• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.289-296
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• 2018

Purpose: We aimed to study the pattern of liver-injury in children with dengue fever (DF) and validate serum aminotransferase ${\geq}1,000IU/L$ as a marker of severe DF. Methods: Children admitted with DF were included. DF was defined by presence of clinical criteria and positive serological or antigen tests in absence of other etiology. DF severity was graded as dengue without or with warning signs and severe dengue. Liver-injury was defined as alanine aminotransferase (ALT) more than twice the upper limit of normal (boys, 30 IU/L; girls, 21 IU/L). Results: Of 372 children with DF, 144 (38.7%) had liver-injury. Risk of liver-injury and aminotransferase levels increased with DF severity (p<0.001). Recommended ALT and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) cut-off at ${\geq}1,000IU/L$ had sensitivity 4.8% (5/105), specificity 99.3% (265/267) for detection of severe DF. In children with ALT and AST <1,000 IU/L (n=365), the area under receiver operating curves for prediction for severe DF, were 0.651 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.588-0.714; p<0.001) for ALT and 0.647 (95% CI, 0.582-0.712; p<0.001) for AST. Serum ALT at 376 IU/L and AST at 635 IU/L had sensitivity and specificity comparable to ${\geq}1,000IU/L$ for defining severe DF. Conclusion: Liver-injury is common in DF. The ALT and AST levels increase with DF severity. ALT and AST levels of ${\geq}1,000IU/L$ could be lowered to 376 IU/L and 635 IU/L respectively for defining severe DF.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.10
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• pp.1451-1455
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• 2009

Porcine cytomegalovirus (PCMV) is a betaherpesvirus which causes reproductive failure in breeding sows and generalized infection in newborn piglets. It has worldwide distribution including Korea. Serological survey on this virus has been reported in 76.3% of pigs, but virological survey and epidemiological analysis on PCMV distribution have been reported in only a few papers in Korea. In this study, we investigated the virological prevalence and infection status of PCMV on a farm level in selected swine farms with respiratory diseases. A total of 1,938 blood samples taken from groups of pigs of different ages were collected from 31 farms distributed nationwide in 2006 and 2007 and tested by PCR to detect the presence of PCMV. Virological prevalence at farm level and pig level were 96.8% and 17.5%, respectively, suggesting that PCMV has endemically infected Korean pig herds. The prevalence at farm level in gilts, sows and suckling piglet groups were 16.7%, 36.7% and 56.7%, indicating that vertical infections frequently occurred in conception or newborn stage. Thereafter, detection rates of PCMV were slightly increased in pig groups aged 40 and 70 days (70.0% and 73.3%), and then gradually decreased as they aged - 33.3% in 100, 26.7% in 130 and 16.7% in 160 day old pig groups. The prevalence at pig level has similar patterns to that at farm level. With the passage of time, the variation of infection patterns of PCMV was investigated in four PCMV-positive farms. Three blood samples were collected at intervals of 6 months in each farm, and examined for presence of PCMV using PCR. The results revealed that once PCMV was introduced to the pig farms, it continuously circulated between and within groups of sows and piglets in those farms. Taken together, it can be concluded that PCMV has endemically infected Korean pig farms and has the potential risk for emerging pathogen in combination with the known endemic pathogens including porcine reproductive, respiratory syndrome virus and porcine circovirus type 2. Therefore, more research is needed on diagnosis, epidemiology and control strategy for PCMV on the field.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.15
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• pp.6121-6125
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• 2014

Background: Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a potential biomarker for early detection of prostate cancer (PCa) but its level is known to be affected by many background factors and roles of ubiquitous toxicants have not been determined. Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are ubiquitous reproductive toxicants used in consumer products, which promote tumor formation in some reproductive model systems by binding to AhR, but human data on its expression in prostate cancer as well as its association with PSA levels are not clear. This study aimed to evaluate the expression levels of AhR and its association with serological levels of PSA and to detect possible effects of background factors and EDC exposure history on PSA levels in PCa cases. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on the tissue levels of AhR and serum levels of PSA in 53 PCa cases from 2008-2011 and associations between each and background and lifestyle related factors were determined. Results: Although the AhR was overexpressed in PCa and correlated with the age of patients, it did not correlate with PSA levels.Of nutritional factors, increased intake of polysaturated fats and fish in the routine regimen of PCa cases increased the PSA levels significantly. Conclusions: AhR overexpression in PCa pontws to roles of EDCs in PCa but without any direct association with PSA levels. However, PSA levels are affected by exposure to possible toxicants in foods whichneed to be assessed as possible risk factors of PCa in future studies.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.493-496
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• 2015

