• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제29권6호
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• pp.782-792
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• 2016

As the most common neurodegenerative diseases, Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) are two of the main health concerns for the elderly population. Recently, microRNAs (miRNAs) have been used as biomarkers of infectious, genetic, and metabolic diseases in humans but they have not been well studied in domestic animals. Here we describe a computational biology study in which human AD- and PD-associated miRNAs (ADM and PDM) were utilized to predict orthologous miRNAs in the following domestic animal species: dog, cow, pig, horse, and chicken. In this study, a total of 121 and 70 published human ADM and PDM were identified, respectively. Thirty-seven miRNAs were co-regulated in AD and PD. We identified a total of 105 unrepeated human ADM and PDM that had at least one 100% identical animal homolog, among which 81 and 54 showed 100% sequence identity with 241 and 161 domestic animal miRNAs, respectively. Over 20% of the total mature horse miRNAs (92) showed perfect matches to AD/PD-associated miRNAs. Pigs, dogs, and cows have similar numbers of AD/PD-associated miRNAs (63, 62, and 59). Chickens had the least number of perfect matches (34). Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses suggested that humans and dogs are relatively similar in the functional pathways of the five selected highly conserved miRNAs. Taken together, our study provides the first evidence for better understanding the miRNA-AD/PD associations in domestic animals, and provides guidance to generate domestic animal models of AD/PD to replace the current rodent models.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.317-320
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• 2015

H3N8 equine influenza virus (EIV) causes respiratory diseases in the horse population, and it has been demonstrated that EIV can transmit into dogs owing to its availability on receptors of canine respiratory epithelial cells. Recently, we isolated H3N8 EIV from an EIV-vaccinated horse that showed symptoms of respiratory disease, and which has a partially truncated nonstructural gene (NS). However, it is not clear that the NS-truncated EIV has an ability to cross the host species barrier from horses to dogs as well. Here, we experimentally infected the NS-truncated H3N8 EIV into dogs, and monitored their clinical signs and viral load in respiratory organs to determine the virus's transmissibility.

• 혜화의학회지
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.57-70
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• 2013

Objective: Today, the public concern for 'Companion Animal" as a family member is ever increasing. Accordingly, the cases of traditional veterinary medicine treatment targeting a companion animal has been increasing, but the traditional records in literature about this have hardly ever been introduced to academic circles. Hereupon, this writing is intending to collect the prescriptions, which were once used for treating canine diseases, in order to report them to academic circles first. Method: This writing recorded the information about canine diseases and their treatment from the books related to the orthodox oriental medicine in East Asia, and analyzed their meanings. Result: Intial records about canine diseases are found in East Asian traditional medicine books including "Bonchoseubyu"(741), "Ilwhajajegaboncho"(unidentifiable period), "Jeungryuboncho"(1082), etc. The disease perceived by humans at that time was "gwa"(a boil) which is a kind of skin ailments. In addition, these medicine books show that people at that time concentrated on the value of use of a dog as meat rather than a pain of a dog's diseases. "Hwalsujaju"(1873)which was established during the Qing Dynasty leaves the most abundant data on canine diseases. This book perceived a dog as a precious existence watching over human housing and property, according to which, canine diseases and treatment methods are subdivided. The prescriptions for a dog's disease in our country are identifiable only in "Jeungbodanbangshinpyeon"(1913)과 "Bijeongmanbyeongtongchibeop"(1933). These books include the prescriptions not only for a dog's disease but also for a disease of a cow, horse, sheep, chicken, and pig, etc. which are familiar to us. Conclusion: The prescriptions used for a dog in East Asia were different from those for people. It was found that they used a medicine noticeably for external application for easy treatment, and in case of the use of an internal medicine, they adopted a method of getting dogs to take a medicine mixed with rice or porridge for dogs. Such a clue will be applied to the traditional- medicine-based treatment of a companion animal for the time to come.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제27권9호
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• pp.1345-1354
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• 2014

