The periodic occurrence of biological population is affected by several biological and environmental factors and ancient literature survey offers insight into ecological process related to the cyclicity. The periodic occurrence of a Lepidopteran species, the pine caterpillar (Dendrolimus spectabilis), was estimated based on ancient literature survey. The pine caterpillar was one of the most injurious defoliators of pine trees in northeast Asia, especially Korea during 1960s and 1970s. Outbreaks of this species have long history in Korea. Since about 900 years ago, damages of pine forest by this species and its control were recorded both in History of Corea dynasty which cover 475 years (918-1392) of the history of the Corea Dynasty and in the Annals of Joseon Dynasty (Joseon Wangjo Shillok) which cover 472 years (1392-1863) of the history of the Joseon Dynasty, respectively. At least over 20 and 30 occurrences of pine caterpillar were recorded during Corea dynasty and Joseon Dynasty, respectively. These results showed that the pine caterpillar had been one of the most severe forest pests during Corea and Joseon Dynasty. Our result showed that the ancient literature survey is useful to understand the long-term periodic occurrence of the pine caterpillar.

A seasonal chigger-borne disease surveillance program was established at Geoje from March to November of 2018 in Gyeongnam Province, Republic of Korea. Two species of 84 wild rodents were collected by using Sherman traps for Geoje in 2018. Chigger mites were collected from the live-captured rodents to figure out seasonal prevalence of mite species and to identify chigger-borne pathogens. A total of 4,611 chiggers were collected from two species of the rodents in 2018. The chigger mites were collected mainly from A. agrarius (Chigger Index; CI 68.3). A vector of scrub typhus, Leptotrombidium orientale was predominant species (CI 14.9, Species Ratio; SR 27.2%) followed by L. pallidium (CI 14.2, SR 25.9%) and L. scutellare (CI 13.2, SR 24.2%) in 2018. In the results of the isolation of Orientia tsutsugamushi from the chigger mites, no pathogens detected from the DNA of the 171 pools of the mites in 2018, using a Polymerase Chain Reaction method.

We performed a survey for flavivirus infection and distribution of Aedes albopictus that known as Zika and Dengue virus vector using black–light trap and BG-sentinel trap around urban area in Korea. Mosquitoes were collected in 27 cities during March to November (twice a month) year 2016. Total numbers of mosquitoes collected 102,102 including 19 species 8 genera during collecting period. Total 21,467 Ae. albopictus was collected that 20,961(24.3%) by BG-sentinel trap and 506 (3.2%) by Black-light trap in urban area. Trap index(trap/night) of Ae. albopictus was showed highest in Hamyang (TI:992.3) and lowest in Taebaek (TI:0.3) there was only collected by Black-light trap. A total of 894 pools from all collecting Ae. albopictus were performed a Flavivirus detection. Flavivirus was not detected during study period. This study may provide basic information for surveillance of imported diseases (include Zika virus) and vectors in Korea.

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging tick-borne zoonosis and SFTS virus is transmitted to humans by tick bites. The aim of this study was to monitor tick population and its SFTS virus infection. During March 2014 to October 2015, ticks were monthly sampled using dry-ice bait trap and flag method from 4 collecting points in Boeun-gun. A total of 16,500 ticks, including 14,646 Haemaphysalis longicornis (88.7%), 1,825 H. flava (11.1%), and 29 Ixodes nipponensis (0.2%), were collected. Ticks were pooled (5,156 ticks in 456 pools) and tested by RT-PCR and nested PCR and the minimum infection rate of ticks was 0.27% (14 pools) consisting of 0.13% H. longicornis (6 pools), 1.19% H. flava (8 pools). This annual surveillance study will be needed for long-term monitoring of ixodid ticks in Korea.

A surveillance of chigger mites was performed to monitor the incidence of scrub typhus vectors at 5 environmental collection points of 3 locations (Muju, Namwon and Gimge) from April 2016 in Jeollabuk-Do, Korea. During the surveillance period, 3,292 chigger mites were collected and the predominant species were Leptotrombidium pallidum (42.9%). The high environmental collecting rates were recorded at reservoir bank (31.6%) and grassfield (29.7%). We detected Orientia tsutsugamushi from the samples collected in Jeollabuk-Do using nested polymerase chain reaction. The specific DNA of O. tsutsugamushi were detected in 11 pools among total 119 pools and its minimum positive rate was 0.35%. In order to clarify the relationship between chigger mites and scrub typhus cases, further survey will be needed.

Ixodid ticks are notorious as the vector of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) in Korea. To confirm the transovarial transmission of SFTSV, we collected blood-fed adult ticks from animals in SFTS case reported area of Jeju island in 2015. A total of 476 ticks were collected from four host animal species, horse (81.3%), dog (9.0%), roe deer (7.1%) and wild boar (2.5%). They were identified as 1 genus and 2 species, Haemaphysalis longicornis (87.8%) and H. flava (12.2%). Among them, 131 adults hatched their eggs successfully. The body weight of females was highly correlated with the number of egg masses laid (P < 0.05). We confirmed that one adult H. flava was infected with SFTSV and its infection rate was 0.77%. The eggs of the SFTSV-infected adults also were infected with SFTSV and its transovarial transmission was confirmed. This result suggests that the parent generation of H. flava could transmit SFTSV transovarially into their F1 progeny and H. flava might be one of major vectors of SFTSV in Korea.

