• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.96-103
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• 2016

The influenza A (H1N1) virus, also known as swine flu is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality since 2009. There is a need to explore novel anti-viral drugs for overcoming the epidemics. Traditionally, different plant extracts of garlic, ginger, kalmegh, ajwain, green tea, turmeric, menthe, tulsi, etc. have been used as hopeful source of prevention and treatment of human influenza. The H1N1 virus contains an important glycoprotein, known as neuraminidase (NA) that is mainly responsible for initiation of viral infection and is essential for the life cycle of H1N1. It is responsible for sialic acid cleavage from glycans of the infected cell. We employed amino acid sequence of H1N1 NA to predict the tertiary structure using Phyre2 server and validated using ProCheck, ProSA, ProQ, and ERRAT server. Further, the modelled structure was docked with thirteen natural compounds of plant origin using AutoDock4.2. Most of the natural compounds showed effective inhibitory activity against H1N1 NA in binding condition. This study also highlights interaction of these natural inhibitors with amino residues of NA protein. Furthermore, among 13 natural compounds, theaflavin, found in green tea, was observed to inhibit H1N1 NA proteins strongly supported by lowest docking energy. Hence, it may be of interest to consider theaflavin for further in vitro and in vivo evaluation.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.263-271
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• 2014

In this study, we developed a cost and time saving one-step multiplex RT-PCR for the simultaneous detection and differentiation of swine influenza viruses (SIV) and 2009 pandemic influenza H1N1 virus (pH1N1). The one-step multiplex RT-PCR using four sets of primer was confirmed to be capable of detection of all SIV subtypes and differential diagnosis of major SIV subtype H1, H3 and pH1N1 on individual or mixed viral culture samples. The sensitivity of the multiplex RT-PCR was determined to be at least $2^{-6}$ $HA/25{\mu}L$ of the presented SIVs, providing sufficient efficacy for a routine SIV monitoring in diagnostic laboratories. In addition, compared with the conventional RT-PCR methods that cannot avoid the carryover DNA contamination, the developed RT-PCR applied with the uracil DNA glycosylase (UNG) system was proven to prevent a false positive reaction by carryover contamination of the pre-amplified DNA. In conclusion, the one-step RT-PCR with UNG system could be applicable to detect and differentiate of SIV from the viral cultures without worry of carryover DNA contamination in clinical laboratories.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.33.1-33.10
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• 2022

Background: Endemic circulation of human-specific hepatitis E virus (HEV) genotypes 1 and 2 may occult the importance of sporadic zoonotic HEV transmissions in Africa. Increasing numbers of studies reporting anti-HEV antibodies in cattle and the discovery of infectious HEV in cow milk has raised public health concern, but cattle exposure has seldom been investigated in Africa. Objectives: This study aimed at investigating the role of cows in the epidemiology of HEV in Burkina Faso and farmers habits in terms of dairy product consumption as a prerequisite to estimate the risk of transmission to humans. Methods: Sera from 475 cattle and 192 pigs were screened for the presence of anti-HEV antibodies while HEV RNA in swine stools was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Data on mixed farming, dairy product consumption and selling habits were gathered through questionnaires. Results: The overall seroprevalence in cattle was 5.1% and herd seroprevalence reached 32.4% (11/34). Herd seropositivity was not associated with husbandry practice or presence of rabbits on the farms. However, herd seropositivity was associated with on-site presence of pigs, 80.7% of which had anti-HEV antibodies. The majority of farmers reported to preferentially consume raw milk based dairy products. Conclusions: Concomitant presence of pigs on cattle farms constitutes a risk factor for HEV exposure of cattle. However, the risk of HEV infections associated with raw cow dairy product consumption is currently considered as low.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.383-397
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• 2012

The incidence of zoonoses in Korea has recently increased. But the study for high risk group such as pig farmers to zoonoses has not been conducted in Korea. Thus we reviewed the articles in order to obtain basic data for zoonoses among pig farmers, especially in rural communities. Pigs are one of the most important domestic livestock in Korea not only from economic standpoint but also from standpoint of food. Pigs also represent a potential reservoir for many novel pathogens, therefore may transmit these to humans via direct contact, vectors such as mosquitos, or contaminated meat. The zoonoses associated with pigs can be classified into bacterial pathogen, viruses and so on. Bacterial zoonoses include brucellosis, leptospirosis, listeriosis, enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli infection, pasteurellosis, salmonellosis, yersiniosis, tuberculosis, anthrax, necrobacillosis, swine erysipelas, erysipeloid, melioidosis, Streptococcus suis infection, Clostrium difficile infection, and campylobactor infection. Viral zoonoses consist of Japanese encephalitis, swine influenza, Nipah virus, Reston ebolavirus, and hepatitis E virus infection. Other type of zoonoses include actinomycosis, toxoplasmosis and Taenia solium infection. These zoonoses were important in Korean health policy but lately they have been overlooked. For effective health policy, we need to study zoonoses associated with pigs, and clinicians and veterinarians must care deeply about these zoonoses.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.63-69
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• 2022