Copy number variations (CNVs), important genetic factors for study of human diseases, may have as large of an effect on phenotype as do single nucleotide polymorphisms. Indeed, it is widely accepted that CNVs are associated with differential disease susceptibility. However, the relationships between CNVs and gene expression have not been characterized in the horse. In this study, we investigated the effects of copy number deletion in the blood and muscle transcriptomes of Thoroughbred racing horses. We identified a total of 1,246 CNVs of deletion polymorphisms using DNA re-sequencing data from 18 Thoroughbred racing horses. To discover the tendencies between CNV status and gene expression levels, we extracted CNVs of four Thoroughbred racing horses of which RNA sequencing was available. We found that 252 pairs of CNVs and genes were associated in the four horse samples. We did not observe a clear and consistent relationship between the deletion status of CNVs and gene expression levels before and after exercise in blood and muscle. However, we found some pairs of CNVs and associated genes that indicated relationships with gene expression levels: a positive relationship with genes responsible for membrane structure or cytoskeleton and a negative relationship with genes involved in disease. This study will lead to conceptual advances in understanding the relationship between CNVs and global gene expression in the horse.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• 제36권4호
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• pp.163-166
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• 2011

Oral viridans streptococci are recognized as one of the etiological agents of a variety of infectious diseases such as dental caries and infective endocarditis. Although antimicrobial susceptibility tests for these fastidious bacterial species are now established and standardized, a comparison between the broth microdilution and broth macrodilution tests has not previously been performed. This comparison was performed in the present study using the tests adopted by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) and seven clinical isolates of oral viridans streptococcal strains. A modified broth macrodilution susceptibility test method was also included in this analysis, in which the media was not supplemented with horse blood. The susceptibility interpretation category agreements were measured at 83% (broth microdilution versus broth macrodilution) and 71% (broth microdilution versus modified broth macrodilution). The interpretation category agreement between the broth macrodilution and modified broth macrodilution tests was also 83%. These data indicate that the interpretation of antibiotic susceptibility test results for oral viridans streptococci are influenced by the methods used.

• 한국임상수의학회지
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• 제36권5호
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• pp.245-247
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• 2019

Taylorella equigenitalis (T. equigenitalis), Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) are sexually transmittable bacteria known to cause venereal diseases (VD) in horses. T. equigenitalis causes contagious equine metritis (CEM), which is a considerable concern for equine breeding industry. K. pneumoniae and P. aeruginosa may cause endometritis and infertility in susceptible mares. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of these bacteria among breeding Thoroughbreds in South Korea. External genital swabs were collected from 178 breeding Thoroughbreds, including 11 stallions and 167 mares. The samples were tested using a commercial multiplex real-time PCR kit. T. equigenitalis, P. aeruginosa, and K. pneumoniae were present in 5.6%, 7.3%, and 5.6% of tested Thoroughbreds, respectively. The results highlight the need for regular testing of South Korean Thoroughbreds, particularly those used for breeding, for these bacteria. The regular pre-breeding test for these bacteria will prevent health complications for the horse and financial losses for the owner as a result of VD.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제53권2호
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• pp.163-167
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• 2015

This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence and to identify risk factors associated with Neospora spp. infection in horses in Jordan. Management related data were collected from each farm and individual horses. Sera from 227 horses from 5 of 6 climatic regions in Jordan were analyzed for the presence of antibodies to Neospora spp. by ELISA kit. The study was performed during spring of 2010. The association between seropositivity and risk factors was analyzed. A total of 7 (3%) of 227 sera had antibodies for Neospora spp. There was a significant regional difference (P=0.018) between the 5 climatic regions. Positive cases were located in Amman and Irbid, while the other regions (Zarqa, Jordan Valley, and Wadi Mousa) had zero prevalence. The use of anthelmintics at least once a year resulted in a significant reduction of the seroprevalence to Neospora spp. (1.6% vs 9.8%). However, this might be a phenomenon by chance and a better hygiene since owners can invest in anthelmintics. Other risk factors such as age, gender, breed, usage, body condition score, grazing, presence of other animals mixed with the horses in the same property, and a history of previous diseases were not significantly associated with the seroprevalence to Neospora spp. infection. This is the first study to report on the presence of Neospora seropositive horses in Jordan. Further studies are warranted to better understand the role of certain risk factors in the transmission of Neospora spp. among horse population and to determine which Neospora spp. are responsible for the infection.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제62권1호
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• pp.131-138
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• 2024

