BACKGROUND: Hantavirus are widely distributed in rodents populations even in geographical areas where hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) has not been reported. Multiple species of Murid and Arvicolid rodents serve as the natural reservoirs of hantaviruses. Serologic diagnosis using hantaviral antigens indicates that hantaviruses are widely distributed in wild rodents. This study was designed to find the distribution of hantaviruses among wild rodents and small mammals in Korea, 1995-1996. METHODS: Rodents were trapped alive in selected areas. A total of 551 wild rodents from 7 species and 97 small mammals from 4 species were captured in Korea. Serologic evidence for hantavirus infection were tested using five hantavirus antigens by indirect immunofluorescent antibody technique (IFA). Among 162 Apodemus agrarius, 23 Apodemus peninsulae, 8 Clethrionomys regulus, 6 Microtus fortis, 1 Mus musculus, 283 Tamias sibiricus, 68 Sciurus vulgaris, 14 Crocidura laciura, 80 Lepus sinensis, 2 Capereolus capereolus and 1 Nyctereutes procyonoides. RESULTS: 29 A. agrarius, 2 A. peninsulae, 1 C. laciura, 2 C. regulus, 27 T. sibiricus and 7 S. vulgaris were seropositive against Hantaan virus and 7 L. sinensis were IF antibody positive against Seoul virus. Some of Tamias sibiricus were only seropositive against Puumala virus or prospect hill virus. CONCLUSION: This data suggests that new serotypes of hantavirus might distribute among rodents in Korea.
Animals ; Arvicolinae ; Diagnosis ; Hantaan virus ; Hantavirus Infections* ; Hantavirus* ; Hares ; Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome ; Korea* ; Mammals ; Mice ; Muridae ; Murinae ; Puumala virus ; Raccoon Dogs ; Rodentia* ; Sciuridae ; Seoul virus

Infections of Toxoplasma gondii and Babesia microti are reported in many wild animals worldwide, but information on their incidence and molecular detection in Korean wild fields is limited. In this study, the prevalence of T. gondii and B. microti infection in blood samples of 5 animal species (37 Chinese water deer, 23 raccoon dogs, 6 roe deer, 1 wild boar, and 3 Eurasian badgers) was examined during 2008–2009 in Gangwon-do (Province), the Republic of Korea (=Korea) by using serological and molecular tests. The overall seropositivity of T. gondii was 8.6% (6/70); 10.8% in Chinese water deer, 4.3% in raccoon dogs, and 16.7% in roe deer. PCR revealed only 1 case of T. gondii infection in Chinese water deer, and phylogenic analysis showed that the positive isolate was practically identical to the highly pathogenetic strain type I. In B. microti PCR, the positive rate was 5.7% (4/70), including 2 Chinese water deer and 2 Eurasian badgers. Phylogenetic analysis results of 18S rRNA and the β-tubulin gene showed that all positive isolates were US-type B. microti. To our knowledge, this is the first report of B. microti detected in Chinese water deer and Eurasian badger from Korea. These results indicate a potentially high prevalence of T. gondii and B. microti in wild animals of Gangwon-do, Korea. Furthermore, Chinese water deer might act as a reservoir for parasite infections of domestic animals.
Animals ; Animals, Domestic ; Animals, Wild ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Babesia microti ; Babesia ; Deer ; Gangwon-do ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Mustelidae ; Parasites ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevalence ; Raccoon Dogs ; Republic of Korea ; Sus scrofa ; Toxoplasma ; Water

Microsporum canis is one of the zoophiles and pets(especially dogs and cats) play a role as a source of this organism. M. canis is most likely transmitted by contact of these animal hosts with humans. We report on 16 foreigners who are infected with M. canis transmitted from a show tiger. Fourteen of the patients had directly contact with a show tiger on occasion. Patients showed typical tinea corporis lesions on the extremities, and the tiger showed hairless patches on the abdomen. The culture and microscopic findings from patients' lesions revealed M. canis as the causative fungus.
Abdomen ; Animals ; Dogs ; Emigrants and Immigrants ; Extremities ; Fungi ; Humans ; Microsporum* ; Tigers* ; Tinea

