• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• 제34권3호
• /
• pp.287-293
• /
• 2011

Analysing companion species from unrelated taxa concentrated so far mainly on identifying biosurrogacy in terms of conservation biology. No study has investigated companion bird and plant species to predict breeding and migrant habitats of a bird genus. In this study we recorded and analysed companion bird and plant species of the breeding bird Cyprus Wheatear Oenanthe cypriaca and four migranting Oenanthe species on Cyprus. We found characteristic companion species in Cyprus Wheatear's, Wheatear migrant's and in control habitats where no Wheatears were present. We show that plant and bird companion species can be used as discriminating factors to predict breeding and migrant habitats of the genus Oenanthe on Cyprus. Furthermore, habitat preferences of Cyprus Wheatear's companion species indicate bushy and vegetation rich habitats avoiding woodland on the one hand and managed farmland on the other hand. In comparison, migrant Wheatear and control habitats were characterised by companion species pointing to a high openness. These results support former habitat descriptions of Cyprus Wheatear and migrant Wheatears. In more general, this study shows that companion species from unrelated taxa can be used to predict breeding and migrant habitats of a bird genus.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
• /
• 제22권2호
• /
• pp.17.1-17.13
• /
• 2021

Background: Klebsiella spp. is an important conditional pathogen in humans and animals. However, due to the indiscriminate use of antibiotics, the incidence of antimicrobial resistance has increased. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate antimicrobial resistance in strains of Klebsiella strains and the phylogenetic relatedness of extended-spectrum cephalosporin (ESC)-resistance among Klebsiella strains isolated from clinically ill companion animals. Methods: A total of 336 clinical specimens were collected from animal hospitals. Identification of Klebsiella species, determination of minimum inhibitory concentrations, detection of ESC resistance genes, polymerase chain reaction-based replicon typing of plasmids by conjugation, and multilocus sequence typing were performed. Results: Forty-three Klebsiella strains were isolated and, subsequently, 28 were identified as K. pneumoniae, 11 as K. oxytoca, and 4 as K. aerogenes. Eleven strains were isolated from feces, followed by 10 from ear, 7 from the nasal cavity, 6 from urine, 5 from genitals, and 4 from skin. Klebsiella isolates showed more than 40% resistance to penicillin, cephalosporin, fluoroquinolone, and aminoglycoside. ESCresistance genes, CTX-M groups (CTX-M-3, CTX-M-15, and CTX-M-65), and AmpC (CMY-2 and DHA-1) were most common in the K. pneumoniae strains. Some K. pneumoniae carrying CTX-M or AmpC were transferred via IncFII plasmids. Two sequence types, ST709 and ST307, from K. pneumoniae were most common. Conclusions: In conclusion, this is the first report on the prevalence, ESCresistance genotypes, and sequence types of Klebsiella strains isolated from clinically ill companion animals. The combination of infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance by Klebsiella in companion animals suggest that, in clinical veterinary, antibiotic selection should be made carefully and in conjunction with the disease diagnosis.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• 제56권3호
• /
• pp.281-285
• /
• 2018

Cryptosporidium is the most common protozoan that can infect a wide range of animals, including mammals and birds. Avian Cryptosporidium spp. can cause enteric and respiratory diseases which can be fatal in birds and some species are zoonotic. Companion birds have the potential as reservoir due to their close contact with humans. Pet shops are the major source of companion birds. However, few reports are available regarding Cryptosporidium spp. infection among companion birds kept in pet shops. The present study reports the prevalence and molecular characteristics of Cryptosporidium spp. among companion birds kept in pet shops in Japan. A total of 265 fresh fecal samples were obtained from birds kept in 4 pet shops; these birds belonged to 41 species in 3 bird orders. A nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay targeting the small subunit rRNA gene was employed for the detection of Cryptosporidium spp. A total of 24 samples (9.1%) were positive, and Cryptosporidium spp. were detected from all pet shops. The prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. in each of the bird orders was 6.5% (10/153) in Psittaciformes, 14.4% (13/90) in Passeriformes, and 4.5% (1/22) in Galliformes. Based on sequence analysis, 13 (54.2%) isolates were classified to C. galli, 8 (33.3%) were avian genotype III, and the remaining 3 (12.5%) were C. baileyi. No infection with zoonotic C. meleagridis and no coinfection with multiple Cryptosporidium spp. and/or genotypes were observed. The zoonotic potential of Cryptosporidium spp. infecting companion birds kept in pet shops in Japan is likely to be low.

