In this report, for surface display of viral antigen on lactobacilli, we have developed a surface antigen display system using the poly- -glutamate synthetase A protein (pgsA) of Bacillus subtilis as an anchoring matrix. Recombinant fusion proteins comprised of pgsA and neucleocapsid protein of PEDV were stably expressed in Lactobacillus casei. Surface location of fusion protein was verified by ELISA, immunofluoresence microscopy. Oral and intranasal inoculations of recombinant L. casei into pregnant sow and mice resulted in high levels of serum immunoglobuline G (IgG) and mucosal IgA, as demonstrated by rnELISA(recombinant N protein ELISA) using recombinant N protein. Absorbance of IgG in pregnant sow sera highly increased duration of the experiment. More importantly, the level of IgA in colostrum were increased significantly higher than that of IgG. The IgG levels of the piglets were increased after suckling colostrum secreted from sows previously inoculated recombinant L. casei. These results indicate that mucosal immunization with recombinant L. casei expressing PEDV N protein (neucleoprotein of PEDV) on its surface elicited high levels of mucosal IgA and circulation IgG immune responses against the antigen N of PEDV.

This study was carried out a survey for the presence of Giardia intestinalis infections in dogs using a Giardia ELISA kit (SNAP test, IDEXX Laboratories, Inc., Westbrook, ME). Four hundred and seventy-two dogs (190 males and 282 females) were examined for a G. intestinalis infection in four different provinces (Kyunggi, Chonnam, Kyungnam and Chungnam) and a Seoul city in South Korea. Slightly more male dogs (15.0%) than female (8.6%) dogs were affected, there was no significant difference between the two groups. The overall positive rates of G. intestinalis infection were 11.2%, 14.9% being found in the <2-year-old group, 8.7% in the 2-5 year-old group, and 2.1% in the >5-year-old group. X2 analysis revealed a significantly higher prevalence (14.9%, P<0.05) in the <2-year-old group than in the other two groups, and a significantly higher prevalence in symptomatic dogs (47.6%, P<0.001) in asymptomatic dogs (7.7%). This study is the first large-scale survey of canine G. intestinalis infections in South Korea, and is expected provide a useful reference for clinicians. Giardia-infected dogs should be treated for hygienic management as well as to prevent dog to human transmission.

The aim of this study was to carry out a serological and molecular survey for the presence of Dirofilaria immitis infection in stray cats using an ELISA kit and PCR assay. One hundred and fifty-five stray cats (77 females and 78 males) in Gyunggi province in South Korea, were used in this study. Four (2.6%) tested with the ELISA kit showed a positive reaction, and all positive samples by the ELISA kit showed a positive reaction by PCR analysis. No significant difference was observed between the male (2.6%) and female (2.6%) cat groups by ELISA kit. The positive rates for dirofilariosis were 2.8% in the 4–6-year-old group, and 18.2% in the >6-year-old group by ELISA kit. With regard to the age element, older cats showed a higher prevalence of D. immitis infection in this study. A statistical analysis revealed that significant difference was observed in >6-year-old group (p<0.01). In conclusion, D. immitis infection in stray cats was present in Gyunggi province, although its incidence was low. Therefore, heartworm treatment and/or prophylaxis for stray cats captured are required in this area.

The potential recovery effect by oculo-acupuncture (OA) on ethylene glycol-induced acute renal injury in dogs was investigated. Acute renal damage was induced by ingestion of ethylene glycol in six mongrel dogs. The dogs were assigned to control (three dogs) and experimental (three dogs) groups. The control group did not receive any treatment, while the experimental group was treated with oculo-acupuncture at kidney/urinary bladder region plus zhong jiao region of the eyes after the induction of renal damage. Serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, sodium (Na), chloride (Cl), and potassium (K) were measured in both control and experimental groups. The blood RBC and Hb were also examined. The serum BUN and creatinine activities in the experimental group were lower than those in the control group, the serum Na and Cl had the irregular change in both groups, and the blood Hb in the control and experimental group showed decreasing tendency. Significant differences were observed on the 3rd and 7th day in BUN, 7th day in creatinine, 2nd day in Na and Cl, and 7th day in Hb when compared to the control group. Whereas, serum K concentration and RBC in the experimental group did not change significantly. The recovery findings of the renal injury were also observed in the experimental group histopathologically. In conclusion, OA therapy (kidney/urinary bladder region plus zhong jiao region) was effective for recovery of the renal injury induced by ethylene glycol in dogs.

The present study was conducted in order to clarify the anti-emetic effect of oculo-acupuncture (OA) on dogs with xylazine-induced vomiting, and also to compare the anti-emetic effect of OA and body acupuncture (AP). Twelve dogs induced to vomit by xylazine were selected from total 29 mongrel dogs in preliminary experiment and were used as subjects in this study. This study was comprised of two experiments. In experiment 1, the anti-emetic effects of OA on dogs were examined in the stomach/spleen region (experimental group I), the zhongjiao region (experimental group II), and the stomach/spleen region plus the zhongjiao region (experimental group III) using 12 dogs induced to vomit for one week interval repeatedly. On the other hand, needle acupuncture (AP) (BL20 + BL21, experimental group A) and OA (stomach/spleen and zhong jiao regions) combined with needle AP (BL20+BL21) (experimental group B) were examined using 6 vomiting dogs, for one week interval repeatedly in experiment 2. As a result, the vomiting rates of experimental group I (50%, p<0.05), experimental group II (58.3%) and experimental group III (41.6%, p<0.01) were lower than that of control (100%), respectively in experiment 1. The vomiting rates of both experimental group A (50%, p<0.05) and experimental group B (50%, p<0.05) were lower than that of control (100%) in experiment 2. The starting vomiting time in experimental groups was similar to that of the control groups in experiment 1 and 2. This study demonstrated that OA had anti-emetic effects on dogs with xylazine-induced vomiting and OA in the stomach/spleen region plus the zhongjiao region was the most effective in anti-emesis among the experimental groups. In addition, body AP and OA combined with body AP had a similar anti-emetic effect on dogs with xylazine-induced vomiting.