• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.451-455
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• 2017

Echinostoma cinetorchis is an oriental intestinal fluke causing significant pathological damage to the small intestine. The aim of this study was to determine a full-length cDNA sequence of E. cinetorchis endoribonuclease (RNase H; EcRNH) and to elucidate its molecular biological characters. EcRNH consisted of 308 amino acids and showed low similarity to endoribonucleases of other parasites (<40%). EcRNH had an active site centered on a putative DDEED motif instead of DEDD conserved in other species. A recombinant EcRNH produced as a soluble form in Escherichia coli showed enzymatic activity to cleave the 3'-O-P bond of RNA in a DNA-RNA duplex, producing 3'-hydroxyl and 5'-phosphate. These findings may contribute to develop antisense oligonucleotides which could damage echinostomes and other flukes.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.10
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• pp.1473-1477
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• 2007

Four-and-a-half LIM-only protein 3 (FHL3) is a member of the LIM protein superfamily and can participate in mediating protein-protein interaction by binding one another through their LIM domains. In this study, the 5'- and 3'- cDNA ends were characterized by RACE (Rapid Amplification of the cDNA Ends) methodology in combination with in silico cloning based on the partial cDNA sequence obtained. Bioinformatics analysis showed FHL3 protein contained four LIM domains and four LIM zinc-binding domains. In silico mapping assigned this gene to the gene cluster MTF1-INPP5B-SF3A3-FHL3-CGI-94 on pig chromosome 6 where several QTL affecting intramuscular fat and eye muscle area had previously been identified. Transcription of the FHL3 gene was detected in spleen, liver, kidney, small intestine, skeletal muscle, fat and stomach, with the greatest expression in skeletal muscle. The A/G polymorphism in exon II was significantly associated with birth weight, average daily gain before weaning, drip loss rate, water holding capacity and intramuscular fat in a Landrace-derived pig population. Together, the present study provided the useful information for further studies to determine the roles of FHL3 gene in the regulation of skeletal muscle cell growth and differentiation in pigs.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.60 no.5
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• pp.361-365
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• 2022

We report a species of diplostomid fluke recovered from 3 carcasses of wild Korean raccoon dog, Nyctereutes procyonoides koreensis, in Korea. A total of 107 diplostomid flukes were recovered from the small intestines of Korean raccoon dogs, which were obtained from the Gangwon Wildlife Medical Rescue Center. Worms fixed with 10% neutral formalin were subjected to microscopic observation and those fixed in 70% ethanol were used for molecular genomic analysis. The worm was divided into 2 separate parts, forebody and hindbody, with a total length of 3,020-4,090 (3,855) ㎛ and a width of 1,210-1,770 (1,562) ㎛. The boat-shaped forebody has a pair of characteristic tentacular appendage, 2 suckers, holdfast organ, and vitelline follicles. The oval to cylindrical hindbody has reproductive organs. The ovary was round or elliptical and located in the anterior of the testes. Two large testes were slightly segmented and tandemly arranged, occupying almost half of hindbody. The short uterus contained a relatively small number of unembryonated eggs sized 130-140×85-96 ㎛. The partial sequence of 18S rRNA of this fluke was consistent with Alaria alata. Based on the morphological and molecular characteristics, the diplostomid flukes recovered from the small intestine of Korean raccoon dogs were identified as A. alata (Digenea: Diplostomidae).

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.441-448
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• 2013

This study describes the first record of Bourgelatia diducta (Nematoda: Chabertiidae) from wild boars in the Republic of Korea (=South Korea). Gastrointestinal tracts of 87 Korean wild boars (Sus scrofa coreanus) hunted in mountains in the south-western part of South Korea between 2009 and 2012 were examined for their visceral helminths. B. diducta, as identified by morphological characteristics of the head and tail, were recovered from the large intestine of 47 (54%) wild boars. The average length of adult female worms was $11.3{\pm}0.872$ mm and the thickest part of the body measured $0.54{\pm}0.04$ mm in maximum width, while those of males were $9.8{\pm}0.72$ and $0.45{\pm}0.03$ mm, respectively. The characteristic J-shaped type II ovejector was observed in females, and the type II dorsal ray with 2 rami on each side of the median fissure was uniquely seen in males. The buccal capsule was small, relatively thin-walled, cylindrical, very short, and ring-shaped. The externodorsal ray arose from a common stem with the dorsal ray. The cervical groove was absent. The anterior extremity was equipped with 20-22 external corona radiata, 4 cephalic papillae and 2 lateral amphids around the mouth. The eggs were $66.0{\times}38.9{\mu}m$ in average size. By the present study, B. diducta (Nematoda: Chabertiidae) is recorded for the first time in South Korea. Additionally, morphological characteristics and identification keys provided in the present study will be helpful in the faunistic or taxonomic studies for strongylid nematodes related.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.383-390
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• 2014

