• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.235-240
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• 2015

Seasonal variation in the prevalence of norovirus in oysters Crassostrea gigas was investigated and compared to levels of Escherichia coli, a fecal indicator in oysters. Oysters were collected from Iwon-myeon, Taean-gun, Korea, a primary production area for European Union export of oysters between 2013 and 2014. We observed seasonality in the prevalence of norovirus in oysters, with a higher prevalence and viral load detected during winter months. Oysters taken from production areas that complied with the European Union standard for raw consumption (< 230 MPN/100 g of E. coli) had 22.1% of the samples test positive for norovirus (15/68 samples). However, norovirus was not detected in any of the samples (0%, 0/4 samples) that were collected from production sites that exceeded the standard fecal contamination level for raw consumption (> 230 MPN/100 g of E. coli). These results indicated that there is a negative correlation between the prevalence of norovirus and high levels of E. coli in oysters. Therefore, our results suggest that current food safety guidelines using only a bacterial fecal contamination indicator, E. coli, may not adequately assess shellfish production areas for viral and bacterial contamination.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.133-140
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• 2021

This study was aimed to investigate the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of Pseudomonas spp. isolated from bovine mastitis milk samples. A total of 50 (4.9%) Pseudomonas spp. was isolated from 1,023 samples, those collected between 2018 and 2021, derived from 110 dairy farms. The prevalence of the identified species of Pseudomonas isolates was as follows; P. aeruginosa (70.0%), P. fluorescens (14.0%), P. putida (10.0%), P. fragi (4.0%), and P. chlororaphis (2.0%). Most of somatic cell counts in the quarter milk carrying Pseudomonas spp. were less than 3,000,000 cell/ml (90.0%). The isolates of Pseudomonas spp. showed high susceptibility to cefepime (98.0%), ciprofloxacin (98.0%), ceftazidime (96.0%), and colistin (96.0%). The rate of antibiotic resistance in the isolates was highest to ceftiofur (92.0%), followed by the resistance rate to chloramphenicol (86.0%) and trimethoprim/sulphamethoxazole (80.0%). In addition, there is a remarkable difference in antimicrobial resistance pattern among Pseudomonas species. P. aeruginosa and P. putida showed a similar resistance pattern, whereas P. fluorescens showed exceptionally lower resistance to trimethoprim/sulphamethoxazole and chloramphenicol than that of the other species. This study showed that prevalence of Pseudomonas spp. other than P. aeruginosa were 30.0% in bovine mastitis milk, and the occurrence rate of antibiotic resistance were similar or higher level, compared with the previous reports on the mastitisderived Pseudomonas spp. isolated in Korea.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.61 no.9
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• pp.291-300
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• 2018

Purpose: Understanding changes in pathogen and pneumonia prevalence among pediatric pneumonia patients is important for the prevention of infectious diseases. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data of children younger than 18 years diagnosed with pneumonia at 117 Emergency Departments in Korea between 2007 and 2014. Results: Over the study period, 329,380 pediatric cases of pneumonia were identified. The most frequent age group was 1-3 years old (48.6%) and the next was less than 12 months of age (17.4%). Based on International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision diagnostic codes, confirmed cases of viral pneumonia comprised 8.4% of all cases, pneumonia due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae comprised 3.8% and confirmed cases of bacterial pneumonia 1.3%. The prevalence of confirmed bacterial pneumonia decreased from 3.07% in 2007 and 4.01% in 2008 to 0.65% in 2014. The yearly rate of pneumococcal pneumonia also decreased from 0.47% in 2007 to 0.08% in 2014. A periodic prevalence of M. pneumoniae pneumonia (MP) was identified. Conclusion: The increased number of patients with pneumonia, bacterial pneumonia, pleural effusion, and empyema in 2011 and 2013-2014 resulted from an MP epidemic. We provide evidence that the frequency of confirmed cases of bacterial pneumonia and pneumococcal pneumonia has declined from 2007 to 2014, which can simultaneously reflect the effectiveness of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.327-335
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• 2006

