This case report describes a 40-year-old captive male hippopotamus exhibiting systemic clinical signs, including anorexia and coughing, prior to death. Despite comprehensive medical treatments, the animal died due to age-related immunodepression, which led to severe pneumonia. Necropsy and subsequent histopathological examination revealed severe acute diffuse seropurulent bronchopneumonia, right ventricular hypertrophy, hepatic congestion, and glomerulonephritis. These findings highlight the vulnerability of geriatric large animals to systemic infections and emphasize the need for improved pathological understanding and the development of evidence-based treatment protocols for these less-studied species like the hippopotamus. To enhance disease management and veterinary care for aging zoo animals, future research should prioritize gut microbiome analysis and antimicrobial resistance profiling.

Emerging RNA viruses continue to pose serious threats to animal and human health, necessitating the development of broad-spectrum antiviral agents within a One Health framework. In this study, we evaluated the antiviral potential of Desmodesmus multivariabilis extracts against three representative RNA viruses: influenza A virus (IAV), porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), and hepatitis A virus (HAV). Extracts derived from four closely related microalgal isolates were tested using pre- and post-treatment protocols in vitro. Among them, strain ME749 demonstrated the most potent and consistent antiviral activity, with low cytotoxicity and high selectivity index (SI), particularly against IAV (SI = 23.8), followed by PEDV (SI = 10.7) and HAV (SI = 6.2). ME752 also showed moderate antiviral efficacy. RT-qPCR confirmed significant reductions in viral RNA levels for all three viruses, with ME749 achieving up to 3-log₁₀ reduction in IAV and 2.4-log₁₀ reduction in HAV. These results suggest that the antiviral effect may be mediated through mechanisms beyond direct virucidal activity, potentially involving host immune modulation. Although the active compounds remain unidentified, carotenoids are hypothesized as key bioactive components. This study highlights Desmodesmus multivariabilis, particularly ME749, as a promising source of novel, natural antiviral agents with applications in both veterinary and zoonotic disease control. Future studies including metabolomic profiling, mechanism-of-action analyses, and in vivo validation are warranted to further explore its potential in combating current and emerging RNA virus threats.

실리콘 폼은 고성능 가스켓, 열 차폐, 진동 마운트 및 Enter 키 패드로 많은 산업 분야에서 난연성 소재로서 매우 유용하다. 실리콘 발포체는 실온에서 백금 촉매 및 무기필러 존재하에서 비닐기를 함유한 폴리실록산 (V-silicone) 및 수산기를 함유한 폴리실록산 (OH-silicone)과 하이드라이드를 함유 한 폴리실록산 (H-silicone)의 수소와의 수소축합반응의해 가교와 발포를 동시에 일으켜 제조하였다. 이 러한 방법은 종래의 발포와 경화를 각각 실시한 공정보다 매우 편리한 방법이다. 이 실험에 사용 된 기 능성 실리콘수지들은 1.0 meq/g의 vinyl기를 가진 점도 20 Pa-s의 V-silicone과 0.4 meq/g의 수산기를 가진 점도 50 Pa-s의 OH-silicone 및 7.5 meq/g의 하이드라이드기를 함유한 점도 0.06 Pa.s.의 H-silicone으로 구성되어 있다. 본 연구에서는 실리콘의 종류 및 함량, 촉매, 충전제 등의 변화에 따른 실리콘수지 발포체의 구조 및 기계적 특성에 미치는 영향을 연구하였다.백금 촉매는 실리콘 수지에 대하여 0.5 wt%이면 충분하였다. 낮은 점도의 OH-silicone의 첨가는 초 기 발포 속도를 높이며 발포체 밀도는 감소시키지만, 낮은 점도의 V-silicone의 첨가는, 인장 강도뿐만 아니라 신율도 감소시킨다. SF-3 조건에서 얻은 실리콘수지 발포체의 밀도, 인장강도 및 신율을 각각 0.58 g/cm3, 3.51 kgf/cm2 및 176 %를 얻을 수 있었다. 본 발포 시스템에서의 알루미나 충전재 역시 실리콘수지 발포체의 기계적 특성을 향상시키는 중요한 역할을 하였다.

