The Republic of Korea has implemented an obligatory vaccination on major livestock breeds to prevent and eradicate nationwide foot and mouth disease (FMD) since the end of 2010. The government has executed massive serological survey to check the immune level of various herds after vaccination, and seropositive rates against FMD virus (FMDV) structural proteins can be measured to assess FMD immunity level. The purpose of this study is to investigate the FMDV serological level of every cattle breeding farm in the country and to determine whether there is a significant difference between groups classified by time, age, and management authority. A total of 5,781 serum samples was collected in 18 cattle breeding farms from 2020 to 2021, and the seropositive rates were measured using PrioCHECK FMDV Type O ELISA kit. Firstly, the cattle breeding farms were classified by which they are managed: the central government, the local government, and the private agency. Every management authority had a seropositive rate of 99.5% or higher. Secondly, the samples were divided into 6 to 12 months old, 12 to 24 months old, and 24 months or more. The 6 to 12 months old group in 2020 showed a significantly low seropositive rate of 98.1%, but it was improved by implementing the enhanced vaccination policy from 2021 to 100%. In summary, there are considerably high seropositive rates including all groups with time, age, and by which they are managed, which means the FMD vaccination in cattle breeding farms is well-managed.

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.

The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda J.E. Smith is a noctuid moth endemic throughout the Western Hemisphere that has recently become widespread in sub-Saharan Africa. In Asia, FAW was firstly reported at corn fields in India, SriLanka, Bangladeshi, Miyanmar and Thailand in 2018. In January 2019, FAW was also found in Yunnan province of China. In March 2019, the larvae which could be tentatively identified as FAW were caught at a corn field of Plant Protection Center of Lao PDR, which is located in Vientiane, Laos. Species identification was confirmed by DNA barcoding using the COⅠ segment of the four larvae, which were found to be the haplotype of rice strain (COⅠ-RS). The host strain identity was additionally analysed as a Tpi-C (C-strain allele) by Triosephosphate isomerase gene (Tpi) segment located on the Z sex chromosome. The result shows that the FAW specimens in Lao is the subpopulation of COⅠ-RS/Tpi-C (COⅠ and Tpi haplotype combination). It was reported that COⅠ-CS/Tpi-C were more frequently observed than COⅠ-RS/Tpi-C in Western Hemisphere and Western Africa, but COⅠ-RS/Tpi-C were more frequently observed in Eastern Africa. It can be supposed that the subpopulation of COⅠ-RS/Tpi-C in Lao is one of the subpopulations which have migrated into the Indochinese peninsula from Eastern Africa, with more detailed analysis for more diverse nationwide specimens left.

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.

A colonic enterolith was necropsied in an 11-year-old pony with a 2-week history of mild, intermittent colic. The enterolith was in the distal portion of the large intestine. A 2.1-kg, greenish-gray, rugby ball-sized (19 cm × 15 cm × 12 cm) stone was extracted from the intestine. Analysis of the component elements revealed 100% magnesium ammonium phosphate (struvite). Enterolithiasis commonly affects Arabian horses, and most horses with enteroliths are ~10 years of age. Enterolithiasis is associated with recurrent colic. This is the first report of a colonic stone in a pony.

In this study, we investigated the applicability of the photostimulated luminescence(PSL), thermoluminescence( TL) and electron spin resonance(ESR) methods for various foods which are not allowed to be irradiated in Korea. All 15 foods including sesame, almond, peanut, cocoa powder etc. were analyzed. Samples were irradiated at 1~10 kGy using a 60Co gamma-ray irradiator. In PSL study, the photon counts of all the unirradiated samples showed negative(lower than 700). The photon counts irradiated(1 kGy) dried shrimp, roasted peanut and seasoned peanut showed positive(higher than 5,000) and the other samples were negative or intermediate(> 700 and < 5,000). In TL analysis, results showed that it is possible to apply TL method to all foods containing minerals. In ESR measurements, the ESR signal(single-line) intensity of irradiated foods was higher than non-irradiated foods. In particular, the specific ESR signals of irradiation-induced crystalline sugar, cellulose and bone radical were detected in dried plum, raisin, dried cherry, mango(dried, frozen), rambutan, cocoa(powder), cinnamon, parsley, carrot, broccoli, dried arrow squid, dried pollack and dried shrimp. According to the results, PSL, TL and ESR methods were successfully applied to detect the irradiated foods because TL method is not able to detect the irradiated foods rarely composed of minerals. ESR is also a difficult method to detect the changes of ESR signal patterns of food. It is concluded that TL analysis or ESR assay is suitable for detection of irradiated samples and a combined method is recommendable for enhancing the reliability of detection results.

This study was performed to estimate the seroprevalence of PRRSV in breeding farms in Jeju 2008 using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. The tested sera were randomly collected from a total of 1,947 sera from 9 breeding farms unvaccinated in Jeju. As a result, all breeding farms were seropositive for PRRSV. Seven hundred-eighty six of 1,947 sera (40.4%) were positive for PRRSV. Seropositve rate of PRRSV infection in 9 farms showed various levels: 1%, 8.9%, 9.1%, 43%, 46.9%, 48.2%, 51.6%, 60.9%, 85.5%, respectively. The results confirmed that PRRSV infection has been prevailing in breeding farms in Jeju. Also, these results must be taken into a consideration in strategy establishment for the control and eradication of PRRS.

The lung and lymph node samples were collected from 786 pig farms associated with wasting and respiratory syndrome during 2005～2009. All samples were tested for the detection of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and the differentiation of its genotype using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). 643 farms (81.8%) of the pig farms examined were positive for PRRSV, of which 57.2% accounted for PRRSV type 1 and 70.2% accounted for PRRSV type 2. Furthermore, 37.5% of the farms positive for PRRSV, showed the coexistence of two genotypes. The results indicate that the PRRSV infections of single genotype or two genotypes are very common in Korean pig farms.