An epidemiological survey of human enterobacterial infections was conducted to determine the prevalence of enteropathogens in the Republic of Korea during one year, 2003. We tested for infectious diseases in 26,992 stool samples obtained from people who visited clinics located in six big cities and six rural provinces. From these samples, we isolated 1,291 cases of enteritis bacterial infection (4.8%). In the urban areas, 821 cases of bacterial infection (6.4%) were identified and, in the rural areas, 479 bacterial strains (3.3%) were isolated. Seasonal patterns were seen for diarrhea associated with S. aureus, S. coli and V. parahaemolyticus, while Salmonella and Shigella infections showed slight seasonal variation. We found that S. aureus and Salmonella were more frequently isolated from children and the elderly; however, the prevalence of E. coli, V. parahaemolyticus, and Shigella were similar in different age groups. Routine monitoring of these infections is considered a worthwhile means by which to elucidate their epidemiology and modes of transmission and ultimately to control them more effectively. Continuous laboratory-based surveillance for findings of enteritis bacterial infection should be emphasized in the prevention of these infections.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.217-226
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• 2016

Seasonal prevalence of bacterial canker of kiwifruit caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa) was investigated at a naturally infected orchard in Boseong, Jeonnam in 2014 and 2015. Stem canker began to occur in mid-February in 2014 and early March in 2015. Bacterial ooze was observed on canes, leaders and trunks until late May and gradually disappeared thereafter. The percentages of infected trees were 44.7% and 69.7% in 2014 and 2015, respectively. Trees with trunk canker in a previous year died in 2015. Leaf canker symptoms began to appear as brown spots with chlorotic halos in early May and irregular dark brown spots without halos were observed under humid conditions. Leaf canker progressed until mid-July in 2014 and late July in 2015. No Psa was detected from the leaf lesions on leaves thereafter, but new infection of Psa was observed on leaves in late October. Infected blossoms with blighted calyx were sometimes observed from mid-May. Optimal monitoring period to detect Psa was May when it could be easily detected from stems, leaves and blossoms. Disease cycle of bacterial canker of kiwifruit modified for Korea was proposed based on the seasonal prevalence of bacterial canker analyzed according to weather data in Boseong, Jeonnam over 2 years.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.147-150
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• 2014

Q-fever is a vector-borne (Coxiella [C.] burnetii) zoonotic disease that is an increasing public health concern. To date, some research about Q-fever prevalence in dairy herds and human patients has been reported in Korea, but information about Korean native cattle is scarce. To measure the prevalence rates of C. burnetii in Korean native cattle, a total of 1,095 bovine serum samples collected during 2010~2013 were analyzed with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Sixty-eight heads of cattle were diagnosed as positive and while 19 heads were suspected (positive rate = 6.2%). Interestingly, Jeju province had a seropositivity rate six times greater than that of other provinces (18.9% vs. 3.2%). High seroprevalence might be caused by wide distribution of ticks in Jeju province compared to other regions. Based on these data, extensive monitoring of C. burnetii infection in cattle, tick distribution, and climate changes is required.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.10
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• pp.1730-1735
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• 2018