• 한국축산식품학회지
• /
• 제42권4호
• /
• pp.609-624
• /
• 2022

Tenebrio molitor larvae, as known as edible insects, has advantages of being rich in protein, and has been recognized as a suitable alternate protein source for broiler and pig feed. Moreover, given their ability to biodegrade polystyrene, a major pollutant, Tenebrio molitor larvae has been proposed as an innovative solution to environmental problems. In the present study, we investigated the toxicity of Tenebrio molitor larvae powder (TMlp) ingested with expanded-polystyrene (W/ eps) through in vitro and in vivo experiments. The objective of this study was to determine whether TMlp W/ eps can be applied as livestock alternative protein source. For in vitro experiments, cytotoxicity test was performed to investigate the effects of TMlp-extract on the viability of estrogen-dependent MCF-7 cells. The possibility of estrogen response was investigated in two groups: Expanded-polystyrene-fed (W/ eps) TMlp group and without expanded-polystyrene-fed (W/o eps) TMlp group. For in vivo experiments, The male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided based on the dosage of TMlp administered and oral administration was performed to every day for 5 weeks. A toxicological assessments were performed, which included clinical signs, food consumption, body and organ weights, hematology, serum chemistry, and hematoxylin and eosin staining of liver and kidney. There were no specific adverse effect of TMlp W/ eps-related findings under the experimental conditions of this study, but further studies on both sexes and animal species differences should be investigated. In conclusion, TMlp W/ eps was considered non-toxic and observed to be applicable as an alternative protein source for livestock feed.

• 한국환경과학회지
• /
• 제32권12호
• /
• pp.973-978
• /
• 2023

This study determined the mechanisms of selection of companion plants that will increase natural enemies and compared and analyzed the effect of suppression of pest density and changes in pest and natural enemy density and spatial distribution, aiming to select suitable companion plants to control major pests that are problematic in organic tomato facility cultivation. As a result of the companion plant selection, 13.5 days were identified in the area with daily flowers among five species of flowering plants. In the experiment to determine the timing of natural enemies, the best results were found in the treatment group introduced two weeks before the pest occurred. As a result of the actual package test, farmers could see that the density of greenhouse pollen decreased significantly (100-500% for adults and 11-67% for larvae compared to no treatment) in the treatment with companion plants. Based on the results of this study, we expect that ecological pest management using companion plants that attract natural enemies will help to increase biodiversity through vegetation management, secure the safe production of organic products and improve the sustainability of agriculture.

• 한국습지학회지
• /
• 제13권3호
• /
• pp.613-621
• /
• 2011

조름나물(Menyanthes trifoliata L.)은 주로 산지습지에 서식하는 우리나라 멸종위기 식물로, 인간에 의한 교란과 기후변화로 서식지가 감소되고 있다. 생물의 서식을 제한하는 요인으로 환경과 종간경쟁이 있으므로 조름나물의 분포가 제한되는 이유를 이해하기 위해서는 서식 환경 뿐아니라 함께 서식하는 다른 종의 영향을 살펴보는 것이 중요하다. 본 연구에서는 서식 기질과 동반종이 조름나물의 서식에 미치는 영향을 살펴보고자 하였다. 서식기질로는 물이끼 매트와 논흙을 두었으며, 각 조건에서의 식생과 조름나물의 생장을 비교하였다. 그 결과, 물이끼 매트에서 조름나물의 상대피도가 높았으며, 조름나물보다 초고가 큰 종은 적었다. 반면, 논흙에서는 많은 종이 조름나물에 비해 높은 초고를 보였다. 조름나물의 최대 피도는 물, 물이끼 매트, 논흙 조건 순으로 낮아졌다. 이를 통해 조름나물은 식물 간의 경쟁에 의해 생육이 제한됨을 확인하였다. 조건 간 조름나물의 초고는 큰 차이가 없어, 조름나물은 위로 성장하여 경쟁력을 키우기 보다는 다른 식물이 잘 살지 못하는 곳으로 지하경을 확장하여 경쟁력을 확보하는 것으로 보인다. 본 연구결과 조름나물의 보존 또는 서식지 조성을 위해서는 조름나물 이외의 식물이 잘 자라지 못하는 조건을 만들어 주어야 함을 제안한다.

• 한국융합학회논문지
• /
• 제7권2호
• /
• pp.7-12
• /
• 2016

반려동물을 키우는 사람들이 가장 중요시 여기는 부분이 바로 반려동물의 건강이다. 하지만 많은 사람들이 자신의 반려견이 비만인지 여부를 모르고 있다. 통계에 따르면 비만을 앓고 있는 반려견은 40%나 된다고 한다. 우리가 설계 개발한 이 앱은 현재 사용자가 많은 Android OS 기반의 Device에서 제공하고 있다. 어플리케이션 용량을 줄이기 위해 견종에 따른 표준 체중과 예방접종 시기 같은 데이터는 서버에 데이터베이스화 하였고 사용자가 입력을 하면 서버에 있는 데이터를 분석하여 현재의 상태를 보여준다. 아울러 커뮤니티 공간을 연계 구현하여 사용자 간의 정보를 나눌 수 있도록 설계하였다.