Proliferative and necrotizing pneumonia (PNP) is a form of interstitial pneumonia that occurs in post-weaning pigs. In this study, we investigated the presence of swine influenza virus (SIV), porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) and Aujeszky's disease virus (ADV) in PNP lesions in Jeju pigs. Based on the histopathologic criteria for PNP, a total of 50 cases were selected in Jeju pigs between 2008 and 2010. Coupled with histopathological examinations, the presence of ADV and SIV by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) and PRRSV and PCV2 by immunohistochemical (IHC) methods were investigated. Based on the PCR and RT-PCR methods, ADV and SIV nucleic acids were not detected in all cases. According to IHC, PRRSV was detected in 38 of the 50 cases examined (76%) and PCV2 in 25 cases (50%). PRRSV or PCV2 were detected in 19 (38%) or 6 (12%) cases, respectively. Both PRRSV and PCV2 were identified in other 19 cases (38%). Antigens of PRRSV and PCV2 were commonly observed in the cytoplasm of macrophages and clusters of necrotic cells in alveolar cavities. The results of the present study demonstrate that PRRSV is predominantly associated with PNP in Jeju pigs. Co-infection with PRRSV and PCV2 may enhance the severity of PNP lesions in affected pigs.

• Journal of Information Science Theory and Practice
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.42-53
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• 2013

Timely access to quality healthcare information during an outbreak plays an important role in curtailing its spread. The aim of this study was to investigate the information needs and seeking behavior of the general public in Singapore during the H1N1 pandemic. A pre-tested questionnaire was used for data collection. The convenience snowball sampling method was used and 260 working adults and tertiary-level students participated in this study. The most crucial information needs of a majority of the participants were: symptoms of H1N1, causes of the infection, preventive measures, and possible treatments. Data analysis also revealed that mass media such as television, newspapers, and radio were most frequently used for seeking the needed information. The use of human information sources was also quite high while only a small number of the respondents accessed online news and healthcare websites. About three-quarters of the participants indicated that the gathered information helped them to stay vigilant and take necessary precautionary measures. A major problem identified by the participants in using H1N1 information was the lack of understanding of certain terms used in public communications. This paper suggests certain measures for strengthening health information communication during future outbreaks.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.765-772
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• 1997

제주지역 돼지에서 각종 전염성 질병 원인체에 대한 항체를 조사하여 그간 전염성 병원체에 대한 역학조사가 미진하였던 부분을 보완하여 질병의 분포를 파악하고자 1995년부터 1996년에 걸쳐 제주도 전역에서 돼지의 혈청을 채취하여 각종 병원체에 대한 항체 분포율을 조사하였다. 본 연구에서 검사한 돼지 혈청 시료에서는 돼지 오제스키병 바이러스에 대한 항체는 전혀 검출되지 않았다. 돼지 콜레라바이러스에 대한 항체는 기대 수준 이하로 낮아 백신접종이 원활히 수행되고 있지 않음을 시사하였으며 특히 농장에 따라 항체 보유돈과 항체 음성돈이 혼재하는 농장과 항체가 전혀 검출되지 않는 농장 등 돼지 콜레라 방역의 사각지대가 존재할 가능성이 있음을 보여주었다. 유 사산 원인체인 돼지 파보바이러스 및 뇌심근염에 대한 항체가가 다양하게 나타나 일부 문제가 있을 것으로 사료되었다. 돼지 생식기호흡기증후군(PRRS) 바이러스에 대한 항체 분포율은 내륙 보다 다소 낮게 나타났고, 돼지 influenza virus, 위축성 비염, 흉막 폐염 등 각종 세균성 질환에 대한 항체수준도 다양하게 나타났다. 본 혈청학적인 연구결과는 제주지역에서의 양돈방역 정책수립 및 질병방제의 기초자료로 유용하게 이용될 것으로 사료된다.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.313-320
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to investigate association with gross lesions and causative pathogens of porcine respiratory disease complex (PRDC) including porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2), porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), swine influenza virus (SIV), Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (MH), Pasteurella multocida (PM), Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (APP), Haemophilus parasuis (HP) in slaughtered pigs. A total of 1,200 lung samples were collected randomly from slaughtered pigs in Korea during August of 2010 through July of 2011. The gross lesions were classified according to the six stages (0, 1~10, 11~20, 21~30, 31~40 and ${\geq}41$, unit=%) and 48 samples from each stage were selected to detect viral and bacterial pathogens. The results according to the six stages were 100 (8.3%), 259 (21.6%), 326 (27.2%), 213 (17.8%), 144 (12.0%) and 158 (13.2%) cases, respectively. Prevalence of pneumonia according to season was 87.0~96.7% and the highest prevalence was in spring. In detection of pathogens by PCR, 53 samples were not detected any causative pathogens of PRDC. PCV2, PRRSV, SIV, MH, PM, APP serotype 2, APP serotype 5 and HP were positive in 45.5%, 12.5%, 10.4%, 60.1%, 1.7%, 13.9%, 12.2% and 15.6%, respectively. In co-infection, PCV2-MH was the most detected causative pathogens of PRDC. The detection rate of PCV2 and PRRSV was the highest in spring, of SIV, MH and HP was in winter. The detection rate of APP-2 and APP-5 had no seasonal prevalence. The more severe gross lesions increased, the higher the detection rate showed.