Toxoplasmosis, caused by Toxoplasma gondii, is a parasitic zoonosis with worldwide distribution. The present study investigated the prevalence of T. gondii in dogs in Zhanjiang city, southern China, using both serological and molecular detection. A total of 364 serum samples and 432 liver tissue samples were collected from the slaughter house between December 2012 and January 2013 and were examined for T. gondii IgG antibody by ELISA and T. gondii DNA by semi-nested PCR based on B1 gene, respectively. The overall seroprevalence of T. gondii IgG antibody was 51.9%, and T. gondii DNA was detected in 37 of 432 (8.6%) liver tissue samples. These positive DNA samples were analyzed by PCR-RFLP at 3'- and 5'-SAG2. Only 8 samples gave the PCR-RFLP data, and they were all classified as type I, which may suggest that the T. gondii isolates from dogs in Zhanjiang city may represent type I or type I variant. This study revealed the high prevalence of T. gondii infection in dogs in Zhanjiang city, southern China. Integrated measures should be taken to prevent and control toxoplasmosis in dogs in this area for public health concern.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.287-290
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• 2018

Anaplasmosis is a tick-borne, non-contagious, zoonotic disease caused by Anaplasma spp., which include Anaplasma marginale, A. centrale, A. phagocytophilum, A. platys, A. ovis, and A. bovis. Recently, in Korea, the prevalence of Anaplasma spp. has been investigated in some animals, such as dogs, horses, goats, cats, and Korean water deer. In cattle, A. marginale is the most virulent species and regarded as the typical type of species. However, data on the seroprevalence of Anaplasma spp. in cattle in Korea during the last decade is limited. This study was designed to investigate the seroprevalence of bovine anaplasmosis in Korea. From 2010 to 2013, blood samples were collected from 568 cattle. Forty animals (7.0%) tested seropositive for Anaplasma spp. by cELISA. Despite that current bovine anaplasmosis seropositivity rate in the Gyeongsangbuk-do is lower than those in tropical countries, anaplasmosis needs to be regarded as a concerning disease. The identification of the specific Anaplasma species infecting cattle in this province requires additional molecular studies. Moreover, further monitoring and control programs for bovine anaplasmosis is required, and the information from this study will be beneficial to develop these programs.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.101-105
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• 2016

The present study investigated serological and molecular prevalence of Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) and Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) infection in unvaccinated broiler breeder farms in Jeonbuk providence. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) had been used to determine antibody titers against MG and MS, and genome of these pathogens, respectively. Seventy five percent of farms were seropositive for MG and 94% of farms were seropositive for MS. In addition, the rate of antibody positive flocks against MG were 65.3% (32/49), while the rate of positive flocks against MS were 84.2% (80/95). The geometric mean antibody titers were $802.2{\pm}626$ and $27,726.7{\pm}2426$ against MG and MS, respectively. Interestingly, none of samples was positive for MG genome by PCR, while 94% (farms), 82% (flocks) and 62.6% (broiler breeder) were positive for MS genome by PCR. These findings suggest that the prevalence of MG or MS infection could be higher than expected. Thus, strict prevention program including vaccination and environmental sanitation should be implemented to avoid disease transmission from breeder to broilers as well as transmission among broilers.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.159-164
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• 2004