• 환경생물
• /
• 제38권1호
• /
• pp.197-205
• /
• 2020

본 연구는 경관식재용 지피식물의 혼식 설계를 위하여 생활형이 다른 9종의 식물의 연중 생장 특성을 파악하고 식물들 간의 피복 특성을 분석하여 생활형에 따른 적정 식재조합을 도출하고자 본 연구를 실시하였다. 단립형으로 초장 20 cm 이상 생장하는 둥굴레, 맥문동, 일월비비추는 4월 식재 후 60일 이내 생육이 증가한 후 형태를 유지하였다가 9월 이후 지상부가 퇴화하며 휴면기에 들어가는 경향을 보였고, 분지형으로 20 cm 이하로 생장하는 바위취, 패랭이꽃, 애기기린초는 4월 식재 후 9월까지 지속적으로 생장하다가 9월 이후 생장이 감소하는 특성을 나타냈다. 포복형으로 지면에 붙어서 생장하는 리시마키아는 식재 후 3개월 경과부터 급속한 생장을 보였으며 돌나물은 8월까지 서서히 생장하다가 온도가 하강하는 9월부터 지상부가 퇴화하는 특성을 보였다. 꽃잔디는 초반 생장은 좋았으나 개화기가 지나고 난 후에는 전반적인 생육발달이 더뎌져 식재 후 7개월 동안 11.0%의 낮은 생장 특성을 보였다. 이와 같이 각기 다르게 생장하는 9종의 식물들을 혼식하였을 때 피복하는 특성을 조사한 결과 각 식물의 생장 특성이 피복에 영향을 미치는 것을 알 수 있었는데, 초장이 10~20 cm 자라며 로제트형으로 자라는 형태와 포복형 식물들의 조합이 높은 피복률을 나타냈다. 식물별로는 포복형인 돌나물이 맥문동, 일월비비추, 패랭이꽃, 애기기린초, 꽃잔디 등이 가장 많은 식물들과 혼식하였을 때 생장이 증가하는 종이었다. 로제트형 중에서는 일월비비추가 애기기린초, 바위취, 리시마키아, 돌나물과 동반생장이 가능한 종이었고, 지표면에서 분지가 밀생하여 자라는 패랭이꽃은 잎이 밀생하지 않는 맥문동, 바위취, 리시마키아, 돌나물과 혼식이 유리한 경향을 나타났다. 이 결과는 식물의 생장형 분류 중 근경이 분지하는 종보다 땅위로 뻗는 줄기로 번식하거나 무근경으로 영양 생장하는 종이 다른 종들과 혼식하기에 좋은 유형이라고 사료되었다.

• 한국동물위생학회지
• /
• 제35권4호
• /
• pp.289-294
• /
• 2012

Mycoplasmas are highly fastidious bacteria, difficult to culture and slow growing. Infections with Mycoplasma species can cause a variety of problems in living organisms and in vitro cell cultures. In this study, we investigated the usefulness of a genus-specific consensus PCR analysis method to detect Mycoplasma species. The developed consensus primer pairs MycoF and MycoR were designed specifically to amplify the 16S ribosomal RNA gene (rRNA) of Mycoplasma species by the optimized PCR system. The developed consensus PCR system effectively amplified 215 bp of Mycoplasma genus-specific region of 16S rRNA. In conclusion, we recommend this consensus PCR for monitoring Mycoplasma species in animals, human and cell culture system.

• 한국동물위생학회지
• /
• 제36권2호
• /
• pp.67-71
• /
• 2013

Neonatal infection caused by Cronobacter species can result in serious illnesses such as bacteremia, septicemia, meningitis, and death in at-risk infants who are orally fed contaminated reconstituted powdered infant formulas. The objective of this study was to compare the virulence among three Cronobacter species strains by using an animal model for human neonatal Cronobacter species infections. We acquired timed-pregnant ICR mice and all owed them to give birth naturally. On postnatal day 3, each pup was administered orally a total dose of $1{\times}10^7$ CFU Cronobacter species strain 3439, CDC 1123-79, and 3231. Mice were observed twice daily for morbidity and mortality. At postnatal day 10, the remaining pups were euthanized, and brain, liver, and cecum were excised and analyzed for the presence of Cronobacter species. Cronobacter species were isolated from cecum and other tissues in inoculated mice. In the tissues of Cronobacter species infected mice, meningitis and gliosis were detected in the brain. In this study, we identified the virulence among Cronobacter species strains by using a neonatal mice model which was a very effective animal model for human neonatal Cronobacter species infections.