Kobuviruses are small, non-enveloped viruses with a single-stranded, positive-sense genomic RNA, belonging to the family Picornaviridae, a highly diverse family of important pathogens of human and other animals. Porcine kobuvirus has been found recently, and consequently, information about the virus is lacking. In this study, we identified porcine kobuviruses from pigs in Korea by RT-PCR, cloning and sequencing, and we showed the existence of genetic diversity among geographically separated porcine kobuviruses through genetic and phylogenetic analysis. Epidemiological studies of porcine kobuvirus linked to diarrhea indicated that porcine kobuvirus infections are endemic in diarrheic pigs in Korea. Statistical analysis of the porcine kobuvirus positive rate between diarrheic and healthy pigs as well as a survey for other enteric pathogens in diarrheic pigs suggests that porcine kobuvirus may play a role as a causative agent of gastroenteritis in pigs.

Pluripotent stem cells including embryonic stem cells (ESC) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) are regarded as representative tools for conservation of animal genetic resources. Although ESC have been established from chicken, it is very difficult to obtain enough embryos for isolation of stem cells for avian conservation in most wild birds. Therefore, the high feasibility of obtaining the pluripotent cell is most important in avian conservation studies. In this study, we generated induced pluripotent stem cell-like cells (iPSLC) from avian Feather Follicular cells (FFC). Avian FFC are one of the most easily accessible cell sources in most avian species, and their reprogramming into pluripotent stem cells can be an alternative system for preservation of avian species. Intriguingly, FFC had mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC)-like characteristics with regard to gene expression, protein expression, and adipocyte differentiation. Subsequently, we attempted to generate iPSLC from FFC using retroviral vectors. The FFC-iPSLC can proliferate with the stem pluripotent property and differentiate into several types of cells in vitro. Our results suggest that chicken FFC are an alternative cell source for avian cell reprogramming into pluripotent stem cells. This experimental strategy should be useful for conservation and restoration of endangered or high-value avian species without sacrificing embryos.

The current work was carried out to investigate the effect of crossbred Korean native chickens (KNC) on performance and carcass ratio. Seven hundred twenty 1-d-old chicks were divided into groups by strain (A, B, C and D) and sex (male and female). Strains were A) (KNC egg-meat type C strains × KNC meat type S strains) × KNC meat type H strains, B) (KNC egg-meat type C strains × KNC meat type H strains) × KNC meat type S strains, C) (KNC native R strains × KNC meat type S strains) × KNC meat type H strains and D) (KNC native L strains × KNC meat type H strains × Ross broiler. Experimental diets consisted of 3 phases such as starter(0～5 weeks; CP 20.0%, ME 3,050 kcal/kg), earlier (5～8 weeks; CP 18.0%, ME 3,100 kcal/kg) and finisher (8～12 weeks; CP 16.0%, ME 3,150 kcal/kg). Body weight (BW) and feed intake (FI) was measured every week and carcass ratio(CR) was calculated at 5 and 10 week after starting experiment. There was no difference in BW among strains until 5 weeks (P>0.05), however D strain resulted in a higher BW after 5 weeks (P<0.05). Body weight gain (BWG) and FI in D strain were also significant higher compared to the other strains for all periods. However, D strains showed the lowest (P<0.05) fee conversion ratio (FCR). The other strains except D showed a similar BW, BWG, FI and FCR among strains. In addition, there were no differences in carcass weight (CW) and carcass ratio (CR) among strains at 5 weeks, however D strain showed higher CW and CR at 10 weeks. These results suggested the basic data that needed to develope the new strains.

Jeju island is the biggest island in Korea. The imports of pigs or their relatives from mainland Korea to this island has been banned since 1998. With this unique geographical and epidemiological context, epidemiology of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) was investigated on the island. While all investigated farms showed 100% of seropositive rate for PRRSV, pigs on 37.2% (16/43) of the farms had viremia with type II PRRSV. The seropositive and viremia-positive rates for PRRSV in 30- to 60-day-old pigs were significantly higher in the western area ('swine farm complex' area) than the eastern area ('Scattered swine farm' area) of Jeju island. When 21 ORF5 sequences obtained from viremic sera were phylogenetically analysed, lineage 5 and Kor (newly termed in this study) of type II PRRSV were only found in Jeju island without changes from a previous report (2002-2003). Because other lineages of type II PRRSV (lineage 1 and 3) and type I PRRSV have recently emerged in mainland Korea, the banning of pigs' movement might be effective to protect the island from the introduction of these new PRRSV genotypes. Under this epidemiological condition (no introduction of new strains except for the modified-live vaccine (MLV) strain), the positive selection sites were analysed based on ORF5 of the virus. The amino acid 58 of GP5 (located on the hypervariable region) was predicted as a strong positive selection site. Although 51.2% (22/43) of the investigated farms had applied MLV, field strains of type II PRRSV were still circulating with strong positive selection. However, the restricted population of type II PRRSV (lineage 5 and Kor) without introduction of type I PRRSV or the other lineages of type II PRRSV indicate that the island has an effective quarantine system, which would allow PRRSV eradication.

This work was carried out to investigate chemical composition and meat quality of crossbred Korean native chickens (KNC). Ninety 1-d male chicks were used in this work and were divided into 4 groups as A: (KNC egg-meat type C strains × KNC meat type S strains) (♀) × KNC meat type H strains (♂), B: (KNC egg-meat type C strains × KNC meat type H strains) (♀) × KNC meat type S strains (♂), C: (KNC native R strains × KNC meat type S strains) (♀) × KNC meat type H strains (♂), D: (KNC native L strains × KNC meat type H strains) (♀) × Ross broiler (♂) strains. They were fed the broiler diets for 12 weeks at the flat house and twenty seven chickens were slaughtered at week 5 and 10. Chicken thigh and breast were weighed and physicochemical compositions and sensory characteristics were investigated. Physical compositions of meats have no difference among strains at 5 week, and B strains differed from other strains at 10 week (P<0.05). The pH, moisture, and collagen content of meat from B strains were lower than other strains at 5 week. Ash and collagen of A strains were the lowest at 10 week (P<0.05), but others have no difference among strains. In sensory test, juiciness of D strains was the highest at 5 week, and tenderness of B strains was the lowest at 10 week (P<0.05). In conclusion, the crossbreeding of KNC did not affect physical traits but affected chemical composition of the chicken meat slaughtered at 5 week.