A dairy farm that has been suffered continuously(more than 2 years) from brucellosis in Korea in spite of repeated legal test-and-slaughter was investigated the main source of infection in the farm. All cattle(22 milking cows, 44 heifers, 60 calves, 8 bull), dogs(3 mixed breed), feces from wild birds(3 samples), drinking water(3 sites), and soil in the paddocks(14 sites) inside the farm were examined with serological and/or bacteriological methods including specific DNA detection with PCR method. Brucella spp in the milk and blood were detected in 12/22 and 5/22 milking cows, respectively, although all of them were negative with conventional tube agglutination test. The number of serologically positive heifer was 15(15/44), but the isolation of Brucella spp was succeeded in the only 11(11/15) of them. Brucella were detected in vagina 1(1/11) and nasal(3/12) excretion in serologically positive heifers. All the three dogs were serologically positive, and Brucella spp were isolated from their blood. However, Brucella spp were not detected in the drinking water, soil in the paddocks, nor the feces of wild birds. The results suggest that milking cow secrete Brucella spp through milk, genital tract and nasal cavity, which are the major source of infection in this farm, The main infection route of Brucella spp is contact to contact with Brucella spp excreting animals rather than environmental contamination. The animals, living together with infected cow such as dogs, are the readily susceptible and are required to be examined for Brucella spp.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.175-182
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• 2012

Rotaviruses have been known to be a major etiological agent of gastroenteritis in both infants and young animals. Subsequently new rotaviruses, which were morphologically indistinguishable but antigenically and electrophoretically distinct with each other, were reported from several animals throughout world including Korea. These new rotaviruses were named as non-group A or group B or group C rotaviruses and so on. It has been very difficult to isolate and grow the non-group A rotaviruses in vitro, and this has greatly limited the characterizations of non-group A rotaviruses and serological studies. In this study, monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against porcine non-group A rotavirus were produced and characterized. The VP6 gene of porcine group C rotavirus Korean isolate(#06-52-1) was cloned and expressed. For expression of VP6 gene, baculovirus expression system was applied. The VP6 gene and expressed protein in the recombinant virus were confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), indirect fluorescence antibody (IFA) test and Western blot, respectively. The expressed VP6 was used for MAbs production. The MAbs produced in this study would be promising as diagnostic reagents for detection of group C rotavirus infection.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.139-145
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• 2013

Porcine respiratory disease complex (PRDC) continues to be a significant economic problem to the swine industry. In order to elucidate the etiology of PRDC including porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2), porcine reproductive and respiratory disease syndrome virus (PRRSV), swine influenza virus (SIV), Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (MH), Pasteurella multocida (PM) and Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (APP) in Namwon, the 455 lung samples were randomly collected from slaughtered pigs, examined gross lesions indicative of respiratory disease of lung and classified the lung lesion according to the severity of lung lesions. Two hundred pigs lung tissues with pneumonic lesions were examined for pathogen by PCR. As a result, the numbers of pneumonic lesions were 357 (78.5%), mean pneumonic score ($mean{\pm}SD$) was $2.03{\pm}0.90$ and the highest gross lesion according to stages was 1 (11~20%). In detection of pathogens, PCV2, PRRSV, SIV, MH, APP and PM were positive in 76.5%, 5.0%, 6.0%, 9.0%, 4.5% and 6.0%, respectively and PCV2-MH was the most detected causative pathogens of PRDC in co-infection. In the serological test for PRRSV, PCV2, MH, APP2, APP5, HP and PM, showed high antibody positive rates 93% or more.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.323-327
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• 2002

A rod-shaped virus was isolated from pepper showing mild mosic during the winter growing seasons of 2001 and 2002 in Korea. Based on its biological reactions, serological relationships, reverse transcription-poly-merase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using specific primers, and nucleotide sequence analysis of coat protein (CP) gene, the isolated virus was identified as Tobacco mild green mosaic virus (TMGMV) and designated as Korean pepper isolate (TMGMV-KP). Crude sap from infected tissue was mechanically transmitted to various indicator plants, which produced characteristic symptoms of tobamovirus infection. However, no symptom was observed in Gomphorena globosa. In RT-PCR assays with specific primers toy respective detection of TMGMV, Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), Pepper mild mottle virue (PMMoV), and Tomato mosaic virus (ToMV), a single strong band of about 500 bp in length was produced from the sample used only with TMGMV primers. The amplified DNA was cloned and the nucleotide sequence was determined. Sequence comparisons with the CP gene of other tobamoviruses indicated that TMGMV-KP shared 99.3％ identity with TMGMV Japanese isolate and only 59.1, 58.6, and 58.1％ identity with TMV, PMMoV and ToMV, respectively. This is the first report of TMGMV in Korea.