Expression of secreted and membrane-bound mucins in the airways of piglets experimentally infected with Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae

Immunohistochemistry was used to demonstrate secreted mucins MUC2, MUC5AC and MUC5B and membrane-bound mucin MUC4 in the pulmonary bronchioles of piglets experimentally infected with Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae. Conventional status, Landrace-Duroc cross-bred piglets, 13 days of age, were randomised to two groups. One group (n=20) was infected by the intra-tracheal route with the SNU98703 strain of M. hyopneumoniae, and a group of 12 animals acted as uninfected controls. Five infected and three uninfected piglets were euthanased on the day of infection and at 7, 21, and 35 days post-inoculation (PI). Membrane-bound MUC4 and secreted MUC5AC were the predominant mucins produced in the bronchioles of the piglets in response to M. hyopneumoniae infection, but by day 35 PI, all labelled mucins had returned to pre-infection levels, contemporaneous with reduced pulmonary lesion scores. The increased mucin production may result from direct stimulation of the epithelium by mycoplasmal infection, or may arise indirectly following M. hyopneumoniae-induced ciliostasis.     

Development of a textile sensibility evaluation system

As the demand in the market for a product with a high sensibility has dramatically increased, research has been conducted in designing products for better sensibility; however, most studies have employed a paper-and-pencil (P&P) questionnaire in administering a sensibility evaluation, causing a lack of efficiency and systematicity in sensibility research. The present study developed a computerized textile sensibility evaluation system which can be used to efficiently evaluate the visual, tactile, visual-tactile, and auditory sensibilities of textiles and examined its effectiveness in visual sensibility evaluation compared with the traditional P&P evaluation method. The computerized evaluation system has capabilities of managing information of textile properties, designing a sensibility evaluation experiment, administering a sensibility evaluation, and managing evaluation data for post hoc analysis. The test-retest protocol was administered with a within-subject design for 15 females in their 20 s and 30 s to examine the difference in visual sensibility evaluation between the P&P method and the computer-based method. A high correlation (r=.88～.97) was found in sensibility evaluation between the two methods and the computer-based system showed a higher repeatability within a rater in repeated evaluation (a decrease of 25 % in intra-rater SD), which indicates the computer-based method is an effective alternative to the P&P method in visual sensibility evaluation. The findings of the present study support use of a computerized system for practitioners to efficiently identify preferred characteristics of textiles for the design of sensible clothing.     

Pathogenesis of type 1 (European genotype) porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus in male gonads of infected boar

The objective of this study was to determine the pathogenesis of experimental infection with a type 1 porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) by defining the sites of viral replication and apoptosis in male gonads from infected boars for a period of 21 days after intranasal inoculation. Microscopically, hypospermatogenesis and abundant germ cell depletion and death were observed in the testes. Such germ cell death occurs by apoptosis, as determined by a characteristic histological patterns and evidence of massive DNA fragment detected in situ terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) reaction. PRRSV was detected in the testicular tissue of infected boars only. Viral nucleic acid was localized in spermatogonia, spermatocytes and spermatids but not in the vesicular and bulbourethral gland. In serial sections, PRRSV-positive cells did not co-localized with apoptotic cells. TUNEL-positive apoptotic cells were more numerous than PRRSV-positive cells in testicular sections. The present study demonstrated that type 1 PRRSV infects the spermatogonia and their progeny, and induces apoptosis in these germ cells.     

First Report on Molecular Detection of Equine Upper Respiratory Infectious Viruses in Republic of Korea

The prevalence of equine respiratory virus infections among a suspected population of race horses was examined using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). One or more of five equine respiratory viruses were detected in the nasal swabs of 45 of 89 horses (50.6%), and the detection rate of equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1), equine herpesvirus type 4 (EHV-4), equine herpesvirus type 5 (EHV-5), equine rhinitis A virus (ERAV) and equine rhinitis B virus (ERBV) were 5.6%, 7.9%, 39.0%, 2.2%, and 6.7%, respectively. Among the 45 infected horses, 7 were co-infected with EHV and/or equine rhinitisvirus (ERV). Equine influenzavirus and equine arteritisvirus were not detected in any samples. Specific antibodies to EHV-1 and/or EHV-4 were detected in 59 of 73 tested sera (80.8%), using a virus neutralization test. This investigation suggests that equine respiratory viruses are endemic at Seoul Race Park and that the impact of viral infections on race horses’ health in Republic of Korea should be evaluated.     

