Establishment of a bovine leukemia virus-free dairy herd in Korea

In view of the high prevalence rate of bovine leukemia virus (BLV)infections in cattle over the entire country, a large dairy farm in Chungnam province was chosen and 'test and segregate' program was instituted. On July 1999, ELISA test was performed on 491 animals on the farm and only 163 cattle (139 adult cows, 18 female and 6 male calves)were BLV-seronegative. From February 2000 through April 2004, the seronegative group was placed in barns 1,500 to 2,000 m from seropositive group and thereafter tested at 3-to 5-month intervals by ELISA. Animals seroconverted in consecutive tests were removed from the seronegative group immediately after the detection of anti-BLV antibodies. The changes in management were aimed at preventing iatrogenic transfer of blood between cattle. Replacement heifers imported from other countries and calves born at the farm were repeatedly tested by ELISA, and only seronegative animals were introduced into the group. As of April 2004, there were 311 cattle in the BLV seronegative group of the farm. Twent y four cows of the initial 139 adult cows were seroconverted in 2000, and no seropositive animals were found since February 2001. Follow up of the group, from which all seropositive cattle were moved to a separate location, revealed no recurrence of BLV infection for three years. The approach in the present study might be valuable for Korean producers who would like to move toward a BLV-negative status.

Differences in the serum immunoglobulin concentrations between dairy and beef calves from birth to 14 days of age

The changes in serum levels of immunoglobulins G, M and A of dairy and beef calves of well-managed herds were monitored from birth to 14 days post partum using single radial immunodiffusion. Serum levels of all three immunoglobulin classes reached its peak at 24 hours in both groups of calves after birth, at which time there were very high levels of each immunoglobulin present. The mean IgM and IgA levels of the two groups became same at 6 days and 8 days of age, respectively but the mean IgG level of beef calves was approximately twice that of dairy calves throughout the experiment.

Identification of newly isolated Babesia parasites from cattle in Korea by using the Bo-RBC-SCID mice

Attempts were made to isolate and identify Korean bovine Babesia parasite. Blood samples were collected from Holstein cows in Korea, and Babesia parasites were propagated in SCID mice with circulating bovine red blood cells for isolation. The isolate was then antigenically and genotypically compared with several Japanese isolates. The Korean parasite was found to be nearly identical to the Oshima strain isolated from Japanese cattle, which was recently designated as Babesia ovata oshimensis n. var. Haemaphysalis longicornis was the most probable tick species that transmited the parasite.

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of Trichinella spiralis antibodies and the surveillance of selected pig breeding farms in the Republic of Korea

Trichinellosis is a parasitic zoonosis of public health importance. It is caused by Trichinella spiralis which has a wide host range including humans. In the present communication, the ELISA technique was employed on a total of 803 blood samples from 7 selected pig breeding farms in 1996 for diagnosis and surveillance of trichinellosis. Out of the entire 803 samples, nine were found to be suspected while one was positive by ELISA. But western blot analyses employed for further confirmation have shown that all of 10 samples did not react to larval excretory-secretory product antigens. These results indicate that pig breeding farms included in the present study are free from trichinellosis. However, it does not mean Korea is free from trichinellosis since human trichinellosis has recently been reported. The necessity of continued surveillance for trichinellosis in both pigs and wild animals was discussed.

A survey of canine heartworm infections among German shepherds in South Korea

A survey of canine heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) infections among German shepherds in five areas of South Korea was performed from October 1994 to August 1995 using a microfilarial test (modified Knott's test) and an antigen test (DiroCHEK , Synbiotics, USA). The infection rate of 127 German shepherds (71 males and 56 females) was 10.2% (13/127) by the microfilarial test, but was 28.3% (36/127) by the antigen test, revealing that 24 of the 36 antigen-positive dogs were microfilaria-negative in the peripheral blood. All dogs that were microfilaria-positive were also antigen-positive. Three of the microfilaria-negative and antigen-positive dogs contained 4 - 15 adult heartworms in the heart and pulmonary arteries upon necropsy. The infection rate among German shepherds was the highest in Hoengsong-gun (Kangwon-do, 84.4%), while those of Yechon-gun (Kyongsangbuk-do) and Chungwon-gun (Chungchongbuk-do) areas were 20.0% and 14.3%, respectively. None of the dogs in the Kimhae-shi (Kyongsangnam-do) and Kwangju areas was heartworm positive. The infection rates of heartworm in dogs at the age of 1-3, 4-6, and 7-11 years were 6.3%, 21.4%, and 56.4%, respectively. Based on the fact that the antigen test is more accurate than the microfilarial test, this study strongly indicates that the prevalence rate of canine heartworm in Korea may be higher than previously reported (3.1+=23.0%) which utilized microfilarial tests.

Divergent elbow dislocation: report of one case / 대한정형외과학회잡지

No abstract available.

Congenital Absence of the Radius: 2 cases report / 대한정형외과학회잡지

Two cases of congenital absence of the radius were experienced in this hospitaI. Both cases were male patients and both had congenital absence of the radius in right forearm. Ulno-carpo-metacarpal arthrodesis was done in one case and other case was treated with centralization.

Clinical Study of Fat Embolism / 대한정형외과학회잡지

The following results have been obtained through the study of four cases of fat embolism which usually follows after long bone fracture, especially femur fracture at the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Taegu Presbyterian Hospital: 1. By age group, two cases were under10 years old and two cases were between 30 and 40 years old. 2. By cause of accident, three cases were caused by traffic accident and one case was caused by fall. Femur fracture was found in all cases on top of other fractures in some cases. 3. By clinical symptom, clinical symptoms occured in all cases within 48 hours after trauma and laboratory data indicated changes according to thier symptoms and signs. 4. Petechiae and coma were found in all cases but there was no fat globule found in urine, sputum, frozen section of the clotted blood and biopsy of petechiae. 5. Three cases were completely recovered from illness with the treatment of oxygen, heparin, cordicosteroid and rheomacrodex but one case expired after 8 hours of trauma.