Rotaviruses are double-stranded RNA viruses of the family Reoviridae, a highly diverse family of pathogens of humans and animals. In this study, we identified the lapine rotavirus from diarrheic feces of rabbits by polymerase chain reaction. In order to determine the genetic characteristics of the Korean strain, the sequences of the VP4, VP7, and NSP4 genes were determined and compared with those of reference sequences. Results of sequence and phylogenetic analyses showed that our strain was a G3P [3] rotavirus carrying the group C gene encoding NSP 4 proteins. This is the first report of an outbreak and molecular characterization of lapine rotavirus in Korea.

Bovine brucellosis causes abortion and infertility. The authors conducted this study in order to determine pathological lesions of Korean native cows and fetuses who received experimental vaccination with Brucella abortus RB51 and were challenged with Brucella abortus 2308. Gross and histopathological lesions in endometrium and placenta were observed in cows of the vaccinated group. Twenty-five percent of pregnant cattle in the vaccinated group showed endometritis and placentitis, which was three times lower, compared with the non-vaccinated group. The pathological lesions in the uterus and placenta in both groups were consistent with previous reports. Therefore, vaccination in heifers using Brucella abortus RB51 may not provide adequate protection against infection with Brucella abortus virulent strain.