Efficacy of a piglet-specific commercial inactivated vaccine against Porcine circovirus type 2 in clinical field trials

The efficacy of a piglet-specific inactivated Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) vaccine was evaluated with clinical field trials, as recommended by the Republic of Korea’s Animal, Plant & Fisheries Quarantine & Inspection Agency. Three farms were selected on the basis of their history of postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome. On each farm 60, 1-week-old pigs were randomly allocated to 1 of 2 treatment groups: vaccination at 1 and 3 wk of age or no vaccination. The 2-dose schedule of vaccination with inactivated PCV2 vaccine improved the average daily weight gain from birth to 16 wk of age, the PCV2 load in the blood, and the frequency and severity of lymph node lesions. Inactivated PCV2 vaccine seems to be very effective in controlling PCV2 infection under field conditions.     

Program of vaccination and antibiotic treatment to control polyserositis caused by Haemophilus parasuis under field conditions

The present study investigated the effects of vaccinating sows and piglets or piglets alone against Haemophilus parasuis on the prevalence of H. parasuis in nasal swabs, on the humoral and cellular immune responses, and on the production parameters of piglets at 3 Korean farms with a clinical history of polyserositis caused by H. parasuis. Piglets born to vaccinated or non-vaccinated sows were subdivided into 3 groups: vaccinated sows and vaccinated pigs (VS-VP), non-vaccinated sows and vaccinated pigs (NVS-VP), and non-vaccinated sows and non-vaccinated pigs (NVS-NVP). The proportion of piglets with positive nasal swabs was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the vaccinated animals (VS-VP and NVS-VP groups) than in the non-vaccinated animals (NVS-NVP group) at 35 and 60 d of age at the 3 farms. The overall growth performance (from 7 to 60 d of age) of the vaccinated piglets was significantly better (P < 0.05) than that of the non-vaccinated piglets at the 3 farms. Piglets in the VS-VP group had significantly higher levels (P < 0.05) of H. parasuis-specific IgG antibodies, lymphocyte proliferation, and interferon-γ-secreting cells than piglets in the NVS-VP and NVS-NVP groups on days 1, 7, 21, 35, and 60 after birth at the 3 farms.     

Apo-9′-Fucoxanthinone,Isolated from Sargassum muticum,Inhibits CpG-Induced Inflammatory Response by Attenuating the Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Pathway

Sargassum muticum (S. muticum) is a brown edible alga and widely distributed in Korea. This report was designed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory properties of apo-9′-fucoxanthinone (APO-9′) isolated from S. muticum on pro-inflammatory cytokine production. S. muticum extract (SME) exhibited significant inhibitory effects on pro-inflammatory cytokine production in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) and dendritic cells (BMDCs). APO-9′ pre-treatment in the CpG DNA-stimulated BMDMs and BMDCs showed a strong dose-dependent inhibitory effect on interleukin (IL)-12 p40, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α production with IC₅₀ values ranging from 5.31 to 13.79. It exhibited a strong inhibitory effect on the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and on activator protein (AP)-1 reporter activity. APO-9′ pre-treatment exhibited significant inhibition of CpG DNA-induced production of inducible nitric oxide synthase. Taken together, these data suggest that SME and APO-9′ have a significant anti-inflammatory property and warrant further studies concerning the potentials of SME and APO-9′ for medicinal use.     

An antimicrobial peptide-A3: effects on growth performance,nutrient retention,intestinal and faecal microflora and intestinal morphology of broilers

1. The present study investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with an antimicrobial peptide-A3 (AMP-A3) on growth performance, nutrient retention, intestinal microflora and intestinal morphology of broilers.

2. A total of 320-d-old chicks (Ross 308, average BW 44.0 ± 3.4 g) were randomly allotted to 4 dietary treatments on the basis of initial body weight (BW). The dietary treatments were negative control (NC; basal diet), positive control (PC; basal diet + 15 mg avilamycin/kg diet) and AMP-A3 (basal diet supplemented with 60 or 90 mg/kg AMP-A3). The NC diet was considered as 0 mg/kg AMP-A3 treatment. Experimental diets were given in two phases: starter phase (d 0–21) and finisher phase (d 22–35).