Bacterial pneumonia is one of the most common causes of mortality in Korea. In 2016, the mortality rate from pneumonia was 16,476 deaths per 100,000, which was an 11% increase from the previous year. The aim of our study was to determine the distribution of the bacterial pathogens causing respiratory symptoms in different age groups over a 10-year period. Between January 2008 and September 2017, 1,861 specimens from 1,664 patients admitted to Dankook University Hospital with respiratory symptoms were examined. We used multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect six bacterial pneumonia pathogens: Bordetella pertussis, Chlamydophila pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Legionella pneumophila, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and Streptococcus pneumoniae. We detected bacterial pneumonia pathogens in 1,281 (68.83%) specimens. Of the 1,709 pathogens detected, S. pneumoniae was the most common (48.57%; n = 830) followed by H. influenzae (40.08%; n = 685). Most infections were found among children younger than 10 years (92.69%; n = 1,584). Although S. pneumoniae was the most common pathogen detected in all age groups, M. pneumoniae infection increased in prevalence with age (p < 0.05). The rate of co-infection was also high among these patients (31.1%; n = 399), which peaked in 2015 (54.55%; n = 42/77). The prevalence of bacterial pneumonia in Cheonan, along with the proportion of co-infections among patients increased over the 10-year study period. The findings will aid the development of treatment and prevention guidelines.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.315-320
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• 2021

To analyze prevalence of mycotoxins, a total of 74 feedstuff samples were collected from silos (n=37) and hoppers (n=37) in nine pig farms. Six mycotoxins were tested with commercialized ELISA kits. All samples were contaminated with four or more mycotoxins. Zearalenone was detected in all of the tested samples. Ochratoxin, deoxynivalenol and H-2/HT-2 toxin were detected in more than 90% of the samples. And also, fumonisin was positive in 89.2% of the samples from the silos, 75.2% from the hoppers, respectively. On the other hand, aflatoxin was detected in about 40% of the samples. When the behavior of lactating sows was observed, possible mycotoxicosis was suspected. It was confirmed that their feedstuffs were contaminated with high levels of mycotoxins such as ochratoxin and T-2/HT-2 toxin. After cleaning the feedline, the clinical symptoms in sows suspected with mycotoxicosis were disappeared. Although mycotoxin concentration in most of the feedstuffs was below the acceptance level, these data indicate that what are required is more monitoring and continuous management for mycotoxins in pig feedstuffs.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.89-94
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• 2001

In order to investigate the relationship between milk hygienic quality and some environmental factors such as the herd size and types of milking machines, we sampled and examined the level of total bacterial count, coliforms, Staphyococcus aureus, somatic cell counts(SCC) and fat rates in raw milk. of the 84 dairy farms, the prevalence of level on number of standard plate count over 100,000cfu/$m\ell$ and coliforms over 1,000cfu/$m\ell$ in bulk milk were 25.0% and 15.6%, respectively. Also, 2 farms(2.4%) were exceed the level on number of 500cfu/$m\ell$ S aureus in raw milk. The prevalence of dairy herd with first grade of total bacterial count(TBC) according to bucket, pipe line and parlour milking system was 40.0%, 74.0% and 84.0%, respectively. The prevalence of dairy herd with first grade of TBC according to grade 1, 2 and 3 by SCC was 77.8%, 83.2%. and 69.2%, respectively. Therefore, the relationships between hygienic quality in raw milk and the herd size, types of milking machines, were significant. In conclusion, this study could be overemphasized the importance of herd management condition for milk hygienic qualify.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.529-537
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• 2023

Plant pathogenic bacteria colonize plant surfaces and inner tissues to acquire essential nutrients. Nonstructural sugars hold paramount significance among these nutrients, as they serve as pivotal carbon sources for bacterial sustenance. They obtain sugar from their host by diverting nonstructural carbohydrates en route to the sink or enzymatic breakdown of structural carbohydrates within plant tissues. Despite the prevalence of research in this domain, the area of sugar selectivity and preferences exhibited by plant pathogenic bacteria remains inadequately explored. Within this expository framework, our present review endeavors to elucidate the intricate variations characterizing the distribution of simple sugars within diverse plant tissues, thus influencing the virulence dynamics of plant pathogenic bacteria. Subsequently, we illustrate the apparent significance of comprehending the bacterial preference for specific sugars and sugar alcohols, postulating this insight as a promising avenue to deepen our comprehension of bacterial pathogenicity. This enriched understanding, in turn, stands to catalyze the development of more efficacious strategies for the mitigation of plant diseases instigated by bacterial pathogens.