A case of caseous lymphadenitis (CL) was detected in a native Korean goat without manifestation of superficial nodules but with pulmonary abscesses that were characterized microscopically by granulomatous inflammation consisting of a central necrotic region, peripheral fibrous capsule, and numerous cellular infiltrates with epithelioid macrophages, giant cells, and lymphocytes. Presence of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis was identified by using bacterial isolation and multiplex PCR. In addition, a 43% seropositivity to C. pseudotuberculosis was observed in goats from the same farm. This case highlights the risk of exposure of farmers to the causative agent and the urgent need for national monitoring for CL, a potential zoonotic.

A 26-month-old male mixed-breed dog of Korean origin was subjected to necropsy following death after a history of decreased appetite and weight loss. Necropsy revealed generalized lymphadenopathy and splenomegaly. Histopathological examination of samples from the spleen, mandibular lymph nodes, liver, kidney, and large intestine showed granulomas with numerous macrophages containing intracytoplasmic Leishmania amastigotes. Transmission electron microscopy revealed Leishmania amastigotes in the macrophage cytoplasm. All tissues with granulomas were positive for Leishmania spp, which was confirmed to be Leishmania infantum by conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR), real-time PCR, and in situ hybridization. To our knowledge, this is the second case of canine visceral leishmaniasis in Korea.

The Korean National Residue Program (KNRP) use three plans for the sampling of domestic meats: monitoring, surveillance, and exploratory testing. We analyzed the results of monitoring and surveillance for residual veterinary drugs and pesticides in meat during 2012 and 2013. KNRP targets food-producing animals including cattle, pigs, chickens, ducks, sheep (goats), and horses. Sampling mainly focuses on veterinary drugs and pesticide residues found in tissues such as muscle, kidney, and liver. A total of 548 residue violations occurred between 2012 and 2013, mainly in pigs (427 violations) and cattle (113 violations). The most commonly found compounds were antimicrobials such as penicillins, fluoroquinolones, aminoglycosides, tetracyclines, sulfonamides, and macrolides. Pig residue violations were mainly for the presence of penicillins (34%) and fluoroquinolones (28%), while most residue violations in cattle were due to the presence of penicillins (32%) and aminoglycosides (27%). The overall rates of violations were 0.21% in 2012 and 0.10% in 2013. A major cause of violations was the failure to follow the appropriate withdrawal periods (68.8%). The results of the KNRP were analyzed to provide information on agricultural chemical residues that are of public health concern and to help control and prevent residue violations for ensuring food safety.

As veterinary medicine industry has grown up steadily, the government quality control of veterinary medicine in market has been performed since 1964. The result of post-market surveillance assay from 2009 to 2012 was analyzed in this study. The average violation rate of all veterinary medicines, was 3.2%, 2.8%, 2.8% and 1.4% in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively. The total average violation rate in the category of antibiotics, other drugs except antibiotics, biologics were 1.2%, 4.4% and 0.8%, respectively. The violations due to insufficiency of major active ingredient content occupied 76.7% among the total violations. The most frequent violated in antibiotics were ampicillin and tylosin, followed by sulfonamides, penicillins etc. In case of other drugs except antibiotics, vitamin A and glucocorticoids (dexamethasone and prednisolone) were violated frequently. The overall trend of violation rates gradually decreased from 2009 to 2012, suggesting that quality of veterinary medicines has improved according to Korea Veterinary Good Manufacturing Practice (KVGMP) system settled down in 1988.