• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.61 no.2
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• pp.13.1-13.8
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• 2021

Mammalian reovirus (MRV) causes respiratory and intestinal disease in mammals. Although MRV isolates have been reported to circulate in several animals, there are no reports on Korean MRV isolates from wildlife. We investigated the biological and molecular characteristics of Korean MRV isolates based on the nucleotide sequence of the segment 1 gene. In total, 144 swabs from wild animals were prepared for virus isolation. Based on virus isolation with specific cytopathic effects, indirect fluorescence assays, electron microscopy, and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, only one isolate was confirmed to be MRV from a Korean roe deer (Capreolus pygargus). The isolate exhibited a hemagglutination activity level of 16 units with pig erythrocytes and had a maximum viral titer of 10^5.7 50% tissue culture infectious dose (TCID₅₀)/mL in Vero cells at 5 days after inoculation. The nucleotide and amino-acid sequences of the partial segment S1 of the MReo2045 isolate were determined and compared with those of other MRV strains. The MReo2045 isolate had nucleotide sequences similar to MRV-3 and was most similar (96.1%) to the T3/Bat/Germany/342/08 strain, which was isolated in Germany in 2008. The MReo2045 isolate will be useful as an antigen for sero-epidemiological studies and developing diagnostic tools.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.23-29
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• 2017

This study investigated the effects of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) vaccine on pig growth, carcass quality, and sensory perceptions of pork meat by Thai consumers. Male crossbred pigs (n = 30) were separated into three groups of 10 pigs each: boars, immunocastrated pigs, and surgically castrated pigs. The immunocastrated group was immunized at 13 and 19 weeks of age with GnRH vaccine ($400{\mu}g/dose$). All pigs were slaughtered at 24 weeks of age. Blood samples were collected and testes size determined. Testes weight and back fat thickness were recorded at the time of slaughter, and meat samples were collected for sensory assessment by Thai consumers. Testosterone and progesterone concentration levels decreased significantly two weeks after the second dose of GnRH (p < 0.05), and the GnRH antibody titer of the immunocastrated pigs was significantly high two weeks after the second dose of GnRH (p < 0.05). GnRH vaccine significantly reduced the weight and size of testes. Thai consumers reported no significant differences in odor or flavor among meat samples from the three groups. In conclusion, immunocastration improved growth performance, removed the need for castration surgery, and avoided "boar taint" in the meat. It has also no distinct trace of the boar taint same as pork that is currently produced from physically castrated pig which is making it acceptable to consumers.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.81.1-81.9
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• 2021

Background: Suid gammaherpesvirus 3, 4, and 5 (porcine lymphotropic herpesvirus - PLHV-1, -2, and -3) are viruses that infect domestic and feral pigs. Objectives: This study examined the presence of PLHV DNA in biological samples from free-living wild boars circulating in a Brazilian geographical region with a high density of commercial domestic pigs. Methods: Lung samples of 50 free-living wild boars were collected by exotic wildlife controller agents between 2017 and 2019 in the state of Paraná, southern Brazil. Lung and spleen fragments were obtained from six fetuses collected by hysterectomy post mortem from a pregnant sow. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay using consensus primers (pan-herpesviruses) was performed to detect PLHV DNA. The samples showing positive results for PLHV DNA were submitted to single-round PCR assays with the specific primers for identifying PLHV-1 (213-S/215-As), PLHV-2 (208-S/212-As), and PLHV-3 (886s/886As). The specificity of the species-specific PCR products was assessed by nucleotide sequencing of the amplicons. Results: Forty-eight (96%) of the 50 lung samples analyzed were positive for PLHV by PCR using pan-herpesvirus primers. In 33 (68.75%) of the positive samples, at least two PLHV species were identified simultaneously. The DNA of PLHV-1, -2, and -3 was found in free-living wild boars of all ages, but not in the fetuses, even though they were from a sow that tested positive for all three viruses. Conclusion: These viruses are endemic to the population of feral pigs in the Brazilian region evaluated, as well as in domesticated pigs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.10
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• pp.1377-1385
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• 2009