A 15-wk feeding trial was conducted to examine the supplemental effects of Barodon on growth performance, gastrointestinal histology, feed digestibility and innate immunity in olive founder. A basal commercial diet was used as a control and two other diets were prepared by spraying 0.1% or 0.2% of Barodon. Triplicate groups of fish (BW, 145 g) were fed one of the test diets to apparent satiation twice daily. At the end of the feeding trial, fish growth performance was not significantly affected by dietary treatments; however, feed utilization was significantly improved (linear and quadratic, p<0.05) by Barodon supplementation. Significantly higher (p<0.05) survival rates were obtained in fish fed Barodon containing diets. Hepatosomatic index increased significantly in Barodon treated groups. Also, the use of Barodon resulted in significant increase (linear and quadratic, p<0.05) of intestine length and number of goblet cells. Significantly higher (Quadratic, p<0.05) apparent digestibility coefficient of DM was obtained by supplementation of Barodon. Lysozyme and myeloperoxidase activities increased quadratically and linearly, respectively, in Barodon treated fish. Also, significantly higher (linear and quadratic, p<0.05) superoxide dismutase activity was found in Barodon fed fish. The findings in this study show that inclusion of Barodon in diets for olive flounder improves feed utilization and digestibility, and positively affects digestive tract histology and innate immunity.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.8
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• pp.1352-1359
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• 2020

Objective: Lactobacilli in rabbit intestine is rare and its function in rabbit gut health is not fully understood. The present study aimed to evaluate in vivo the probiotic potential of Lactobacillus casei for suckling rabbits. Methods: Two healthy 5-day-old suckling rabbits with similar weights from each of 12 New Zealand White litters were selected and disturbed to control group and treatment group. All rabbits were artificially fed. The treatment group had been supplemented with live Lactobacillus casei in the milk from the beginning of the trial to 13 days of age. At 15 days of age, healthy paired rabbits were slaughtered to collect intestinal samples. Results: i) Oral administration of Lactobacillus casei significantly increased the proportion of Lactobacilli in the total intestinal bacteria (p<0.01) and obviously reduced that of Escherichia-Shigella (p<0.01); ii) treatment increased the length of vermiform appendix (p<0.05); iii) a higher percentage of degranulated paneth cells was observed in the duodenum and jejunum when rabbits administered with Lactobacillus casei (p<0.01); and iv) the expression of toll-like receptor 9, lysozyme (LYZ), and defensin-7-like (DEFEN) in the duodenum and jejunum was stimulated by supplemented Lactobacillus casei (p<0.05). Conclusion: Orally administered Lactobacillus casei could increase the abundance of intestinal Lactobacilli, decrease the relative abundance of intestinal Escherichia-Shigella, promote the growth of appendix vermiform, stimulate the degranulation of paneth cells and induce the expression of DEFEN and LYS. The results of the present study implied that Lactobacillus casei exhibited probiotic potential for suckling rabbits.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.88-94
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• 2016

Determining the infection history of living organisms is essential for understanding the evolution of infection agents with their host, particularly for key aspects such as immunity. Viruses, which can spread between individuals and often cause disease, have been widely examined. The increasing availability of fish genome sequences has provided specific insights into the diversity and host distribution of retroviruses in fish. The shortspine spurdog (Squalus mitsukurii) is an important elasmobranch species; this medium-sized dogfish typically lives at depths of 100~500 m. However, the retroviral envelope polyprotein in dogfish has not been examined. Thus, the aim of the present study was to identify and analyze the retroviral envelope polyprotein in various tissues of dogfish. The 1334-base pair full-length novel cDNA of dogfish envelope polyprotein (dEnv) was obtained by 3' and 5'-rapid amplification of cDNA end analysis from S. mitsukurii. The open reading frame showed a complete coding sequence of 815 base pairs with a deduced peptide sequence of 183 amino acids that exhibited 34~50% identity with other fish and bird species. It was also expressed according to reverse transcription and real-time polymerase chain reaction in the kidney, liver, intestine, and lung, but not in the gill. This distribution can be assessed by identifying and analyzing endogenous retroviruses in fish, which consists of three main genes: gag, pol and env. Dogfish envelope polyprotein sequence is likely important in evolution and induces rearrangements, altering the regulatory and coding sequences. This is the first report of the identification and molecular characterization of retroviral envelope polyprotein in various tissues of S. mitsukurii.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.520-532
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• 2012