3. The overall BW gain and retention of dry matter (DM), gross energy (GE; d 19–21) and crude protein (CP; d 19–21 and d 33–35) were greater in birds fed on the PC and 90 mg/kg AMP-A3 diets than in birds fed on the NC diet. Also, an increase in dietary AMP-A3 linearly improved BW gain and retention of DM, GE (d 19–21) and CP (d 19–21 and d 33–35).

4. Birds fed on the PC and 90 mg/kg AMP-A3 diets had fewer excreta coliforms (d 21 and d 35), total anaerobic bacteria (TAB) and Clostridium spp. (d 35) and ileum and caecum coliforms (d 35) than birds fed on the NC diet. In addition, birds fed on the diet supplemented with increasing levels of AMP-A3 had linearly reduced excreta TAB (d 35), Clostridium spp. and coliforms (d 21 and d 35) and ileum and caecum coliforms (d 35).

5. Birds fed on the PC and 90 mg/kg AMP-A3 diets had greater villus height of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum than birds fed on the NC diet. Moreover, birds fed on increasing levels of AMP-A3 diet had increased (linear) villus height of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum.

6. These results indicate that 90 mg/kg AMP-A3 has the potential to improve growth performance, nutrient retention and intestinal morphology and to reduce harmful microorganisms in broilers and can be used as a potential antimicrobial growth promoter.     

Reproduction of postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome in pigs by prenatal porcine circovirus 2 infection and postnatal porcine parvovirus infection or immunostimulation

Postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) was reproduced in prenatally porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2)-infected pigs by either postnatal infection with porcine parvovirus (PPV) or by immunostimulation. Twenty-four randomly selected piglets from 3 sows, which had been experimentally infected during gestation with PCV2, were randomly divided into 3 groups; group 1 (prenatal PCV2 infection, with postnatal PPV infection), group 2 (prenatal PCV2 infection, with postnatal keyhole limpet hemocyanin, emulsified in incomplete Freund's adjuvant [KLH/ICFA] injection), and group 3 (prenatal PCV2 infection only). Twenty-four randomly selected piglets from 3 uninfected sows were randomly divided into 3 groups; group 4 (no prenatal infection, with postnatal PCV2 and PPV infection), group 5 (no prenatal infection, with postnatal PCV2 infection), and group 6 (negative control pigs). Body weight in negative control pigs (group 6) was increased significantly compared with pigs in groups 1, 2, and 4 at 49, 52, 56, 59, and 63 days of age. The granulomatous inflammatory reaction and lymphoid depletion that are typical lesions in pigs with PMWS were observed in the lymph node of piglets in groups 1, 2, and 4 at 63 days of age. Pigs in group 3 had significantly fewer PCV2-positive cells than those from groups 1, 2, 4, or 5. When the prenatally PCV2-infected pigs were infected with PPV or injected with immunostimulant in the postnatal period, they developed PMWS. Thus, factors that potentiate the progression of prenatal PCV2 infection to PMWS are postnatal infection with PPV or immune stimulation.     

Evaluation of high nutrient diets and additional dextrose on reproductive performance and litter performance of heat‐stressed lactating sows

This study investigated the litter performance of lactating sows fed nutrient‐dense diets with or without dextrose at farrowing to weaning, during the summer with an average room temperature of 28.4°C. A total of 60 (13 first parity, 13 second parity, 19 third parity, and 15 forth parity) cross‐bred sows were assigned to three treatments. The three treatments were: standard diet (ST), high nutrient diet (HN; ST + 3% higher energy and 18.0% protein), and high nutrient diet plus dextrose (HND; 3% higher energy, 18.0% protein, and 5% dextrose). BW loss was reduced in the HND sows compared with the ST sows during lactation. The HN and HND sows had a higher piglet and litter weight at weaning. Also, the HND sows had the highest post‐prandial insulin levels at weaning and the shortest weaning‐to‐service interval (WSI). Serum LH was higher in the HND sows than the ST sows. The milk fat level was higher in the HND sows compared with the ST sows, but similar to the HN sows. In conclusion, these results suggest that it is possible to increase the blood insulin response by supplementing dextrose to a high nutrient diet, thus, improving WSI interval and litter growth during heat stress.