Effect of inclusion of hard vs. soft wheat bran with different particle size on diet digestibility, growth performance and some slaughter traits was evaluated in fattening rabbits. Four isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets were used according to the origin of wheat bran (hard (HWB) - Triticum durum - and soft (SWB) - Triticum aestivum) combined with wheat bran particle size sieved by 2 mm (fine: 2) or by 8 mm (coarse: 8) in a bifactorial (2${\times}$2) study. A growth trial was conducted to measure the effect of treatments on performance in one hundred and twenty New Zealand White${\times}$Californian rabbits fed experimental diets from 50 to 87 days of age. Faecal apparent digestibility was determined within the last week in twenty animals per diet. Digestibility of nutrients was higher (p<0.05) in the diet containing HWB2, except for crude protein, ether extract and ash, than fine and coarse soft wheat bran diets. Final live weight, feed intake and feed consumption of rabbits on the diet with fine hard wheat bran were higher and resulted in greater daily weight gains (p<0.01) than for animals on the other diets. The slaughter yield and percentage value of organs were not significantly (p>0.05) affected by the diets fed; however, the diet containing fine hard wheat bran led to lower (p<0.05) percentages of skin, abdominal fat and carcass drip loss than the other dietary treatments. It is concluded that fine hard wheat bran can be better included in the diet than soft wheat bran to maximize growth performance without affecting carcass traits of fattening rabbits.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.527-529
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• 2014

This study reports the first case of Capillaria hepatica infection in a nutria in Korea. Ten nutrias, captured near the Nakdong River, were submitted to our laboratory for necropsy. White-yellowish nodules were found in the liver of 1 of the nutrias at necropsy. Histologically, the lesions were granulomatous, and infiltrations of lipid-laden macrophages, eosinophils, and several multinucleated giant cells were observed. The lesions consisted of numerous eggs and necrotic hepatocytes. The eggs were lemon-shaped and had polar plugs at the ends of both long sides. The eggs were morphologically identified as those of C. hepatica. Worldwide, C. hepatica infection in nutrias is very rare. Nutrias are a kind of livestock, as well as wildlife; therefore, an epidemiological study for parasitic infections needs to be conducted.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.319-324
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• 2019

This study aimed to investigate the tick species and give background for tick-borne investigations in Korea. Ticks were collected from the area within 2 km radius of the 4 domestic animal farms, where they were located in mountainous areas and raising animals on pasture, and from animal bodies in 2014 and 2015. In total, 7,973 nymphal and adult ticks were collected from the farms - 7,758 Haemaphysalis longicornis, 198 Haemaphysalis flava, and 17 Ixodes nipponensis, and 1,763 were collected from animals - 729 H. longicornis from cattle; 569 H. longicornis from goats; and 297 H. longicornis, 118 H. flava, 1 I. nipponensis, and 49 Amblyomma testudinarium from wild boars. As more species of ticks were collected from wild boars than domesticated animals and their habitats, various animal hosts should be considered while investigating tick species.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.34 no.5 s.118
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• pp.52-58
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• 2006

Wildlife roadkill is a serious problem for road planners and biologists concerned with traffic safety, species conservation, and animal welfare. The objective of this paper was to analyze the effect of land use on the frequency of mammal roadkills. This study took part in three steps. First, data for 1,279 road kills of nine species were collected by survey over 26 months on 107km of roads near the Mt. Jirisan area. Second, the type of land use near the roadkill points was analyzed, and the area of each land use within loom of the road was calculated using GIS. Finally, the question of whether the land use affects the Sequency of mammal roadkills was analyzed by determining the density of roadkill occurrences for each land-use type. The results of the study were as follows. First, the roadkill density of all species was highest near grasslands, especially natural grasslands. Second, when comparing forests and rice fields, roadkill densities of the Eurasian red squirrel, Siberian chipmunk and Korean hare were higher near the forests, while the densities of the raccoon dog, water deer and leopard cat were higher near rice fields. The results of this study could be an essential information source for mitigating the roadkill problem in Korea.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.29.1-29.6
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• 2021