Microsporum canis is one of the zoophiles and pets(especially dogs and cats) play a role as a source of this organism. M. canis is most likely transmitted by contact of these animal hosts with humans. We report on 16 foreigners who are infected with M. canis transmitted from a show tiger. Fourteen of the patients had directly contact with a show tiger on occasion. Patients showed typical tinea corporis lesions on the extremities, and the tiger showed hairless patches on the abdomen. The culture and microscopic findings from patients' lesions revealed M. canis as the causative fungus.
Abdomen ; Animals ; Dogs ; Emigrants and Immigrants ; Extremities ; Fungi ; Humans ; Microsporum* ; Tigers* ; Tinea

Animal shoulder models are important in the investigation of the natural history of various pathologic conditions and for evaluation of the effectiveness of different treatments and biomaterials. The characteristics of animal shoulder models that may be used for rotator cuff related experiments are different with regard to the anatomy, behavioral pattern, advantages and disadvantages in application to each other. The lower primates and all the non-primate species, except the tree kangaroo, were neither functional overhead nor had a true rotator cuff. Utilizing more advanced primates, or perhaps even the tree kangaroo would be ideal and the most relevant to man as they possess a true rotator cuff. However, ethical concerns, costs, and many limitations in obtaining primates generally preclude the use of these animals for such research. Finally we should consider the differences in comparative anatomy and behavioral pattern of each animal model during performance or interpretation of rotator cuff experiments.
Anatomy, Comparative ; Animals ; Biocompatible Materials ; Macropodidae ; Models, Animal ; Natural History ; Primates ; Rotator Cuff ; Shoulder

Over the seven years from January 2004 to March 2011, 105 rabies cases in three different animal species and one case in human were recorded in South Korea. Forty three (40.6%) cattle and 33 (31.1%) dogs, 29 (27.4%) raccoon dogs were affected and one (0.9%) death in human was reported. The highest annual incidence of rabies was recorded with 27 cases in 2004, and then decreased to a median of 14 cases per year. Eighty cases (76.2%) occurred in Gangwon and 24 cases (22.9%) in Gyeonggi and one case in Seoul Province. All rabies cases occurred in the northern part of the country, namely, Seoul, Gyeonggi and Gangwon Provinces. Since 2007, rabies cases were not reported in Gyeonggi Province, but continued to occur and move eastward in Gangwon Province. The monthly distribution of animal rabies during the seven year period peaked in January, and the incidence was the highest during winter, from December to February, and the least common in summer, from June to September. The epidemiological study indicated that preventive measures including distribution of bait vaccine for the control of rabies in wild animals was helpful to a substantial decrease in number of rabies cases in South Korea.
Animals ; Animals, Wild ; Cattle ; Dogs ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Rabies ; Raccoon Dogs ; Republic of Korea

No abstract available.
Dermatitis, Contact* ; Tigers*

A new alternative rabies bait vaccine strain named ERAG3G, which is applicable to wild animals, was developed to eliminate rabies in South Korea. In this study, the safety and immunogenicity of the strain was evaluated in Korean raccoon dogs. The ERAG3G was propagated in BHK/T7-9 cells. Korean raccoon dogs were administered ERAG3G (1 ml, 10(8.0) FAID50/ml) orally or intramuscularly to evaluate its safety and immunogenicity. The raccoon dogs were observed for 70 days after administration, and immunogenicity was measured using a fluorescent antibody virus neutralization test. The ERAG3G strain was not pathogenic to Korean raccoon dogs immunized via the intramuscular or oral route. Raccoon dogs administered the candidate vaccine via the oral route developed high virus neutralizing antibody (VNA) titers ranging from 13.7 to 41.6 IU/ml 70 days post administration. Raccoon dogs inoculated intramuscularly with the ERAG3G strain developed moderate VNA titers ranging from 0.5 to 13.7 IU/ml. These findings suggest that the ERAG3G strain is safe and induces a protective immune response in raccoon dogs.
Animals ; Animals, Wild ; Antibodies, Neutralizing ; Korea ; Neutralization Tests ; Rabies virus* ; Rabies* ; Raccoon Dogs* ; Raccoons*