• Journal of Internet Computing and Services
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.69-76
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• 2013

The incidence of globally infectious and pathogenic diseases such as H1N1 (swine flu) and Avian Influenza (AI) has recently increased. An infectious disease is a pathogen-caused disease, which can be passed from the infected person to the susceptible host. Pathogens of infectious diseases, which are bacillus, spirochaeta, rickettsia, virus, fungus, and parasite, etc., cause various symptoms such as respiratory disease, gastrointestinal disease, liver disease, and acute febrile illness. They can be spread through various means such as food, water, insect, breathing and contact with other persons. Recently, most countries around the world use a mathematical model to predict and prepare for the spread of infectious diseases. In a modern society, however, infectious diseases are spread in a fast and complicated manner because of rapid development of transportation (both ground and underground). Therefore, we do not have enough time to predict the fast spreading and complicated infectious diseases. Therefore, new system, which can prevent the spread of infectious diseases by predicting its pathway, needs to be developed. In this study, to solve this kind of problem, an integrated monitoring system, which can track and predict the pathway of infectious diseases for its realtime monitoring and control, is developed. This system is implemented based on the conventional mathematical model called by 'Susceptible-Infectious-Recovered (SIR) Model.' The proposed model has characteristics that both inter- and intra-city modes of transportation to express interpersonal contact (i.e., migration flow) are considered. They include the means of transportation such as bus, train, car and airplane. Also, modified real data according to the geographical characteristics of Korea are employed to reflect realistic circumstances of possible disease spreading in Korea. We can predict where and when vaccination needs to be performed by parameters control in this model. The simulation includes several assumptions and scenarios. Using the data of Statistics Korea, five major cities, which are assumed to have the most population migration have been chosen; Seoul, Incheon (Incheon International Airport), Gangneung, Pyeongchang and Wonju. It was assumed that the cities were connected in one network, and infectious disease was spread through denoted transportation methods only. In terms of traffic volume, daily traffic volume was obtained from Korean Statistical Information Service (KOSIS). In addition, the population of each city was acquired from Statistics Korea. Moreover, data on H1N1 (swine flu) were provided by Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and air transport statistics were obtained from Aeronautical Information Portal System. As mentioned above, daily traffic volume, population statistics, H1N1 (swine flu) and air transport statistics data have been adjusted in consideration of the current conditions in Korea and several realistic assumptions and scenarios. Three scenarios (occurrence of H1N1 in Incheon International Airport, not-vaccinated in all cities and vaccinated in Seoul and Pyeongchang respectively) were simulated, and the number of days taken for the number of the infected to reach its peak and proportion of Infectious (I) were compared. According to the simulation, the number of days was the fastest in Seoul with 37 days and the slowest in Pyeongchang with 43 days when vaccination was not considered. In terms of the proportion of I, Seoul was the highest while Pyeongchang was the lowest. When they were vaccinated in Seoul, the number of days taken for the number of the infected to reach at its peak was the fastest in Seoul with 37 days and the slowest in Pyeongchang with 43 days. In terms of the proportion of I, Gangneung was the highest while Pyeongchang was the lowest. When they were vaccinated in Pyeongchang, the number of days was the fastest in Seoul with 37 days and the slowest in Pyeongchang with 43 days. In terms of the proportion of I, Gangneung was the highest while Pyeongchang was the lowest. Based on the results above, it has been confirmed that H1N1, upon the first occurrence, is proportionally spread by the traffic volume in each city. Because the infection pathway is different by the traffic volume in each city, therefore, it is possible to come up with a preventive measurement against infectious disease by tracking and predicting its pathway through the analysis of traffic volume.