• BMB Reports
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.11-16
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• 1996

The present study showed that receptor-mediated activation of rabbit kidney proximal tubule cells by angiotensin II, the $Ca^{2+}$ ionophore A23187, or the protein kinase C activator phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) all stimulated phospholipase D (PLD). This was demonstrated by the increased formation of phosphatidic acid, and in the presence of 0.5% ethanol, phosphatidylethanol (PEt) accumulation. Angiotensin II leads to a rapid increase in phosphatidic acid and diacylglycerol, and phosphatidic acid formation preceeded the formation of diacylglycerol. This result suggests that some phosphatidic acid seems to be formed directly from phosphatidylcholine hydrolyzed by Pill. On the other hand, EGTA substantially attenuated angiotensin II and A23187-induced PEt formation, and when the cells were pretreated with verapamil angiotensin II-induced Pill activation was completely abolished. These results provide the evidence that calcium ion influx is essential for the agonist-induced Pill activation. In addition, staurosporine, an inhibitor of protein kinase C, strongly inhibited PMA-induced PEt formation, but was ineffective on angiotensin II-induced PEt accumulation. $GTP{\gamma}S$ also stimulates PEt formation in digitonin-permeabilized cells, but pretreatment of the cells with pertussis toxin failed to suppress angiotensin II-induced PEt formation. From these results, we conclude that in the rabbit kidney proximal tubule cells the mechanisms of angiotensin II- and PMA-induced Pill activation are different from each other and mediated via a pertussis toxin-insensitive trimeric G protein.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.306-308
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• 2012

A 1-year-old female pet rabbit (Lion head, BW: 1.1 kg) was present to the animal hospital for vaccination of viral hemorrhagic disease. This rabbit was adopted in 4-month-old, and contacted with wild cats in outdoors before adoption. We examined feces for Toxoplasma gondii by PCR analysis. We detected the presence of the 497 base pair fragment as a positive result. This is the first detection of T. gondii DNA in a pet rabbit from Korea by PCR analysis.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.445-451
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• 2023

An 8-year-old female pet rabbit presented at the veterinary clinic for mammary gland palpation due to the presence of a mass. Upon physical examination, a mass was identified in the left fourth mammary gland. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed a 3 × 2 cm mass in the right uterus and general thickening of the endometrium, suggesting uterine sinusitis. Multiple pulmonary nodules suspected to be metastatic lesions were identified on chest radiography. Surgery was performed to mastectomy and ovariohysterectomy (OHE). The histopathological examination of the tumor revealed mammary gland adenocarcinoma (simple-type) with multiple nodules consisting of the proliferation of tumor cells forming tubules containing secretory materials, cellular debris, and solid nests with a central area of necrosis. Metronomic chemotherapy was performed with cyclophosphamide and lomustine (CCNU) based on the histopathological findings. The quality of life has been well maintained, with no specific clinical symptoms observed for 8 months after metronomic chemotherapy. To the best of authors' knowledge, this study is the first to examine the effects of metronomic chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide and lomustine in a pet rabbit.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.88-94
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• 2024

Pet rabbits are affected by the highly contagious ectoparasite Psoroptes (P.) ovis, which carries significant economic implications for the global rabbit industry. Accurate identification of the mite species remains essential to implement effective treatment and control strategies. Two approximately one-year-old female pet rabbits were admitted to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of Chungbuk National University due to excessive scratching of the ears and the presence of waxy debris within the ear canals. Mites were isolated from the waxy debris extracted from the ear canals and subsequently identified as Psoroptes spp. through microscopic examination. Species confirmation was achieved through mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene analysis. The analysis revealed the mites to be P. ovis based on cox1 gene sequences. The deposited GenBank accession numbers for these sequences are OR985022 and OR985023. This represents the first report of mitochondrial cox1 gene sequences of P. ovis isolated from pet rabbits in South Korea.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.212-214
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• 2015

Encephalitoozoon cuniculi is an obligate intracellular microsporidian parasite commonly found in rabbits, causing encephalitozoonosis. This organism can also infect a wide range of hosts including humans, which is known to cause opportunistic infections in immunocompromised individuals. In this case, four rabbits presented with head tilt and nystagmus were diagnosed for E. cuniculi infection using ELISA. The rabbits were treated with fenbendazole for 4 weeks and therapeutic success was evaluated by assessing the neurological symptoms. Three out of 4 rabbits showed improved health condition 3 to 5 days after treatment, but one rabbit showed persistent anorexia and head tilt after treatment and then died after 10 days. This report is the first to investigate the therapeutic response of fenbendazole for rabbit encephalitozoonosis in Korea, and suggests that pet rabbits may serve as potential E. cuniculi reservoirs for both pet animals and humans.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.600-602
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• 2009

