64-Channel multi-detector row CT angiographic evaluation of the micropigs for potential living donor lung transplantation

Micropigs are the most likely source animals for xenotransplantation. However, an appropriate method for evaluating the lung of micropigs had not been established. Therefore, this study was performed to evaluate the feasibility of 64-channel multi-detector row computed tomography (MDCT) to measure the diameter of the pulmonary arteries and the lung volume in micropigs. The mean diameters of the trachea, and left and right bronchi were 1.6 ± 0.17, 1.18 ± 0.14, and 1.1 ± 0.11 cm, respectively. The mean diameters of the main, right, and left pulmonary arteries were 1.38 ± 0.09, 1.07 ± 0.26, and 0.98 ± 0.13 cm and the diameters of right, left, and common inferior pulmonary veins were 0.97 ± 0.20, 0.76 ± 0.20, and 1.99 ± 0.26 cm, respectively. The mean lung volume was 820.3 ± 77.11 mL. The data presented in this study suggest that the MDCT may be a noninvasive, rapid, and accurate investigational method for pulmonary anatomy in living lung donors.     

Epidemiological survey for Brucella in wildlife and stray dogs, a cat and rodents captured on farms

Brucella infections in wildlife originate either from contact with infected livestock or from a natural sustainable reservoir in wildlife populations. As South Korea has set a goal of brucellosis eradication by 2013, it is necessary to determine the prevalence of Brucella in wildlife and wild rodents. This information will play an important role in the control of brucellosis. Because of the absence of prominent clinical signs, direct and indirect laboratory tests are essential for diagnosing brucellosis. In this study, tissue and blood samples were taken from wild animals, abandoned dogs, a cat and wild rodents, and they were tested for Brucella or Brucella-specific antibodies by isolation, PCR and serology. Results showed that 18.6% (33/177) of blood samples were positive by PCR, and 5.7% (11/194) were positive by C-ELISA. However, none of these samples yielded culturable bacteria. Of the tissue samples, 9.7% (8/82) were positive by PCR. Brucella was isolated from only one tissue culture from a Chinese water deer carcass. This Brucella species was identified as Brucella abortus biovar 1 by biotyping, 16S rRNA PCR and the Bruce-ladder PCR assay. In this study, we reported the prevalence of Brucella in wildlife, dogs, a cat and rodents by using serological and molecular methods, and we report the first isolation of B. abortus in wild Chinese water deer in South Korea.     

Antiviral Effect of Saccharomyces cerevisiaeβ‐glucan to Swine Influenza Virus by Increased Production of Interferon‐γ and Nitric Oxide

The aim of these experiments was to investigate the potential antiviral effect of Saccharomyces cerevisiaeβ‐glucan on the pneumonia induced by swine influenza virus (SIV). Forty colostrum‐deprived 5‐day‐old piglets were randomly divided into four groups of 10. The 20 pigs in groups 1 and 2 were administered Saccharomyces cerevisiaeβ‐glucan orally (50 mg/day/pig; En‐Bio Technology Co., Ltd) for 3 days before SIV infection and those in groups 3 and 4 were given culture medium/diluent alone. Groups 1 and 3 were inoculated intranasally with 3 ml of tissue culture fluid containing 2 × 10⁶ tissue culture infective doses 50% (TCID₅₀)/ml of SIV and those in groups 2 and 4 were exposed in the same manner to uninfected cell culture supernatant. The microscopic lung lesions induced by SIV infection (group 1 pigs) were significantly more severe than those induced by infection in animals pre‐administered β‐glucan (group 3) (P < 0.05). Significantly more SIV nucleic acid was detected in the lungs of pigs experimentally infected with SIV only (group 1) at 5, 7 and 10 days post‐inoculation (dpi) compared with lungs from pigs pre‐administered β‐glucan and infected with SIV (group 3) (P < 0.05). The concentrations of interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) and nitric oxide (NO) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from pigs pre‐administered β‐glucan and infected with SIV (group 3) were significantly higher than for any other group at 7 and 10 dpi for IFN‐γ, and at 5, 7 and 10 dpi for NO (P < 0.05). Saccharomyces cerevisiaeβ‐glucan reduced the pulmonary lesion score and viral replication rate in SIV‐infected pigs. These findings support the potential application of β‐glucan as prophylactic/treatment agent in influenza virus infection.     

