• 대한수의학회지
• /
• 제58권3호
• /
• pp.125-129
• /
• 2018

We investigated the prevalence of canine brucellosis in companion and stray dogs between March 2015 and December 2016 and determined the disease characteristics based on the geographic distribution, sex and age of the dogs in South Korea. We conducted a large-scale survey using serological and bacteriological tests. Samples were collected from 2,394 dogs (1,825 companions and 569 strays). Thirty (1.3%) samples were positive for Brucella canis antibodies including 16 (0.9%) from companion dogs and 14 (2.5%) from stray dogs. Two (1.0%) of the 196 samples cultured from the stray dogs were positive. When compared with male dogs, the female companion and stray dogs had a significantly higher prevalence of brucellosis. Moreover, the prevalence of canine brucellosis was significantly higher in stray dogs older than 6 years and the prevalence of the disease in companion dogs was highest in Incheon (2.1%) and Jeolla (2.1%) provinces. Stray dogs from the Daejeon metropolitan area had the highest prevalence of brucellosis (7.9%). National control measures for canine brucellosis have not previously been implemented. Our findings suggest that appropriate screening tests and control measures are necessary to improve the health of dogs and to protect public health in Korea, particularly with the rapid growth of the companion animal industry.

• 한국식품영양학회지
• /
• 제23권1호
• /
• pp.124-133
• /
• 2010

The total number of the dogs bred in Korea as of 2007 was 1,917,709, and among them, 77%, 1,476,776 dogs were edible dogs. Dogmeat has been legalized edible as food from Choseon dynasty, Daehan imperial state, Japan-occupied era till the present Korea. Dogs had been included in the article 2, Enforcement Ordinance of Processing and Disposal Rule of Livestock and Its Products until the end of Jan. 1979, but it was crossed out by the Notification No 3,005(Feb. 1 1979 effective) of the Minister of Agriculture and Marine Products, and as a result, the obligation that dogs should be slaughtered at the slaughtering ground was defunct. Thus, the arbitrarily dog slaughtering was empowered. As a matter of fact, the new law was not legalized in order to ban dogs from being slaughtered. The waste amount of slaughtered edible dogs amounts to 7,282 tons annually, and most of its waste from the arbitrarily-slaughtered dog is being illegally dumped without proper management and supervision. Edible dogs defecate 292,509 tons(calculates urine as dung) annually, but it is sanitarily disposed according to the Law of Management and Use of Livestock's Dung and Urine which took effective from Sep. 2009. Annual sales amount of edible dogs comes to 590 billion won on the basis of the shipment at breeding ground, but after passing through various level of marketing, and being processed as Gaesoju, and Boshintang, it forms 4 trillion won market when it reaches customers. The amount of food waste in Korea in 2007 came to 5,274,944 tons, and 633 billion won was spent for its disposal cost. Korean edible dogs of 1,476,776 heads consumed 1,266,705 tons, the 24% of total food waste. Edible dogs are the most effective means to convert food waste into food for man, not entailing the cost of disposal. On the other hand, pet dog culture brought about disposal cost, and the 51,188 dogs were abandoned at 2007, while 7 billion won was spent for the protection, euthanasia of them and the disposal of their dead bodies.

• 한국임상수의학회지
• /
• 제21권4호
• /
• pp.343-348
• /
• 2004

This study was carried out to investigate the difference between sutured anastomosis and stapler anastomosis (open lumina technique) of jejunum in dogs. Fifteen mongrel-breed female dogs weighting 4 to 6 kgs were allocated to three groups; sutured end-to-end anastomosis (Group I), sutured side-to-side anastomosis (Group II) and stapler anastomosis (Group III), five dogs per each group. All dogs in different anastomosis pattern were compared with time for total operation and suture elapsed for intestines to anastomose, clinical signs, status of feces, complications for 14 days after operation. The total operation time and suture time needed for intestinal anastomosis were significantly(p<0.05) shorter in Group III than Group I and II. All dogs showed no significant difference in vitality, appetite, vomiting between groups for 14 days after operation. All dogs, except one dog in Group II, showed normal vitality and appetite since 7-8 days after operation. Initial return of fecal passage showed in all dogs 8 days after operation and thereafter normal feces were observed in most of the dogs. According to results, all dogs with normal vitality and appetite for 8 days showed good prognosis. In complications after operation, only one dog in Group II showed dehiscence of anastomotic site. There was significant(p<0.05) differences between groups in speed of operation. And all dogs, except one dog in Group II, showed good clinical condition and prognosis. In conclusion, the stapler anastomosis is considered to be more reliable, faster, and precision method compared to the sutured anastomosis for intestinal anastomosis in dogs.

