We compared the clinical signs, histopathological lesions and distribution of viral antigens among infected young (meat-type) and older (breeder) ducks that were naturally infected with the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus during the 2010-2011 Korean outbreak. The meat-type ducks had a high mortality rate (30%) and showed severe neurological signs such as head tremors and paresis. In contrast, HPAI-infected breeder ducks had minimal clinical signs but a decreased egg production rate. The histopathological characteristics of infected meattype ducks included necrotic lesions of heart and brain, which may have primarily contributed to the high mortality rate. In contrast, the breeder ducks only presented necrotic splenitis, and viral antigens were only detected in the trachea, lungs and spleen. Younger ducks had a high viral titre in the organs, high levels of viral shedding and a high mortality rate after experimental HPAI virus infection. Compared to the breeder ducks, the meat-type ducks were raised in smaller farms that had poor quarantine and breeding facilities. It is therefore possible that better biosecurity in the breeder farms could have reduced the infection dose and subsequently the severity of the disease. Thus, age and management may be the influencing factors for HPAI susceptibility in ducks.

A 6-year-old Thoroughbred gelding was euthanized after a 2-month period of abnormal neurological signs, such as circling left in his pen and hitting his head and body against the wall. After the horse was euthanized on the farm, a half of the brain and whole blood were submitted for diagnostic tests. Histopathological examination of the brain revealed granulomatous and eosinophilic meningoencephalitis with numerous intralesional nematodes, predominantly affecting the cerebrum. Multifocal malacic foci were scattered in the brain parenchyma. The intralesional parasites were identified as Halicephalobus gingivalis by morphological features and PCR testing. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of meningoencephalitis caused by H. gingivalis in the horse in Korea.

: Two Korean black goat (approx. 2 and 3 years old) showing diarrhea and chronic weight loss were submitted to Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency. At necropsy, there were thickening of small intestine and enlargement of mesenteric lymph nodes. Microscopically, they had granulomatous enteritis in the small and large intestine and granulomatous lymphadenitis. By polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and acid fast stain, strong positive reaction and acid-fast rod bacteria were detected. According to the result of histopathology and PCR, we confirmed this case as Johne's disease. As far as we know, this is the first report of Johne's disease in Korean black goat.

No abstract

Primary renal tumors are uncommon in dogs with prevalence rate of approximately 1%. Renal carcinoma originating from epithelium of proximal convoluted tubules are more likely to be affected to Middle-aged dogs (average age, 8y), males about twice as often as bitches. A 10-year-old, female, German Shepherd dog with history of anorexia, vomitting and hematuria was referred to the Animal Disease Diagnostic Division in Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency. The dog was necropsied and several organs were collected, fixed in 10% phosphate-buffered formalin, embedded in paraffin wax and sectioned for histopathology. Grossly, the kidneys were bilaterally enlarged (18×12×8 cm; left, 18×10×8 cm; right). The numerous cysts varying sizes from 3 to 6 cm in diameter were protruding from the surface of both kidney. A large nodule (10×6×6 cm) was discovered between cardiac and diaphragmatic lobe in the right lung. Immunohistochemical examination revealed strong positive reaction to cytokeratin and ki-67 in the nuclei of the epithelial tumor cells. But showed negative reactions to vimentin and CD10. Based on the pathological and immunohistochemical examination, we diagnosed as the bilateral renal cystadenocarcinoma in German shepherd dog.