Objectives : This study was carried out to investigate the effects of Coicis Semen Extract (CSE) on the experimental colitis induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in mice. Methods : Experimental colitis was induced by daily treatment with 5% DSS in the drinking water for 7 days in 6-week-old male ICR mice. The colitic mice were divided into three groups: the normal (N) group consisted of mice that were not inflammation-induced. The control (C) group was composed of untreated colitis elicited mice. The sample (S) group was administered CSE after colitis elicitation. The effects on colonic mucosal ulcers were evaluated by the morphological, histological and immunohistochemical change of the large intestine. Results : Inhibition of LPS-induced NO decreased in the S group. Inhibition of LPS-induced iNOS and COX-2 mRNA noticeably decreased in the S group from 0.25 mg/ml. In the common morphological and histochemical change, the erosion and the infiltration of inflammatory cells increased in the C group, while they noticeably decreased in the S group. The length of colon was shortened more in the C group than in the S group. The distributions of MUC2 and Hsp70 treated with CSE increased noticeably more in the S group than in the C group (p<0.05). It was confirmed histochemically and immunohistochemically that the distributions of iNOS, COX-2, MAC387, serotonin, apoptosis and PCNA treated with CSE decreased in the S group more than in the C group (p<0.05). Conclusions : It is confirmed that CSE has cytoprotective effect, so can alleviate inflammation process. Therefore, it is expected to have potential protective effect on colitis.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.705-710
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• 2013

This study was conducted to determine the effects of three different fat sources and their combination on growth performance, carcass traits and intestinal measurements of broiler chickens reared to 42 d of age. Two hundred day-old male broiler chicks (Ross 308) were randomly assigned to one of five treatments with four replicates of 10 chicks based on a completely randomized design. The dietary treatments consisted of 4% added fat from three different sources and their combination as follows: T, diet containing 4% tallow; CO, diet containing 4% canola oil; SFO, diet containing 4% sunflower oil; TCO, diet containing 2% tallow+2% canola oil; TSFO, diet containing 2% tallow+2% sunflower oil. Dietary fat type affected significantly BW and gain as well as feed efficiency in birds fed the TCO diets compared with those fed the other diets. Dietary fat type also modified meat yield, resulting in a higher breast and drumstick yields in the birds fed TCO and TSFO diets, respectively. Most of internal organ relative weights and small intestine measurements were not influenced by dietary treatments, except for the abdominal fat pad weight that was lower in birds fed SFO and for small intestinal length that was influenced by fat source. Results from the current study suggested that the supplementation with a combination of vegetable and animal fat sources in broiler diet supported positively growth performance and carcass parameters.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.113-120
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• 2010

Objectives : This study was conducted to compare Chaenomelis Sinensis Fructus with Chaenomelis Lagenariae Fructus, and to examine Fructus chaenomelis having an influence on Intestinal Motility. Methods : We compared Chaenomelis Sinensis Fructus with Chaenomelis Lagenariae Fructus, by observing their effects on Intestinal Motility. Oral administration of water extracts of Chaenomelis Sinensis Fructus and Chaenomelis Lagenariae Fructus into albino rats was followed by dealing with carbachol or loperamide, injecting charcoal meal and measuring the moving length in the intestine. Results : By Chaenomelis Sinensis Fructus and Chaenomelis Lagenariae Fructus, the Intestinal Motility of normal albino rats did not change significantly. Chaenomelis Sinensis Fructus and Chaenomelis Lagenariae Fructus controled the accelerated Intestinal Motility of albino rats. Chaenomelis Sinensis Fructus was not different from the extracting method, Chaenomelis Lagenariae Fructus had effects of control on extracting by methanol significantly. When Chaenomelis Sinensis Fructus was compared with Chaenomelis Lagenariae Fructus, the former was proved to have control effects on Intestinal Motility in decoction extracts and extracts by ethyl ether higher than the latter. By both Chaenomelis Sinensis Fructus and Chaenomelis Lagenariae Fructus, the declined Intestinal Motility was not changed significantly. Conclusion : Chaenomelis Fructus suppressed the exasperated Intestinal Motility by carbachol, but did not influence the dropped Intestinal Motility by loperamide. In addition, Chaenomelis Sinensis Fructus was more excellent than Chaenomelis Lagenariae Fructus in its control effects of Intestinal Motility. inhibitory effects by DKT represent a potential therapeutic approach to the treatment of inflammatory diseases.