The current study identified risk factors associated with porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) infection on pig farms in the Republic of Korea using a multinomial logistic regression model to evaluate the PCV2 infection status of pigs at different growth stages. Compulsory disinfection of visitors (odds ratio [OR]: 0.019, 95% confidence interval [CI]: <0.001–0.378, p=0.0095), compulsory registration of visitors (OR: 0.002, 95% CI: <0.001–0.184, p=0.0070), regular blood testing (OR: 0.012, 95% CI: <0.001–0.157, p=0.0007), and running on-farm biosecurity learning programs for workers (OR: 0.156, 95% CI: 0.040–0.604, p=0.0072 and OR: 0.201, 95% CI: 0.055–0.737, p=0.0155, respectively) were identified as factors which could reduce the risk of PCV2 infection. However, visitation by a regular veterinarian (OR: 32.733, 95% CI: 3.768–284.327, p=0.0016) was associated with PCV2 infection.

In this study, we used a choropleth map to explore the spatial variation of the risk of cattle herds being bovine tuberculosis (BTB) positive in Gangwon-do in 2015. The map shows that the risk of being BTB-positive was lower in provinces located in the middle of Gangwon-do (Wonju, Youngwol, Peongchang, and Kangneung) than in other provinces. In addition, one province located in the north (Goseong) had a low risk of BTB. The estimate for the intercept of the spatial lag model was 0.66, and the spatial autocorrelation coefficient (lambda) was 0.20 (Table 1). The Moran’s I was 0.33 with p-value of 0.02. In 2015, provinces located in the North West (Hwacheon) and East (Donghae) of Gangwon-do had a higher BTB risk. We identified some specific provinces at low BTB-positive risk, information that may prove useful for control of BTB in the study area.

The international trade of live amphibian can cause spread of the amphibian fungal disease chytridiomycosis, which has resulted in amphibian population decline worldwide. Introduction of the causal pathogen, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), to South Korea via the importation of live amphibians will have a negative effect on the survival of native amphibian communities. We investigated the likelihood that Bd would be introduced to the captive and wild amphibian population in South Korea by applying standardized risk analysis. We found that the likelihood of entry of Bd into South Korea was high, but that Bd exposure to the captive amphibians had a low impact, while it had a high impact on wild amphibians. Overall, the risk of live amphibian importation for pet trade or zoos was high in wild amphibians, while it was moderate for laboratory or human consumption in wild amphibians. Accordingly, risk management measures to reduce the risks related to live amphibian importation are required.

Seven outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) have occurred in South Korea during the period January 2000-September 2015. The Korean government changed national goal to FMD-free country with vaccination after the November 2010 outbreak when approximately 3.5 million cattle and pigs were culled. With regard to vaccination, Korean pig producers have claimed that the occurrence of injection site reaction (inflammatory or non-inflammatory granuloma) is potentially associated with intensive vaccination campaign since 2011. The present study was undertaken to assess the incidence of injection site lesions in slaughtered pigs caused by FMD vaccination and the corresponding economic losses. Data obtained from two meat packers were classified into 3 vaccination periods: non-vaccination (July-November, 2010, n=96,959); one injection (July-November, 2014, n=162,089); and two injections (March-July, 2015, n=161,928). A total of 420,976 carcasses from 6,526 farms were analyzed. The incidence of the lesions was 18.6% for non-vaccination, 46.5% for one injection, and 73.7% for two injections. Economic loss per head slaughtered due to removal of the lesions was estimated to 1,302 won (US$ 1.1) for non-vaccination, 8,286 won (US$ 7.2) for one injection, and 17,378 won (US$ 15.1) for two injections (converted using 2015 exchange rate where Korean won 1,150 = 1 US$). It was estimated that the national annual losses excluding costs of an FMD vaccine and its application is US$ 115 million for one injection and US$ 241 million for two injections. The adoption of measures that cause minimal tissue damages and economic losses would appear to be of high priority.

고병원성조류인플루엔자(Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, HPAI)는 폐사율이 100%에 이르는 급성 조류 바이러스성 전염병이다. 우리나라는 2003년 첫 발생 이후 5회에 걸친 대규모 유행으로 인하여 막대한 경제적 손실을 경험한 바 있어 HPAI 발생을 가능한 조기에 검출하고 신속하게 대응함으로써 피해를 최소화하기 위한 국가적 모니터링 사업을 지속적으로 추진해오고 있다. 특히 국내의 경우 HPAI는 철새의 이동경로를 통하여 바이러스가 유입된 것으로 추정되고 있어 방역당국에서는 철새 이동에 따른 바이러스 조기검출을 위하여 주요 철새 도래지를 중심으로 무작위 방식의 철새의 분변시료 채취 사업을 진행하고 있다. 시료채취 방법과 관련하여 표본추출 지점들이 인접할수록 공간적 자기상관성(spatial autocorrelation)으로 인하여 표본들이 비슷 한 정보를 가질 수 있기 때문에 표본으로서의 철새 도래지 추출과정에서 이를 반영할 필요가 있다. 본 연구의 목적은 지리적으로 인접한 철새 도래지들이 유사한 표본정보를 가질 수 있음을 전제로 공간적 자기상관성을 고려한 공간표집방법론을 구축하고 실증적 활용성을 가늠해보는 것이다. 이를 위하여 전국 196개 조류 도래지들을 대상으로 분석결과를 도출하고 해석적 함의를 논의하였다.

Disturbances of calciumhomeostasishave beenassociatedwithavarietyofdisease conditions inanimals.Knowledge of serumtotal calciumvalues is essential for understanding disease states that cause calciumalterations outside the reference range. Variations in albumin values can affect the proportion of protein-bound calciumin the total calcium concentration.Adjustment formulas ofmeasured calciumbased onmeasuredalbumin or total protein concentrations were proposed byMeuten et al (MeutenDJ, ChewDJ, CapenCCandKocibaGJ. 1982. Am. Vet.Med. Assoc. 180, 63- 67): adjustedcalcium=calcium albumin+3.5 or adjustedcalcium=calcium 0.4 xprotein+3.3. This studywas aimed todevelop relationships between serumtotal calciumandalbumin andbetween serumtotal calciumandtotal protein atdifferent clinical settings, andtocompare these relationshipswithMeuten's. Eachequationvarieddependingonthe laboratories, andtherewas aignificant difference in regression slopes between laboratories. The prevalence of calcium disturbance based on the albumin and total protein equation ranging 0.7-12.1%and 4.6 -19.3%, respectively. These findings suggest that adjustingcalciumformulasmust bedevelopedseparatelyat different clinical settings. Bytheuse of their own formulas, it becomes possible to interpret abnormal calcium values correctly in patients with various clinical conditions.