and dysbarism. The primary objective of this study is to develope a new therapeutic measure as an alternative to the hyperbaric chamber when it is not available or contraindicated. The effect of intestinal perfusion with hydrogen peroxide has been studied by many investigators and was known to be an excellent way of extrapulmonary oxygen supply. the advantage of this method will include; 1) much more amount of oxygen is delivered to the tissue than one would expect from 100% saturation with oxygen at 1 ata, 2) the procedure is simple and most economical, 3) neither sophisticated equipment nor extra manpower is required. As a study preliminary to the clinical application, authors conducted a series of experiment to observe the effect of hydrogen peroxide enema on dissociation of carboxyhemoglobin in intoxicated rabbit blood. Using an animal gas chamber, 20 rabbits were exposed to CO gas of 6,000 ppm for 60 minutes. Ten rabbits of control group were given 10cc of warmed normal saline solution by reactal perfusion and for the other 10 of the experimental group, the same amount of 1% $H_{2}O_{2}$ solution was given by the same way. Two blood specimens were drawn from each rabbit: the first one immediately following the exposure and the second one after rectal perfusion, about 30 minutes after the first sampling. The result was as follows; 1) The decrease in carboxyhemoglobin concentration during the first 30 minutes in the control and experimental group were $18.18{\pm}4.49%\;and\;23.03{\pm}4.13%$ respectively shelving the significant difference (p<0.05) between the two groups. 2) Hemoglobin and hematocrit value showed no significant difference between two groups and not altered significantly by intestinal perfusion with $H_{2}O_{2}$.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.361-365
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• 1999

In order to inspect safety and function regarding the reduction of cadmium poisoning by polyphenol compounds prepared from persimmon leaves (Diospyros kaki folium), animal test was done. Rats, group P-1 and P-2, were treated with cadmium and polyphenols of persimmon leaves. A control was just treated with cadmium. GOT activities in P-1 and in P-2 were lower than that of the control without considerable difference, whereas GPT activities decreased in P-1 and P-2. The SOD activity of liver tissue increased in P-l and P-2 compared with that of the control. GST activity was higher than that of the control without considerable difference in P-1; however, it increased in P-2. Lipid peroxide value considerably increased in both P-1 and P-2.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.361-368
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• 1994

Teratogenic and embryotoxic effects of mercury have been reported, however, there is little information about possible antidotes against mercury exposure during gestation. In order to evaluate therapeutic effects of selenium as an antidote against mercury poisoning, pregnant CD-1 mice were exposed to methylmercury chloride(20ppm) through the drinking water with treatment of sodium selenite (1.0mg, 2.0mg or 3.0mg/kg b.w., subcutaneously) or BAL(5.0mg/kg b.w., subcutaneously) under the single or combination base as the therapeutic agents from day 6 to 15 of gestation. Fetal growth parameters such as body weight and crown-rump length in the mice exposed to mercury, were reduced as was placental weight compared to those in the control. Treatment of selenium(alone, combination with BAL) reduced the harmful effects induced by mercury on the fetal growth parameters even though no specific relationship between dose and therapeutic effect. The incidence of dead fetuses/resorptions and malformed fetuses(especially cleft palate) was also increased in the mercury only treated group. Selenium treatment demonostrated reduced the incidence of abnormal fetuses under the exposure of mercury. Relative maternal organ weights(liver, kidney, spleen) were increased significantly but relative brain weight was decreased as evidenced by decreased in the mercury treated mice compared to that in the control. A subtle indication of maternal mercury toxicity evidenced by changes of relative maternal organ weights, decreased water and feed consumption were also prevented efficiently by selenium treatment. The present study suggests that methylmercuric chloride is embrytoxic and teratogenic in CD-1 mice when exposured during organogenesis and that selenium administration may have therapeutic application for the treatment of mercury poisoning although more applicable study in human should be performed with caution in the future.