We investigated the distribution of ixodid ticks in severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) case reported areas using flagging method from May to November 2014 in Korea. We collected 13,471 ixodid ticks with 2 genera and 3 species. Among them, Genus Haemaphysalis and Ixodes accounted for 99.9% (13,455) and 0.1% (16), respectively. Genus Haemaphysalis consisted of 2 species, H. longicornis (96.2%) and H. flava (3.7%). I. nipponensis was only collected in Genus Ixodes. H. longicornis was the dominant species (over 90%) in most study areas. Ixodid ticks were evenly distributed at various environmental sites, such as residences, hills, grassfields, fields, graves, copses, other sites. The further study on SFTSV infection in ixodid ticks will be needed.

A surveillance of chigger mites was performed to monitor the incidence of scrub typhus vectors at 4 environmental collection points of 6 locations from September to November 2014 in Korea. During the survey period, 420 chigger mites were collected and the dominant species was Leptotrombidium scutellare (42.6%). The first appearance of chigger mite was at 37th week (9.3.-9.10.) and the collected numbers of chigger mites was the highest at 43rd week (10.17.-10.23.). In Goryeong-gun, 299 chigger mites were collected, whereas 5 chigger mites were collected In Yesan-gun. The high environmental collecting rates were recorded at rice field (56%) and waterway (20%). The annually collected numbers (2012-2014) of chigger mites were compared with the average temperatures in August. This result suggests that the average temperature in August might be related with the annual incidence of scrub typhus vectors in Korea. However, the relationship between climate factors and the density of chigger mites needs to be studied by long-term periodical surveillance.

Trombiculid mites are known to be the vector of scrub typhus by transmitting rickettsial pathogen, Orientia tsutsugamushi, to human. In this study, we tried to establish a monitoring system for trombiculid mites using chigger mite collecting traps instead of the conventional rodent-capture method. For selection of collecting points, 10 environmental points were chosen from three regions (Taean, Jinan and Chungju) and two field collections were performed in spring (March-May) and autumn (October-November) seasons from 2013 to 2014. Among 10 environmental points, waterway (37.9%), grass field (28.0%), rice field and field near mountain side (11.4%) and reservoir/wet field (7.3%) showed high collecting rates and they should be included for the representative collecting points for surveillance using chigger mite collecting trap. In order to test the possibility that the dried chigger mites from collecting trap can be used for detection of O. tsutsugamushi, we pooled 30, 10 and 5 chigger mites separately and performed the nested PCR. The infection of O. tsutsugamushi was successfully detected from 5 chigger mites pooling sample. This study shows that chigger mite collecting trap could be an alternative method for monitoring system of scrub typhus vectors.

A surveillance of chigger mites was conducted to clarify the incidence of scrub typhus vectors by new chigger mite collecting traps instead of trapping wild rodents for surveillance from each 4 collection points of 5 regions from September to November 2012 in Korea. During the surveillance period, 2,829 chiggers were collected and 10 species of 4 genera were identified. The first appearance of chigger mite and patients was 39 week (9.19~9.25) and the density of chigger mites had the peak in 43 week (10.17~10.23) and the density of patients had the peak in 44 week (10.24~10.30), respectively. In Goryeong-gun, a total of 1,797 mites representing 4 genera and 6 species were collected and the predominant species were Leptotrombidium scutellare (86.0%), L. pallidum (6.5%) and L. palpale (4.7%) whereas, In Gurye-gun, a total of 89 mites representing 2 genera and 3 species were collected and the predominant species were L. scutellare (46.5%) and L. palpale (36.2%) in similar to the natural environment. The high collecting rates were recorded at rice field (71.8%) and waterway (11.6%). This result shows that the surveillance of scrub typhus vectors by new chigger mite collecting trap is useful as an eco-friendly method.

Trombiculid mites are known to be the vector of tsutsugamushi disease by transmitting Orientia tsutsugamushi to human. Although the classification of trombiculid mites is necessary for vector surveillance, their classification by morphological observation is only possible at the larval stage and not easy because of similar shapes as well as tiny body sizes. Further the classification need the specimen production process, it takes much time and the accuracy of classification is changed according to the technology of the researcher. The internal transcribed spacers (ITS) regions of 8 trombiculid mite species were analyzed by amplification using tick common ITS primer sets. We designed molecular marker sets for the identification of five Leptotrombidium species, the lengths of marker L. orientale (1078 bp), L. pallidum (820 bp), L. palpale (1202 bp), L. scutellare (447 bp) and for L. zetum (621 bp) and three Neotrombicula species, the lengths of marker N. gardellai (264 bp), N. japonica (460 bp) and N. kwangneungensis (309 bp) based on alignment of ITS sequences. The markers will be helpful for exact classification of trombiculid mites. This study is the first report on molecular marker of ITS regions of trombiculid mites.