본 연구는 폴리스타렌(PS) 수지의 유화공정 효율성 향상을 위해 저온열분해 회분식 반응기를 이용하여, 단일 PS 수지와 Co 및 Mo 촉매를 각각 첨가한 PS 수지를 반응온도(425, 450, 475℃), 반응 시간(20~80분, 15분 간격), 촉매 농도변화에 따른 PS수지의 액화생성물 전환율을 측정하였다. 최적의 열분해 조건은 반응온도 450℃, 반응시간 35분으로 판단되며, 전환된 액화생성물의 주요 성분은 GC/MS 분석결과 스타이렌 및 벤젠유도체가 대부분으로 나타났다. 생성물은 산업통상자원부에서 고시 한 증류성상 온도에 따라 가스, 가솔린, 등유, 경유, 중유로 분류하여 그 수율을 측정하였다. 그리고 45 0℃ 반응온도에서 촉매 사용에 따른 전환율은 Co 촉매 > Mo 촉매 > 무촉매 순이었으며, 생성물 중 가 스, 등유, 경유수율은 Mo 촉매, 가솔린은 무촉매, 중유는 Co 촉매에서 우수한 것으로 나타났다. Co 및 Mo 촉매 혼합 농도별 전환율 및 열분해 생성물 수율은 Co 촉매 100% 사용 시 가장 우수한 것으로 판 단된다.

본 연구는 폴리프로필렌(PP) 수지의 Co 및 Mo 촉매에 의한 반응시간과 농도변화에 따른 저온열분해 액화특성을 파악하고자 회분식 반응기를 이용하여 특정 온도(425, 450, 475℃)에서의 전환율을 측정하였다. 열분해 시간은 20~80분으로 설정하였고 생성물은 산업통상자원부에서 고시한 증류성상 온도에 따라 가스, 가솔린, 등유, 경유, 중유로 분류하였다. 그리고 450℃ 반응온도에서 촉매 사용에 따른 전환율은 모든 반응시간에 있어 Mo 촉매 > Co 촉매 > 무촉매 순이었다. Co 및 Mo 촉매 농도별 PP 전환율 및 열분해 생성물 수율은 Co:Mo=50:50 혼합시 가장 우수한 것으로 나타났다.

Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is associated with porcine circovirus diseases (PCVD), of which postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome is considered to cause considerable economic losses in pig industry worldwide. As the virus-like particle (VLP) is a highly effective type of subunit vaccine and has unique advantages in terms of safety and immunogenicity, this study aimed to develop PCV2-like particles, which matched currently circulating Korean PCV2 and were applicable as vaccines. The ORF2 genes encoding PCV2 capsid protein were amplified from the PCV2 subgroup 1A/B Korean C275 isolate and the subgroup 2E C94 isolate by PCR assay with primer pair specific to PCV2 ORF2 gene, and were cloned into baculovirus transfer vector. Recombinant baculovirus was generated by cotransfection with the transfer vector and linear baculovirus DNA into the Sf9 cells, and then by plaque purification. Expression of PCV2 capsid protein was determined by the indirect immunofluorescence and Western blotting assays, and electron microscopy. By both immunological assays, PCV2 capsid antigen was detected in the Sf9 cells infected with the recombinant baculoviruses. The formation of empty virus particles, characteristic of VLP, was detected in the lysate of Sf9 cells infected with the recombinant baculoviruses by negative electron microscopy. From these results, VLPs of two genogroups of PCV2 were successfully expressed and generated in a baculovirus expression system. It is expected that the expressed VLPs of two genotypic groups can be used for control of PCV2 infection as good vaccine candidates.

Although several enteric viral pathogens including the porcine groups A, B and C rotaviruses (PGARV, PGBRV, and PGCRV), sapovirus (PSaV), and torovirus (PToV) are known to cause endemic diarrheas in weaning and post-weaning piglets, their precise prevalence in Korea is not clear. Therefore, we examined 1,222 diarrhea stools obtained from 627 farms during 2004～2009 by RT-PCR and/or nested PCR for evaluating their precise prevalence in Korea. PGARV was the predominant pathogen during 2004～2007 but its prevalence was markedly reduced during 2008～2009. PGBRV infections caused endemic diarrhea during 2004～2007, but was hardly detected during 2008-2009. PGCRV was detected at 27.0%, 14.5%, 42.4%, 28.8%, 7.3%, and 54.2% during each year of 2004～2009, respectively, indicating its high prevalence in Korea throughout the years. PSaV induced with high prevalence (32.4-39.2%) during 2004～2005 but its detection rate was markedly decreased during 2006～2009. PToV caused sporadic infections only during 2006 (1.0%) and 2007 (6.9%). These enteric viruses were detected in diarrhea specimens in piglets usually in combination with each other and/or together with bacterial pathogens including the Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Brachispira hyodysenteriae, and Lawsonia intracellularis. Infections with PGARV, PGCRV, PSaV, and PToV were more prevalent in fecal samples collected in cold seasons. These results provide important epidemiological data for the control and establishment of a surveillance system for the prevailing enteric viruses in Korea.