ABSTRACT
The prevalence of canine parvovirus (CPV) variants in dog was investigated in a total of 51 fecal samples submitted over a 2-year period (2005-2007) in Korea. The CPV VP2 gene was amplified and sequenced from the fecal samples, and the results indicated that of the 51 samples, 49 samples belong to the CPV-2a family, 1 to CPV-2b, and the remaining 1 to CPV-2a variant. The VP2 gene of 20 isolates was sequenced and phylogenetic analysis was conducted. With one exception, all of the isolates were closely related to a Taiwanese isolate (CPV T37) and they formed geographical patterns of VP2 gene nucleotide sequences. Our finding showed that CPV-2a was the predominant type and CPV-2b and CPV-2a variant also existed in Korea. Using the hemagglutination inhibition (HI) and the neutralization (Nt) test, the animals inoculated with CPV-2 developed low antibody titers against the CPV-2 variants in laboratory animal was also identified.
Subject(s)
Parvoviridae Infections/epidemiology , Parvovirus, Canine/genetics , Amino Acid Sequence , Animals , Base Sequence , Dogs , Feces/virology , Korea/epidemiology , Molecular Sequence Data , Parvoviridae Infections/virology , Parvovirus, Canine/classification , Parvovirus, Canine/isolation & purification , Phylogeny , Prevalence , Sequence AlignmentABSTRACT
Canine rotavirus was isolated from feces of a Korean Jindo dog with mild diarrhea, and the isolate was genetically characterized. Rotaviral antigen was detected in the feces using a commercial rotavirus antigen detection kit and cytopathic effects were observed in a cell line inoculated with the feces. The virus isolate (GC/KS05) was identified as subtype G3P[3] using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The strain displayed 98% and 90% identity with the VP7 genes of a canine rotavirus isolate (RV52/96) from Italy and the simian rotavirus strain (RRV) respectively. However, the GC/KS05 isolate exhibited only 83% and 82% identity, respectively, with the G3 serotype canine strains, RV198/95 and K9. Phylogenetic analysis of the VP7 and VP4 genes of GC/KS05 strain led to the classification of VP7 in a different cluster than other canine rotavirus VP7 genes, and VP4 within the cluster of canine rotavirus VP4 genes. The Korean isolate was thus more closely related to the RV52/96 isolate than the other isolates for which sequence data is available. Detailed analysis of the VP7 region revealed 6 amino acid variations between the new isolate and RV52/96. After 5 passages in cell culture, the GC/KS05 strain remained pathogenic for young pups, in which inoculation resulted in diarrhea and virus shedding in the feces.
Subject(s)
Dog Diseases/virology , Rotavirus Infections/veterinary , Rotavirus/genetics , Rotavirus/isolation & purification , Amino Acid Sequence , Animals , Antigens, Viral/genetics , Capsid Proteins/genetics , Dogs , Korea , Molecular Sequence Data , Phylogeny , Rotavirus/chemistry , Rotavirus/classification , Rotavirus Infections/virologyABSTRACT
PURPOSE: We tested the efficacy of oral recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rhEGF) against radiation-induced oral mucositis in a rat model. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Each of 35 Sprague-Dawley rats, 7 to 8 weeks of age and weighing 178 +/- 5 grams, was irradiated once in the head region with 25 Gy, using a 4-MV therapeutic linear accelerator at a rate of 2 Gy/min. The irradiated rats were randomly divided into four groups: those receiving no treatment (Group 1), those treated with vehicle only three times per day (Group 2), and those treated with 50 microg/mL (Group 3), or 100 microg/mL (Group 4) rhEGF three times per day. RESULTS: Rats were monitored for survival rate and daily activity, including hair loss, sensitivity, and anorexia. We found that survival rate and oral intake were significantly increased and histologic changes were significantly decreased in the rhEGF-treated rats. There was no difference, however, between rats treated with 50 microg/mL or 100 microg/mL rhEGF. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that orally administered rhEGF decreased radiation-induced oral mucositis in rats.
Subject(s)
Anti-Ulcer Agents/therapeutic use , Epidermal Growth Factor/therapeutic use , Radiation Injuries/drug therapy , Stomatitis/drug therapy , Administration, Oral , Animals , Drug Evaluation, Preclinical , Mouth Mucosa/pathology , Mouth Mucosa/radiation effects , Radiation Injuries/pathology , Random Allocation , Rats , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Recombinant Proteins/therapeutic use , Stomatitis/pathologyABSTRACT
Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a potent stimulant of epithelialisation. However, topical application of EGF to achieve facilitated re-epithelialisation in partial thickness wounds has been controversial. A total of 10 pigs, each with eight 4 x 4 cm partial thickness wounds, were treated twice a day for 10 days to observe the effect of human recombinant EGF in concentrations of 0.1, 1, 5, 10, 25 ug/g, vehicle only and two controls. The control and the vehicle-only wounds each demonstrated 100% healing time (HT100) of 9.31 +/- 1.34 and 8.5 +/- 1.12 while the wounds treated with EGF ointment with concentrations of 0.1 (HT100 = 6.4 +/- 0.71), 1 (HT100 = 5.2 +/- 0.63), 5 (HT100 = 5.8 +/- 0.85), 10 (HT100 = 7.1 +/- 1.45) and 25 ug/g (HT100 = 7.4 + 0.57) demonstrated significant reduction in time to achieve re-epithelialisation. Among the EGF-treated wounds, the wounds treated with EGF concentrations of 1 and 5 ug/g achieved the fastest re-epithelialisation with evidence of substantial increase in basal keratinocyte activity observed through Ki-67 activity. In conclusion, this article demonstrates the efficacy of human recombinant EGF in facilitating re-epithelialisation of partial thickness wounds with the most efficient healing found in EGF concentrations of 1 and 5 ug/g.
