The present study was performed to survey the dominant tick populations and molecularly determine the pathogenic agents of anaplasmosis in ticks from Gyeongsang, Republic of Korea. A total of 3825 questing ticks were collected by the flagging method from 12 sites near animal farms in Gyeongsang from March to October 2021. A molecular genomic study was performed with ticks stored in 70% ethanol to detect Anaplasma genes by the previously described method. The monthly incidence of ticks varied by developmental stages, i.e., nymphs, adults, and larvae, and each of their populations peaked in May, March, and October, respectively. The predominant tick species were Haemaphysalis longicornis, Haemaphysalis sp., Haemaphysalis flava, Ixodes nipponensis, and Amblyomma testudinarium in order. To determine the Anaplasma infection rate, collected ticks were pooled into 395 groups. The minimum infection rate (MIR) of Anaplasma was 0.7% (27 pools). That of A. phagocytophilum was highest (23 pools, MIR 0.6%), followed by A. phagocytophilum-like Anaplasma spp. clade B (2 pools, MIR 0.1%), A. bovis (1 pool, MIR 0.1%), and A. capra (1 pool, MIR 0.1%), respectively. In this study, five species of ticks, including unidentified Haemaphysalis species, were collected in 12 survey sites in Gyeongsang, but their prevalence was somewhat different according to the tick species and survey sites. Further, the incidence rate (6.8%) of 4 Anaplasma spp. was not as high in tick pools. However, the results of this study may offer a basis for future epidemiological research and risk assessment of tick-borne diseases.

Blastocystis is a genus of unicellular heterokont parasites belonging to a group of organisms known as Stramenopiles, which includes algae, diatoms, and water molds. Blastocystis includes several species that habitat in the gastrointestinal tracts of organisms as diverse as humans, farm animals, birds, rodents, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and cockroaches. It is important to public health and distributed globally, but its prevalence in dogs in Korea has not been reported to date. Here, we collected 787 canine fecal samples and assessed Blastocystis infection by age, sex, region, season, and diarrhea symptoms. We determined Blastocystis subtypes using phylogenetic analyses based on 18S rRNA gene sequences. We identified, 10 Blastocystis positive samples (1.3%). A higher proportion of infected dogs was asymptomatic; however, infection rates did not significantly differ according to region, age, sex, and season. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the Blastocystis sp. identified belonged to 4 subtypes (STs), ST1, ST5, ST10, and ST14, thus revealed the genetic diversity of Blastocystis sp. in dogs Korean. This is first report on the presence of Blastocystis sp. in dogs Korean. This study revealed a lower infection rate than expected and differed from previous studies in STs. Further studies are warranted to observe the national infection status of Blastocystis in dogs and the genetic characteristics of this genus.

Toxoplasmosis is a major public health concern, with raw or undercooked meat being the primary source of human infection. Knowledge regarding the molecular epidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii in cattle destined for human consumption in Korea is lacking. The present study aimed to genetically characterize the infectious strains of T. gondii. Overall, 455 cattle blood samples from 84 farms in the Gyeongnam-do (Province) were randomly collected in 2017. Nested PCR analysis revealed that only 3 (0.7%) samples were infected with T. gondii. The B1 gene sequence of T. gondii was observed to be similar (97.3–99.6%) to that of other T. gondii isolates. This is the first study to perform the molecular detection of T. gondii in cattle in Korea. Although the prevalence of infection was low, our findings suggest that cattle present a potential public health issue. It may be crucial to recognize the importance of T. gondii infection in cattle meat.

To our knowledge, ours is the first case of applying a 3D-printed prosthetic beak to an Oriental stork (Ciconia boyciana). A stork in captivity underwent several surgeries for beak fractures, but the lower-mandible fractures failed to be repaired. Therefore, we applied a patient-specific beak prosthesis of titanium alloy and nylon. Because the prosthetic beak could not be maintained due to mandible and soft-tissue inflammation, the stork was euthanized. Still, we confirmed typical behavior and feeding for ~3 months after surgery. This report highlights some of the challenges we encountered and identifies process improvements required for a more successful surgery.

Enterocytozoon bieneusi is an important microsporidian protozoa that causes intestinal disorders in humans. We collected 191 fecal samples from roadkill deer carcasses, among which 13 (6.8%) showed positive reaction for E. bieneusi by polymerase chain reaction assay. Phylogenetic analysis revealed 6 distinct genotypes, 1 of which was novel. All genotypes belonged to Group 1, which has low host specificity, indicating possible transmission through sylvatic cycle. E. bieneusi infection was predominant in female deer (p<0.05).

Min-Goo Seo, Kyung-Yeon Eo, Dongmi Kwak, Kyoo-Tae Kim. J Vet Clin 2023;40:78-82. https://doi.org/10.17555/jvc.2023.40.1.78