Data-driven risk assessment of the incursion of African swine fever virus pig products brought illegally into South Korea by travelers based on the temporal relationship between outbreaks in China.

Since 2018, Asian countries have been affected by the African swine fever (ASF) virus, with major socioeconomic consequences. Moreover, the number of people traveling in Asian countries has been increasing, leading to an inevitable increase in the risk of ASF spread through livestock products carried by travelers. China and South Korea have close geo-economic ties and numerous international travelers.

Emergence of a novel intergenic region (IGR) IV variant of african swine fever virus genotype II in domestic pigs in Vietnam.

African swine fever virus (ASFV) causes African swine fever (ASF), a deadly disease affecting both domestic pigs and wild boars. ASF has become endemic in Vietnam since its first appearance in early 2019. Our previous molecular surveillance studies revealed that all the ASFV strains circulating in Vietnam belong to p72 genotype II, p54 genotype II, CD2v serogroup 8, and CVR of B602L gene variant type I.

Multiple variants of African swine fever virus circulating in Vietnam.

African swine fever (ASF) is a contagious and deadly viral disease affecting swine of all ages. ASF was first reported in Vietnam in February 2019, and it is now considered endemic in Vietnam. In this study, 122 ASF-positive samples collected from domestic pigs in 28 different provinces of northern, central, and southern Vietnam during outbreaks in 2019-2021 were genetically characterized.

Development and Application of a Multiplex Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Assay for the Simultaneous Detection of Bacterial Aetiologic Agents Associated With Equine Venereal Diseases.

Venereal diseases caused by bacteria are important to the equine industry due to economic losses caused by decline of conception rate in breeding horses. Therefore, identification of infected animals as well as the implementation of appropriate managerial procedures based on accurate diagnosis is critical. In this study, two types of multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction with high sensitivity and specificity were developed for the simultaneous detection and differentiation of five commonly associated bacterial pathogens of venereal diseases in horses, consisting of Taylorella equigenitalis, Taylorella asinigenitalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Streptococcus zooepidemicus.

Surveillance of Rift Valley Fever Virus in Mosquito Vectors of the Republic of Korea.

Rift Valley fever (RVF) is an acute mosquito-borne viral zoonotic disease that affects mainly domestic ruminants and humans. RVF virus (RVFV) was first identified in Kenya in 1931 and was reported to be endemic in Africa but has recently spread to the Arabian Peninsula. With increasing climate change and globalization of trade in animals and animal products, there is great concern that the disease will spread worldwide to regions such as Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

Canine Sialolithiasis: Two Case Reports with Breed, Gender, and Age Distribution of 29 Cases (1964-2010).

This study was conducted to investigate the clinical data of two cases of canine sialolithiasis and to analyze 29 cases identified in the Veterinary Medical Database by year of admission, breed, gender, and age. Medical records from the University of Missouri Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital were reviewed and two dogs diagnosed with sialolithiasis (calcium oxalate) were identified between 1990 and 2010. The two dogs had cervical or pharyngeal sialocele and were successfully treated by sialolith removal and concurrent sialoadenectomy.

Species Diversity and Seasonal Distribution of Culicoides spp. (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Jeju-do, Republic of Korea.

Biting midges belonging to the genus Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) were collected by Mosquito Magnet(®) and black light traps at 5 sites on Jeju-do, Republic of Korea (Korea), from May-November 2013 to determine species diversity and seasonal distribution. A total of 4,267 specimens were collected, of which 99.9% were female.

Serological surveillance studies confirm the Rift Valley fever virus free status in South Korea.

Rift Valley fever is a mosquito-borne zoonotic disease of domestic ruminants. This disease causes abortions in pregnant animals, and it has a high mortality rate in newborn animals. Recently, a Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) outbreak in the Arabian Peninsula increased its potential spread to new regions worldwide.

Japanese encephalitis virus in culicine mosquitoes (Diptera: culicidae) of the republic of Korea, 2008-2010.

A total of 150,805 culicine female mosquitoes were captured by Mosquito Magnet, black light, and New Jersey light traps, and at resting collections in the Republic of Korea from 2008 to 2010 as part of the U.S. Forces Korea malaria and Japanese surveillance programs.

First report of Bluetongue virus isolation in the Republic of Korea and analysis of the complete coding sequence of the segment 2 gene.

This study investigated the possible presence of the Bluetongue virus (BTV) in the Republic of Korea (ROK). Cell cultures were used to test blood samples collected from abattoirs throughout the country. Testing identified a single BTV isolate, which was characterized as BTV serotype 1 based on a nucleotide sequence analysis of the segment 2 gene.

First collection records of Culiseta (Culicella) nipponica in the Republic of Korea.