Efficacy of imidocarb diproprionate and primaquine phosphate in the prevention of tick-borne disease in imported hereford heifers in South Korea

Summary This paper describes the build-up of tick-borne blood parasites in a group of Hereford heifers imported from New Zealand to the island of Jeju Do, South Korea. All became infected withTheileria sergenti and half withBabesia bigemina. An attempt was made to contain the 2 parasites by treatment with either primaquine phosphate or imidocarb diproprionate. Both drugs had some prophylactic activity againstT. sergenti for at least 26 days and imidocarb diproprionate eliminatedB. bigemina. SinceT. sergenti infections built up subsequently in the animals it is suggested that repeated prophylaxis combined with regular acaricide treatment of imported cattle is necessary to keep piroplasmosis under control.

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Eficacia Del Dipropionata De Imidocarb Y Del Fostato De Primaquine En La Prevencion De Enfermedades Producidas Por Hematozoarios En Terneras Hereford Importadas, En Corea Del Sur

Resumen El trabajo describe la infectación progresiva con hematozoarios de un grupo de terneras Hereford importadas por Corea del Sur de Nueva Zelandia. Todas se infectaron conTheileria sergenti y la mitad conBabesia bigemina. Los animales se trataron con fosfato de primaquine o con dipropionato de imidocarb. Ambas drogas tuvieron actividad profiláctica contraT. sergenti durante 26 días y el imidocarb eliminóB. bigemina. Debido a que los animales se reinfectaron nuevamente conT. sergenti, se sugiere un régimen profiláctico continuado, combinándolo con baños garrapaticidas en ganado importado para controlar la piroplasmosis.

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Efficacite Du Diproprionate D'imidocarbamide Et Du Phosphate De Primaquine Dans La Prevention De Maladies Transmises Par Les Tiques A Des Genisses Hereford Importees En Coree Du Sud

Résumé Cet article décrit le développement d'affections parasitaires sanguines transmises par les tiques dans un groupe de génisses importées de Nouvelle-Zélande en Corée du Sud. Tous les animaux ont été infectés parTheileria sergenti et la moitié parBabesia bigemina. Un essai a été fait pour contrôler ces deux parasites par des traitements avec du phosphate de primaquine ou du diproprionate d'imidocarbamide. Les deux produits ont eu une certaine activité pendant au moins 26 jours contreT. sergenti et l'imidocarbamide a éliminéBabesia bigemina. Les infections àTheileria sergenti ayant continué, il est suggéré qu'un régime répété de prophylaxie combiné avec un traitement acaricide des animaux importés est nécessire pour lutter efficacement contre les piroplasmoses.

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Seconded by the ODA to the Animal Health Laboratory, Jeju City, Republic of Korea.     

Effects of dietary arginine supplementation during gestation and lactation on the performance of lactating primiparous sows and nursing piglets

A 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments in a randomized block design was used to determine the effects of dietary Arg supplementation during gestation and lactation on the lactation performance of 38 first-parity sows. At 30 d of gestation, pregnant gilts were allotted based on BW to 1 of 2 diets supplemented with 1% L-Arg.HCl or 1.7% L-Ala (isonitrogenous control). After farrowing, sows were further allotted based on BW within previous gestation treatment groups to 1 of 2 lactation diets supplemented with 1% L-Arg.HCl or 1.7% L-Ala (isonitrogenous control). All gestation diets contained 3.1 Mcal/kg and 12.2% CP (as is) and were fed 2 kg/d in 2 equally sized meals, whereas all lactation diets contained 3.2 Mcal/kg and 18.6% CP (as is) and were fed ad libitum. Litter size was standardized to 10 piglets by cross-fostering within 24 h postfarrowing. On a weekly basis, BW and backfat (BF) thickness of sows, as well as piglet BW were measured, and blood and milk samples were obtained from the sows. Number of days from weaning to estrus and ADFI were also recorded. There were no differences in BW, BF thickness, ADFI, or days until return to estrus among treatment groups. There was no effect of the gestation diet or a gestation x lactation diet interaction on any parameter measured. On d 7 of lactation, plasma concentrations of Arg and insulin in sows, as well as concentrations of most AA in milk, were greater (P < 0.05) in response to Arg supplementation during lactation compared with the control. Weight gain of piglets from sows fed the Arg-supplemented diet during lactation was greater between d 0 and 7 (P < 0.01) and between d 0 and 21 (P < 0.05) of lactation compared with piglets from sows fed the control diet. Collectively, results from this study indicate the potential beneficial effects of dietary Arg supplementation in improving the lactation performance of first-parity sows.