Ornithonyssus bacoti or so-called tropical rat mite has a wide host range which includes wild rodents and small mammals. The mite is known to bite humans and cause irritation. But the case reports are few in pet rabbits. Two Lionhead rabbits (Oryctologus cuniculus) were referred to the local animal hospital, and many mites were detected on the body. Mites were identified as O. bacoti by the scanning electron microscopical study. This communication describes the first record of pet rabbits affected with O. bacoti in Korea.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.58 no.3
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• pp.315-319
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• 2020

In November 2019 a 5-month-old mixed-breed rabbit presented to Chungbuk National University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Cheongju-si, Chungbuk, Republic of Korea (Korea) with symptoms comprising pruritus, crusts on skin, poor appetite and reduced defecation. The rabbit was purchased 2 months prior from a pet shop located in a big market, and that the symptoms were first observed about 2 weeks prior to the hospital visit. Physical examination revealed that the patient had crust formation and alopecia on the nose together with lesions on the digits. A skin scraping test was performed using mineral oil and a high density of mites was observed by microscopy. Each mite showed a round, tortoiselike body with 4 comparatively short pairs of legs. The anus was located at the terminal unlike with suspected pathogen, Notoedres cati. Based on morphological characteristics, we identified the mite as Sarcoptes sp. Ivermectin was administered weekly by subcutaneous injection at a dosage of 0.4 mg/kg, and 4 weeks of follow-up study revealed the patient was fully recovered. And no more mites were detected from the case. This is the first case report of sarcoptic mange in a pet rabbit in Korea.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.321-323
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• 2014

Encephalitozoon cuniculi is a microsporidian parasite commonly found in rabbits that can infect humans, causing encephalitozoonosis. The prevalence of encephalitozoonosis is not well documented, even when many clinics suspect pet rabbits as being highly infected. This study investigated the seropositivity of E. cuniculi using ELISA. The examination of 186 rabbits using ELISA showed that 22.6% (42/186) were seropositive against E. cuniculi. In analysis with healthy status, all 42 seropositive sera were collected from clinically normal rabbits. Moreover, the gender and age of pet rabbits did not have anysignificant effect on E. cuniculi infection. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to describe the seroprevalence of E. cuniculi in pet rabbits and suggests that pet rabbits could act as an important reservoir of encephalitozoonosis for both pet animals and humans in Korea.

• Journal of Radiopharmaceuticals and Molecular Probes
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.130-136
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• 2015

We evaluate the influence of MR contrast agent on positron emission tomography (PET) image using phantom, animal and human studies. Phantom consisted of 15 solutions with the mixture of various concentrations of Gd-based MR contrast agent and fixed activity of [$^{18}F$]FDG. Animal study was performed using rabbit and two kinds of MR contrast agents. After injecting contrast agent, CT or MRI scanning was performed at 1, 2, 5, 10, and 20 minutes. PET image was obtained using clinical PET/CT scan, and attenuation correction was performed using the all CT images. The values of HU, PET activity and MRI intensity were obtained from ROIs in each phantom and organ regions. In clinical study, patients (n=20) with breast cancer underwent sequential acquisitions of early [$^{18}F$]FDG PET/CT, MRI and delayed PET/CT. In phantom study, as the concentration increased, the CT attenuation and PET activity also increased. However, there was no relationship between the PET activity and the concentration in the clinical dose range of contrast agent. In animal study, change of PET activity was not significant at all time point of CT scan both MR contrast agents. There was no significant change of HU between early and delayed CT, except for kidney. Early and delayed SUV in tumor and liver showed significant increase and decrease, respectively (P<0.05). Under the condition of most clinical study (< 0.2 mM), MR contrast agent did not influence on PET image quantitation.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.849-852
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• 1995

데마슘과 사상균의 일종인 Curvularia lunata가 식물파편으로 오염된 흙에 의해 눈에 외상을 입은 젊은 수토끼(Orytolaggus cunuculis)에서 각막궤양을 일으킨 것으로 밝혀졌다. 이 토끼는 직경 1.5 mm의 각막궤양, 각막부종, 전방축농, 눈물 등을 나타내었다. 각막 소파시료의 KOH 표본과 진균배지에서의 분리를 통해 진균이 확인되었다. 눈의 외상은 진균성각막염의 발생소인이었다. 토끼장의 흙은 Curvularia lunata의 집락을 많이 형성하였으며, 이것이 감염원으로 추정되었다. 이것은 애완용 토끼에서 Curvularia lunata에 의한 안진균증의 최초의 보고인 것으로 판단된다. 외상의 병력이 있는 동물임상의 다양한 상황에서 Curvularia lunata의 병인론적 역할이 연구되어야 함을 강조하였다.