• 대한수의학회지
• /
• 제57권1호
• /
• pp.17-21
• /
• 2017

The aim of this study was to compare serum nitrotyrosine concentrations in healthy dogs with those in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD). Fifty client-owned dogs were included in this study. Based on echocardiographic results, dogs were categorized into healthy (control), mild-, moderate-, and severe-MMVD groups. Serum nitrotyrosine concentrations were determined from enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. No significant difference between control dogs and dogs with mild MMVD was detected (p = 0.31). However, dogs with moderate MMVD had significantly higher serum concentrations of nitrotyrosine (p = 0.04) than that in controls, and dogs with severe MMVD had significantly lower serum concentrations of nitrotyrosine (p = 0.03) than that in moderate MMVD dogs. There were negative correlations in the association of serum nitrotyrosine with age (n = 30, $R^2=0.067$, p = 0.27), left atrial-to-aortic root diameter ratio (n = 30, $R^2=0.02$, p = 0.57), and platelet count (n = 30, $R^2=0.39$, p = 0.003); however, only the platelet correlation was significant. Among dogs with MMVD, there was no significant difference in serum nitrotyrosine concentration between males and females. The results of this study suggest that tyrosine nitration end-products might be potential biomarkers for the detection of MMVD in dogs.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• 제41권4호
• /
• pp.243-245
• /
• 2003

Neospora caninum is an important cause of abortion in cattle, and dogs are its only known definitive host. Its seroprevalence among domestic urban and rural dogs and feral raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides koreensis) in Korea was studied by indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) and by the neospora agglutination test (NAT), respectively. Antibodies to N. caninum were found in 8.3% of urban dogs and in 21.6% of dogs at dairy farms. Antibody titers ranged from 1:50 to 1:400. Antibodies to N. caninum were found in six (23%) of 26 raccoon dogs. However, the potential role of raccoon dogs as a source of horizontal transmission of bovine neosporosis needs further investigation. The results of this study suggest that there is a close relationship between N. caninum infection among dairy farm dogs and cattle in Korea. This study reports for the first time upon the seroprevalence of N. caninum infection in raccoon dogs in Korea.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
• /
• 제22권6호
• /
• pp.79.1-79.14
• /
• 2021

Background: In contrast to human medicine, only a small number of serum tumor markers are established in veterinary medicine even though they are a non-invasive diagnostic tool. Objectives: This study examined whether survivin could be suitable as a potential canine serum tumor marker. Methods: This study measured the serum survivin concentrations of dogs with mammary tumors (n = 33), squamous cell carcinoma (n = 9), soft-tissue sarcoma (n = 18) and multicentric lymphoma (n = 22), using a commercially available, competitive immunoassay kit (BlueGene). The serum survivin concentrations were compared with those of a healthy control group (n = 20) and a control group of dogs with non-neoplastic diseases (n = 17). Results: Dogs with malignant tumors had serum survivin concentrations between 15 and 5,906 pg/mL (median, 72 pg/mL), those in the healthy group ranged from 7 to 99 pg/mL (median, 21 pg/mL) and those in the group of dogs suffering from non-neoplastic diseases from 15 to 93 pg/mL (median, 42 pg/mL). The differences in the survivin concentrations between the healthy dogs and dogs with malignant tumors and between the dogs with non-neoplastic diseases and those with malignant tumors were significant (p < 0.001 and p = 0.006, respectively). Conclusions: The serum survivin concentrations in dogs with malignant tumors, with some exceptions, are higher than in dogs with benign tumors and dogs that do not suffer from a malignancy. Therefore, survivin can provide information on the presence of malignant tumors and be used as a tumor marker in dogs.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
• /
• 제22권5호
• /
• pp.75.1-75.10
• /
• 2021

Background: Programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) and programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) have important roles in tumor evasion of the immune system. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the diagnostic utility of circulating PD-1 and PD-L1 levels in healthy dogs and dogs with tumors. Methods: Circulating PD-1 and PD-L1 levels in the serum of 71 dogs with tumors were compared with those of 52 healthy dogs by performing enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: The ELISA results revealed higher circulating PD-1 and PD-L1 levels in dogs with tumors (2.9 [2.2-3.7] ng/mL; median [IQR] and 2.4 [1.4-4.4] ng/mL, respectively) than in healthy dogs (2.4 [1.9-3.0] ng/mL; p = 0.012 and 1.4 [0.9-2.1] ng/mL; p < 0.001, respectively). Especially, there was a significant difference in circulating PD-1 levels between healthy dogs and dogs with malignant epithelial tumors (2.4 [1.9-3.0] ng/mL and 3.1 [2.6-4.4] ng/mL, respectively; p < 0.01). In addition, there was a significant difference in circulating PD-L1 levels between healthy dogs and dogs with lymphomas (1.4 [0.9-2.1] ng/mL and 2.7 [1.6-5.8] ng/mL, respectively; p < 0.001). Conclusion: This study indicates that circulating PD-1 and PD-L1 have potential as tumor diagnostic biomarkers in dogs with tumors.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
• /
• 제21권3호
• /
• pp.44.1-44.10
• /
• 2020

