Increased expression of galectin-9 in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis / 대한수의학회지

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of human multiple sclerosis (MS), reflects pathophysiologic steps in MS such as the influence of T cells and antibodies reactive to the myelin sheath, and the cytotoxic effect of cytokines. Galectin-9 (Gal-9) is a member of animal lectins that plays an essential role in various biological functions. The expression of Gal-9 is significantly enhanced in MS lesions; however, its role in autoimmune disease has not been fully elucidated. To identify the role of Gal-9 in EAE, we measured changes in mRNA and protein expression of Gal-9 as EAE progressed. Expression increased with disease progression, with a sharp rise occurring at its peak. Gal-9 immunoreactivity was mainly expressed in astrocytes and microglia of the central nervous system (CNS) and macrophages of spleen. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that Gal-9+CD11b+ cells were dramatically increased in the spleen at the peak of disease. Increased expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-R1 and p-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) was observed in the CNS of EAE mice, suggesting that TNF-R1 and p-JNK might be key regulators contributing to the expression of Gal-9 during EAE. These results suggest that identification of the relationship between Gal-9 and EAE progression is critical for better understanding Gal-9 biology in autoimmune disease.

Recurrence of equine coital exanthema in thoroughbred stallions / 대한수의학회지

The object of this study was to evaluate recurrence of equine coital exanthema (ECE) whether re-infection or re-activation of causative virus. ECE is a venereal disease of horses caused by equine herpesvirus type 3 (EHV-3). Like other herpesviruses, it may persist in infected horses for a long time. There is a controversy on the cause of ECE as the recurrence or the reinfection. This disease had occurred firstly on stallions and broodmares in Korea. The horses had rebreeded after healing routinely. Next year, the disease recurrented on the just same affected horses among stallions. The result of this study, re-outbreak of ECE in stallions is recurrence of ECE, but not reinfection of the virus.

Epizootiologic evaluation on equine coital exanthema in Korea / 대한수의학회지

This study evaluated the epizootiological characteristics of equine coital exanthema (ECE) in South Korea. A PCR test was used to determine the equine herpesvirus 3 (EHV-3) release period, excretion by suckling foals, morbidity rate, effect on fertility, and onset of breeding partner after treatment. The morbidity rate of ECE based on clinical symptoms was 8.3% (2/24) for stallions and 10.8% (45/416) for mares, and 29 of 45 (64.4%) animals were positive on the PCR test. Ten (22%) broodmares had symptoms before breeding, while 26 (58%) had symptoms after breeding. Nine (20%) mares had uncertain coverage periods and occurrence times. Suckling foals had no clinical findings and EHV-3 was not detected in their nostrils, although it was detected on teasers. No lesions were observed in the clitoral fossa on broodmares, although EHV-3 was detected by PCR. The period of EHV-3 emission was 22~23, 18~19, 6, and 58 days in stallions, broodmares, teasers, and mares with a mixed E. coli-like infection, respectively. ECE had no negative effects on the breeding capability of stallions and no symptoms were observed in broodmares after recovering from ECE.

Rate of return to race after arthroscopic surgeries in Thoroughbred racehorses (2005~2010) / 대한수의학회지

The racehorses that under arthroscopic surgery due to be injured his limbs were studied during exercise or training at Busan Race Park from 2005 to 2010. Rate of arthroscopic surgical treatments was 1.4% (63/4,642). Affected bones were radius, radial carpal bone, third carpal bone, proximal phalanx, third metacarpal bone, femur, tibia, proximal sesamoid bone and intermediate carpal bone. The lesions were fracture, chip fracture, slap fracture, osteochonrosis, and osteochondrotitis dissencans. Number of patients under arthroscopic surgery were 63. Success horses of returned to racetrack or tried to return to racetrack were 58, and 5 horses were in training or resting at the time of publication. Success horses of returned to their previous use in the patients were 49 horses (84.4%) and no returned to the racetrack were 9 horses (15.6%) in 58 horses.

Development of a sandwich ELISA for the detection of Listeria spp. using specific flagella antibodies

Five monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) and chicken immunoglobulin (IgY) were developed by immunizing with flagella purified from Listeria monocytogenes 4b and the five MAbs have been confirmed to be specific against three different epitopes of flagellin. The antibodies showed specific reaction to Listeria genus and no cross-reactivity with other bacteria tested in this experiment including E.coli O157:H7 and Salmonella enteritidis. Sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) using the MAbs and IgY were developed to detect Listeria species and the sensitivity and specificity of the developed ELISA have been analyzed. The detection limit of ELISA using MAb 2B1 and HRP labeled IgY was 1 x105cells/0.1 ml at 22degrees C and 1x106 cells/0.1 ml at 30degrees C. ELISA using the pair of MAbs (MAbs 2B1 and HRP labeled MAbs 7A3) detected up to 104cells/0.1 ml at 22degrees C and 30degrees C. Detection limit of sandwich ELISA using IgY was 10 times lower than MAb pair. Using the developed ELISA, we could detect several Listeria contaminated in food samples after 48 h-culturing. In conclusion, both MAbs and IgY have been proved to be highly specific to detect Listeria flagella and the developed sandwich ELISA using these antibodies would be useful tool for screening Listeria spp. in food.