West Nile virus (WNV), a neurotropic arbovirus, has been detected in mosquitos, birds, wildlife, horses, and humans in Malaysia, but limited information is available on WNV infection in Malaysian pigs. We tested 80 archived swine serum samples for the presence of WNV antibody and West Nile (WN) viral RNA using ID Screen West Nile Competition Multi-species enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits and WNV-specific primers in reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assays, respectively. A WNV seroprevalence of 62.5% (50/80) at 95% confidence interval (51.6%-72.3%) was recorded, with a significantly higher seroprevalence among young pigs (weaner and grower) and pigs from south Malaysia. One sample was positive for Japanese encephalitis virus antibodies; WN viral RNA was not detected in any of the serum samples.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.15-19
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• 2010

The Russian ratsnake, Elaphe schrenckii, is found in Russia, China, and Korea, and is considered to be an endangered species by the Ministry of Environment in South Korea. Due to habitat loss and use in oriental medicine, their population has been severely decimated. In South Korea, two subspecies of E. schrenckii has been defined according to body color: E. s. schrenckii (blackish) and E. s. anomala (yellow-brownish). Molecular genetic studies on Elaphe schrenckii are very scarce and the taxonomy of Elaphe schrenckii subspecies is uncertain. From the present study, we attempted to identify the genetic differences of these two subspecies using species-specific microsatellites developed from the genomic library of E. schrenckii. Nine polymorphic loci were tested on 19 individuals from E. s. schrenckii (n=10) and E. s. anomala (n=9) in South Korea. The mean number of alleles was 3.78 in E. s. schrenckii and 4.11 in E. s. anomala. The average expected heterozygosity was 0.542 and 0.511 in E. s. schrenckii and E. s. anomala, respectively. We found a lack of genetic structure between two subspecies ($F_{ST}=0.016$) and no genetic discrimination between two subspecies was found. Based on the present findings by microsatellites, two subspecies can be considered as one species, E. schrenckii. However, further investigations on taxonomical status using mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences need to be performed and morphological & ecological data should be revised. The genetic markers should benefit future studies of the endangered species of other Elaphe species for the study of genetic diversity and potential conservation management.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.55-63
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• 2022

The African swine fever virus (ASFV) remains contagious for a long time, not only in the carcass, but also in the bone marrow of an infected animal. The scavenging activity of various animals on ASFV-infected carcasses is a likely risk factor for ASFV transmission. Thus, we conducted this study to determine whether scavengers are potential vectors for ASFV. In nonprotected wild boar carcasses on the forest floor, we investigated the seasonal patterns of carcass decomposition and scavenger visits for feeding on them. The duration from fresh to early skeletonization (only bones and leather remaining) of adult carcasses was 37.6±23.1 days (n=3, range=11-51 days) in winter. The duration from fresh to later skeletonization (only bones and some fur remaining) of all carcasses, including subadult carcasses, was 8.3±2.5 days (n=4, range=7-12 days) in summer. At all three study sites, leopard cats (30.3%), large-billed crows (21.6%), and golden eagles (18.1%) were the frequently visiting species, representing more than 10% of the total visits (343 visits) in winter, whereas raccoons (21.9%), grey-backed thrushes (39.4%), and eyebrowed thrushes (14.7%) were the most frequent visitors in summer. In winter, crows or cinereous vultures were the first animals to arrive at a carcass; in summer, raccoons or crows arrived first. Our results showed that wild boars, raccoons, and leopard cats relatively frequently visited wild boar carcasses and stayed there for a long time. Wild rodents chewing on or staying near carcasses were photographed during winter. In addition to wild boars, thus, mammals, such as raccoons, leopard cats and rodents, and birds, such as accipitrids and thrushes, may be spreaders of ASFV in South Korea.