The surgical correction of blepharoptosis is accomplished by operations utilizing the levator frontalis or superior rectus muscle. To obtain the best results in ptosis surgery, it is necessayr to select the appropriate operation for each case. When the levator action is relatively good, resection of the levator muscle is the operation of choice. The treatment of choice when the levator function is minimal or absent is suspending the ptotic upper lid from the brow. For this purpose sutures of cat gut, silk and gold chain or wire (gold, platinum, tantalum, stainless steel), or sling technique of Kangaroo tendon, silicone, fascia lata, skin, orbicularis muscle and sclera have been used. According to Berke, of the above, fascia lata is the best because it does not pull out of the tissues or become infected as often as do other materials. Allogeneic fascia lata seems to be a desirable material, but it is not readily available. The authors attached the ptotic upper lid to the brow by means of using the levator muscle. Instead of resecting the levator muscle as in the Berke ptosis operation through the skiu route, we did not resect the muscle but utilized it. In the course of Berke operation, after the levator muscle has been completely freed, it is divided into three equal parts by longitudinal severing with scissors. The levator muscle is sutured to the upper tarsal edge in correct position with 6-0 cat gut. Next, three stab skin incisions are made at the eyebrow, one near the center, one in the nasal third, one in the temporal third. Three tunnels are made under the skin from the eyebrow incisions to the lid incis:ons. A small forceps is passed through this tunnel and a tongue of the levator muscle drown up and sutured to the frontalis muscle. The other two tongues of the levator muscle are sutured in the same way. The skin incisions are closed with 6-0 black silk, then Frost suture and pressure dressing are applied. The advantages of this method are remarkable, that is, increment of the post operative motility of the upper lid and utilzation of living autogeheic levater muscle VS. heterotopic graft of fascia lata or other materials in all six cases of our report, good results were obtained and infections or complications did not occur.
Animals ; Bandages ; Blepharoptosis ; Cats ; Eyebrows ; Fascia Lata ; Macropodidae ; Platinum ; Sclera ; Silicones ; Silk ; Skin ; Surgical Instruments ; Sutures ; Tantalum ; Tendons ; Tongue ; Transplants

The surgical correction of blepharoptosis is accomplished by operations utilizing the levator frontalis or superior rectus muscle. To obtain the best results in ptosis surgery, it is necessayr to select the appropriate operation for each case. When the levator action is relatively good, resection of the levator muscle is the operation of choice. The treatment of choice when the levator function is minimal or absent is suspending the ptotic upper lid from the brow. For this purpose sutures of cat gut, silk and gold chain or wire (gold, platinum, tantalum, stainless steel), or sling technique of Kangaroo tendon, silicone, fascia lata, skin, orbicularis muscle and sclera have been used. According to Berke, of the above, fascia lata is the best because it does not pull out of the tissues or become infected as often as do other materials. Allogeneic fascia lata seems to be a desirable material, but it is not readily available. The authors attached the ptotic upper lid to the brow by means of using the levator muscle. Instead of resecting the levator muscle as in the Berke ptosis operation through the skiu route, we did not resect the muscle but utilized it. In the course of Berke operation, after the levator muscle has been completely freed, it is divided into three equal parts by longitudinal severing with scissors. The levator muscle is sutured to the upper tarsal edge in correct position with 6-0 cat gut. Next, three stab skin incisions are made at the eyebrow, one near the center, one in the nasal third, one in the temporal third. Three tunnels are made under the skin from the eyebrow incisions to the lid incis:ons. A small forceps is passed through this tunnel and a tongue of the levator muscle drown up and sutured to the frontalis muscle. The other two tongues of the levator muscle are sutured in the same way. The skin incisions are closed with 6-0 black silk, then Frost suture and pressure dressing are applied. The advantages of this method are remarkable, that is, increment of the post operative motility of the upper lid and utilzation of living autogeheic levater muscle VS. heterotopic graft of fascia lata or other materials in all six cases of our report, good results were obtained and infections or complications did not occur.
Animals ; Bandages ; Blepharoptosis ; Cats ; Eyebrows ; Fascia Lata ; Macropodidae ; Platinum ; Sclera ; Silicones ; Silk ; Skin ; Surgical Instruments ; Sutures ; Tantalum ; Tendons ; Tongue ; Transplants