We investigated the prevalence of severe fever with thrombocytopenia- syndrome virus (SFTSV) and geographical distribution of ixodid ticks from 25 regions of the Korea during 2011-2012. We collected 25,940 ixodid ticks with 3 genera and 7 species using dry ice bait trap and flagging. Among them, Genus Haemaphysalis, Ixodes and Amblyomma counted 25,821 (99.5%), 118 (0.5%) and 1 (<0.0%). Genus Haemaphysalis consisted of 4 species, H. longicornis (90.4%), H. flava (9.2%), H. formosensis and H. hystricis (<0.1%). Genus Ixodes consisted of 2 species, I. nippoenesis (0.4%) and I. persulcatus (0.1%). Only one Amblyomma testudinarium was collected. The highly infested sites were grassland (50.1%) and mixed stand forest (20.3%). Minimum infection rate (MIR) of SFTSV in H. longicornis was 0.5% in Korea and this rate was similar to that in China (0.46%). Our results showed that H. longicornis is a major vector of SFTSV and its surveillance will be needed at high risk area.

Backgoound : This study was conducted to evaluate the quality variation of Ixeris dentata on the antioxidant contents and antioxidant activities according to the different producing area. Methods and Results : The samples were extracted with 70 % EtOH and then analyzed for total flavonoid contents, polypenol contents, DPPH radical scavenging activity, and ABTS radical scavenging activity. Luteinol 7-O-β-D-glucoside, an index component of the Ixeris dentata, was analyzed by HPLC. The leafs of Ixeris dentata in Jinan had the highest concentration of polyphenols (23.91 ㎎/g), followed by Jinbu (22.63 ㎎/g) and Eumseong (21.36 ㎎/g). Flavonoid content was highest in Jinan (15.27 ㎎/g), but there was no significant difference between Jinbu (14.05 ㎎/g) and Eumseong (13.99 ㎎/g). The contents of luteinol 7-O-β-D-glucoside were confirmed in Jinan (0.68%), Jinbu (0.49%) and Eumseong (0.36%), respectively. Conclusion : The comparison of antioxidant contents and antioxidant activities of Ixeris dentata according to the different producing area, Jinan was had the highest concentration, followed by Jinbu and Eumseong. Our results showed that the content of luteoline-7-D-glucoside varied among the different producing area.

For the 2 years of farming, at the indoor circulating aquaculture system, four kinds of skeletal deformities were found among 60 Far Eastern catfish, Silurus asotus. Deformities saw jawbone’s luxation, abnormality of upper lip and malocclusion. Spinal deformity was most fatal deformities with low weight and small length. Jawbone’s luxation had 1 maxilla and 2 mandibles. Abnormality of upper lip had just lip was back over. Malocclusion’s left maxilla and right maxilla were not balanced. This experiment was any deformities in this species through the deformity can grasp how it affects.

Anthocyanins are very important constituent of human diet. In recent years, they have gained much attention due to their antioxidative properties. As the radish (Raphanus sativus L) has rich content of anthocyanins, the study is aimed to develop increased functional radish from selected radish varieties. ‘Bordeux’ is a hybrid variety of breeding between one accession derived from ‘Oharu’ as a maternal variety and ‘Chungpihongsim’ as a paternal variety. In this study, we investigated the new varieties of radish commonly consumed in Republic of Korea for their total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activities using three (DDPH, FRAP and CUPRAC) different assays. The selected radish varieties like ‘Bordeux’, ‘Chungbok’, ‘3209’, ‘Chungwoon’, ‘Oharu’, and ‘Chungpihongsim’ were procured from the company Syngenta Korea. Among the selected radish varieties, ‘Bordeux’ (289 μg/g FW) and ‘Chungpihongsim’ (276 μg/g FW) revealed maximum amount of phenolics; whereas ‘3209’ (103 μg/g FW) and ‘Chungwoon’ (166 μg/g FW) showed the lower amount of phenolics content, respectively. Extracts from these studied radishes showed good to moderate antioxidant activities. The varieties ‘Chungpihongsim’ and ‘Bordeux’ revealed maximum antioxidant activity for all assays as demonstrated. However, some varieties like ‘3209’ and ‘Oharu’ exhibited the lowest antioxidant activity in all the tested assays, viz; DPH, FRAP and CUPRAC in μg TE/g FW, respectively. The antioxidant activities may be attributed to the higher phenolic acid contents as a linear relation was observed between the two components and the antioxidant parameters.

Gastrointestinal tuberculosis is a commonly presenting ileocecal disease. Appendiceal tuberculosis results from secondary to either ileocecal tuberculosis, or tuberculosis at other sites of the abdomen. "Isolated" form of tuberculosis affecting appendix only, without evidence of disease elsewhere, is very rare. We report on two cases of isolated appendiceal tuberculosis initially presenting as acute appendicitis. Each case was proven as tuberculosis by acid fast bacilli or caseous necrosis in pathology. Colonoscopy and abdominal computed tomography showed neither intestinal nor intra-abdominal disease.