Background: Congenital portosystemic shunt (cPSS) is one of the most common congenital disorders diagnosed in dogs. Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a frequent complication in dogs with a cPSS and is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Despite HE been a major cause of morbidity in dogs with a cPSS, little is known about the cellular changes that occur in the central nervous system of dogs with a cPSS. Objectives: The objective of this study was to characterise the histological changes in the cerebral cortex and cerebellum of dogs with cPSS with particular emphasis on astrocyte morphology. Methods: Eight dogs with a confirmed cPSS were included in the study. Results: Six dogs had substantial numbers of Alzheimer type II astrocytes and all cases had increased immunoreactivity for glial fibrillary acidic protein in the cerebral cortex, even if there were minimal other morphological changes. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that dogs with a cPSS have marked cellular changes in the cerebral cortex and cerebellum. The cellular changes that occur in the cerebral cortex and cerebellum of dogs with spontaneously arising HE are similar to changes which occur in humans with HE, further validating dogs with a cPSS as a good model for human HE.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
• /
• 제21권4호
• /
• pp.47.1-47.12
• /
• 2020

Background: Homocysteine (HCY) was evaluated in healthy and chronic enteropathic dogs, however no studies on dogs with immunosuppressant-responsive enteropathy are available. Objectives: The aim was to evaluate serum HCY concentrations and its prognostic role in dogs with immunosuppressant-responsive enteropathy compared to healthy dogs. Methods: Serum HCY concentration was statistically compared between 24 healthy dogs and 29 dogs with immunosuppressant-responsive enteropathy. Correlation analyses between serum total protein, albumin (ALB), C-reactive protein (CRP), folate and cobalamin, and serum HCY concentration were performed in immunosuppressant-responsive enteropathic dogs. Results: The associations between serum HCY concentration and clinical, histological, endoscopic scores and follow-up were evaluated. Mean serum HCY concentration was higher in immunosuppressant-responsive enteropathic dogs compared to control dogs (30.22 ± 8.67 µmol/L vs. 5.26 ± 2.78 µmol/L; p < 0.0001). No association between serum HCY concentration and total protein, ALB, CRP, folate concentration as well as, clinical score, histological and endoscopic scores was found. A negative correlation between serum HCY concentration and cobalamin was noted (p = 0.0025, r = -0.54). No significant difference in HCY was found between responsive and non-responsive dogs or between survivors and non-survivors. Conclusions: Although, serum HCY concentration was higher in immunosuppressant-responsive enteropathy, its prognostic value remains unclear. However, further prospective, large-scale studies are warranted to better investigate the possible prognostic role of HCY in immunosuppressant-responsive enteropathic dogs.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
• /
• 제21권1호
• /
• pp.7.1-7.13
• /
• 2020

Aging triggers cellular and molecular alterations, including genomic instability and organ dysfunction, which increases the risk of disease in mammals. Recently, due to the markedly growing number of aging dogs in the world, as much as 49% in total number of pet dogs, it is necessary to improve and maintain their quality of life by understanding of the biological effects of aging. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine specific biomarkers in aging dogs as a means of defining a set of hematological/biochemical biomarkers that influence the aging process. Blood samples were collected from younger (1-3 years) and older (7-10 years) dogs of middle/large size. The hematological/biochemistry analysis was performed to evaluate parameters significantly associated with age. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to target growth hormone (GH)/insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1), one of the main regulators of the aging process. Declining levels of total protein and increased levels of glucose in young dogs was observed regardless of their body size. Notably, a significantly high concentration of GH and IGF-1 in the younger dogs compared to the older dogs was found in middle/large-sized dogs. GH and IGF-1 were also found at significantly high levels in large-sized dogs compared to middle-sized dogs, suggesting a similar trend to that of elderly humans. Consequently, glucose, total protein, GH, and IGF-1 were identified as potential biomarkers for regulating the aging process in large/middle-sized dogs. These findings provide an invaluable insight into the mechanism of aging for the field of aging research.