Halicephalobus gingivalis is a free-living nematode that occasionally causes infections in horses. We report a rare case of limb fracture of horse caused by infection with H. gingivalis. An 8-year-old mare was referred to the Veterinary Hospital of the Federal University of Lavras with claudication grade 5 of the right hind limb, that had been started 3 months ago. The patient had aseptic arthritis in the tarsal joint and edema that extended to the quartile. The radiographic examination showed punctate osteolysis with exacerbation of bone trabeculation along the calcaneus, talus, proximal epiphysis of the third metatarsal and distal epiphysis of the tibia. Treatment for arthritis was initiated, and the animal showed a slight improvement in limb function. However, 21 days after hospitalization, due to a comminuted fracture of the tibia, it was euthanized. At necropsy, yellowish masses were found from the metatarsal to the tibia, and around the tarsal bones and joint. Similar masses were also found in the left kidney. Numerous nematodes compatible with H. gingivalis were identified. This is the first description of a pathological fracture caused by H. gingivalis infection in an equine limb.

• 농업생명과학연구
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• 제50권2호
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• pp.139-150
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• 2016

말뼈추출물은 다양한 골질환의 예방과 치료에 탁월한 효능이 있다고 이전에 보고되었다. 하지만 말뼈추출물의 다른 약리학적 효능에 대해서는 아직 자세히 밝혀지지 않고있다. 본 연구에서는 말뼈추출물이 중요한 항산화 인자인 hemeoxygenase-1(HO-1)의 발현을 상승시킬 수 있는지, 만약 발현이 증가한다면 HO-1의 상향 조절이 대식세포에서 항염증 효과를 매개할 수 있는지에 관하여 조사하였다. 이를 위해서 nitric oxide(NO) 농도측정, 세포 생존능 측정, DPPH 라디칼 소거능 검사를 시행하였다. 또한 염증성 사이토카인 유전자 발현과 단백질 발현을 측정하기 위해 real time PCR과 Western blotting을 시행하였다. 말뼈추출물은 lipopolysaccharide(LPS, 0.1㎍/ml)로 자극한 대식세포주인 RAW264.7 세포에서 어떠한 세포독성 없이 NO의 생성을 유의성 있게 억제하였으며 inducible nitric oxide(iNOS)와 cyclooxygenase 2(COX-2)의 발현을 억제하였다. 뿐만 아니라 말뼈 추출물은 염증성 사이토카인인 tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α와 interleukin(IL)-1β의 발현을 억제하였으며 ERK, JNK 및 p-38 MAPK의 단백질 인산화를 억제하였다. 그리고 말뼈추출물은 HO-1과 NF-E2-related factor-2(Nrf-2) 의 발현을 증가시켰고 이것은 말뼈추출물이 가지고 있는 항 염증효과를 매개할 수 있는 것으로 보인다. 즉, 말뼈추출물이 HO-1의 발현을 상향 조절한 반면 ERK1/2의 신호전달 경로에 손상을 주는 것으로 확인되었으며 이러한 말뼈추출물의 효과가 최종적으로 세포손상과 세포의 과산화 자극으로부터 세포를 보호 할 수 있는 것으로 사료된다.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제54권1호
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• pp.97-101
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• 2016

Lyme disease is a tick-borne zoonotic infectious disease caused by Borrelia burgdorferi. The present study assessed the infection status of B. burgdorferi among horses reared in Korea using ELISA and PCR. Between 2009 and 2013, blood samples were collected from 727 horses throughout Korea. Data for each animal including age, gender, breed, and region of sample collection were used for epidemiological analysis. Overall, 38 (5.2%; true prevalence: 5.5%) of 727 horses were seropositive by ELISA. There were statistically significant differences according to breed and region (P<0.001) whose differences might be attributed to the ecology of vector ticks and climate conditions. Using 2 nested PCR, none of the samples tested positive for B. burgdorferi. Thus, a positive ELISA result can indicate only that the tested horse was previously exposed to B. burgdorferi, with no certainty over the time of exposure. Since global warming is likely to increase the abundance of ticks in Korea, continuous monitoring of tick-borne diseases in Korean horses is needed.