The 1st confirmed record of Culiseta nipponica for the Republic of Korea was made at Osan Air Base and Tongilchon, Gyeonggi Province, and at the Incheon International Airport, Incheon metropolitan area, using carbon dioxide-baited light and Mosquito Magnet traps. Larval surveys near adult collection sites during June and August 2013 were negative for Culiseta nipponica.

Seasonal abundance of Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) collected by mosquito Magnet® in Northern Gyeonggi-do (Province), Korea.

Biting midges (Culicoides: Ceratopogonidae) were collected by Mosquito Magnet® traps at the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission (NNSC) camp and Daeseongdong village inside the demilitarized zone (DMZ) and near the military demarcation line (MDL) separating North and South Korea and at Warrior Base (US Army training site) and Tongilchon 3 km south of the DMZ in northern Gyeonggi Province, Republic of Korea (ROK), from May-October 2010-2012, to determine their seasonal distributions. A total of 18,647 Culicoides females (18,399; 98.7%) and males (248; 1.

Control of foot-and-mouth disease during 2010-2011 epidemic, South Korea.

An outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease caused by serotype O virus occurred in cattle and pigs in South Korea during November 2010-April 2011. The highest rates of case and virus detection were observed 44 days after the first case was detected. Detection rates declined rapidly after culling and completion of a national vaccination program.

Molecular detection and genotyping of Japanese encephalitis virus in mosquitoes during a 2010 outbreak in the Republic of Korea.

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), a mosquito-borne zoonotic pathogen, is one of the major causes of viral encephalitis. To reduce the impact of Japanese encephalitis among children in the Republic of Korea (ROK), the government established a mandatory vaccination program in 1967. Through the efforts of this program only 0-7 (mean 2.

Livestock agroterrorism: the deliberate introduction of a highly infectious animal pathogen.

Agroterrorism refers to attacks with any of a variety of biological or chemical agents against commercial crops or livestock populations, either as targets in their own right or as vehicles to attack humans. An agroterrorism incident would generally involve bioterrorism, and potential agents include pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, or fungi. Within the context of agroterrorism, livestock agroterrorism is described as the intentional introduction of an animal-borne infectious disease with the goal of spreading fear, producing economic losses, and/or threatening social stability.

Seasonal abundance of biting midges, Culicoides spp. (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), collected at cowsheds in the southern part of the Republic of Korea.

Black light traps were used to measure the seasonal and geographical distribution of Culicoides spp. (biting midges or no-see-ums) at 9 cowsheds in the southern half of the Republic of Korea (ROK) from June through October 2010. A total of 25,242 Culicoides females (24,852; 98.

Animal biowarfare research: historical perspective and potential future attacks.

A biological attack on livestock or poultry could result in the loss of valuable animals, costs related to the containment of outbreaks and the disposal of carcasses, lost trade and other economic effects involving suppliers, transporters, distributors and restaurants; however, it is not possible to secure all livestock, and livestock are much less well guarded than human targets. Thus, the vulnerability of the livestock industry to the introduction of biological agents varies for the following reasons: (i) the majority of lethal and contagious biological agents are environmentally resilient, endemic in foreign countries and harmless to humans, making it easier for terrorists to acquire, handle and deploy these pathogens, (ii) with animals concentrated in fewer production facilities and frequently transported between these facilities, a single pathogen introduction could cause widespread infection and (iii) the extent of human travel around the globe makes it difficult to exclude exotic animal diseases as possible biological agents. Historically, many governments have developed and planned to use biological agents for direct attacks on livestock or poultry.

A diagnostic algorithm to serologically differentiate West Nile virus from Japanese encephalitis virus infections and its validation in field surveillance of poultry and horses.

The detection of West Nile virus (WNV) in areas endemic for Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is complicated by the extensive serological cross-reactivity between the two viruses. A testing algorithm was developed and employed for the detection of anti-WNV antibody in areas endemic for JEV. Using this differentiation algorithm, a serological survey of poultry (2004 through 2009) and horses (2007 through 2009) was performed.

Prevalence of Korean cats with natural feline coronavirus infections.

Background: Feline coronavirus is comprised of two pathogenic biotypes consisting of feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV) and feline enteric coronavirus (FECV), which are both divided into two serotypes. To examine the prevalence of Korean cats infected with feline coronavirus (FCoV) type I and II, fecal samples were obtained from 212 cats (107 pet and 105 feral) in 2009.

Results: Fourteen cats were FCoV-positive, including infections with type I FCoV (n = 8), type II FCoV (n = 4), and types I and II co-infection (n = 2).

Serologic evidence of West Nile Virus in wild ducks captured in major inland resting sites for migratory waterfowl in South Korea.

The rapid global expansion of West Nile virus (WNV) has recently raised concerns regarding its possible spread into South Korea. To date, WNV infection in wild birds in South Korea has not been identified. Bird migration is thought to be involved in spreading WNV, and wild birds are the possible routes of introduction of WNV infection.