Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection in a Domesticated Korean Wild Boar ( Sus scrofa coreanus).

Tuberculosis, a chronic progressive disease, has been reported in bovine, swine, and primate species. Here, we report the first case of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in a Korean wild boar ( Sus scrofa coreanus). The owners this domesticated boar brought it to the Gyeongbuk Veterinary Service Laboratory in Korea after it was found dead and severely emaciated. Demarcated yellowish white nodules were found around the larynx and retropharyngeal lymph node during necropsy. The lungs had diffuse fibrinous pleuritis, severe congestion, and scattered nodules. More nodules were found in the spleen. Tuberculosis is characterized by massive macrophage infiltration and central caseous necrosis; both characteristics were found in the lungs. Histopathologic examination revealed that the alveolar lumen had marked fibrosis and exudates. Examination of the fluid revealed extensive macrophage permeation. To confirm a Mycobacterium infection, PCR was performed using two primer sets specific to the rpoB gene of Mycobacterium; Mycobacterium was detected in the lungs and spleen. To identify the species of Mycobacterium, immunohistochemical evaluation was performed using antibodies against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium bovis . The results revealed immunoreactivity against M. tuberculosis but not against M. bovis . The consumption of undercooked or raw meat from game animals may expose humans and other animals to sylvatic infection. Consequently, Koreans who ingest wild boar may be at risk of a tuberculosis infection. To reduce the risk of foodborne infection and maintain public health, continuous monitoring and control strategies are required.

Effects of exposure to genistein and estradiol on reproductive development in immature male mice weaned from dams adapted to a soy-based commercial diet.

Genistein, a soybean-originated isoflavone, is widely consumed by humans for putative beneficial health effects but its estrogenic activity may adversely affect the development of male reproductive system. Twenty one-day-old ICR mice weaned from dams fed with a soybean-based diet throughout gestation and lactation were exposed by gavage to genistein (2.5 mg/kg b.w./day) or 17beta-estradiol (7.5 microg/kg b.w./day) for five weeks. Corn oil was used as a negative control. The animals were fed with a casein-based AIN-76A diet throughout the experimental periods. There were no significant differences in body and organ weights of mice among experimental groups. No significant differences in sperm counts and sperm motile characteristics were found between control and genistein groups. Treatment of 17beta-estradiol caused a significant decrease in prostate weight and epididymal sperm counts compared to the control (p<0.05). The levels of phospholipid hydroxide glutathione peroxidase in the testis and prostate of mice exposed to genistein or 17beta-estradiol were significantly higher than that of the control mice (p<0.05). 17beta-estradiol treatment caused degeneration and apoptosis of germ cells in the testis, depletion and degeneration in the epididymal epithelium, and hyperplasia of mucosal fold region in the prostate of mice. Genistein treatment did not cause any lesion in the testis, epididymis, and prostate. These results suggest that dietary uptake of genistein during juvenile period may not affect male reproductive development and functions.

Reproductive disorders in pubertal and adult phase of the male rats exposed to vinclozolin during puberty.

Vinclozolin (VCZ) is a systemic dicarboximide fungicide with antiandrogenic activity. Reproductive toxicity of VCZ was investigated in male rats exposed to VCZ during puberty. Sprague-Dawley male rats aged with 35 days were assigned to six different groups; negative control, positive control receiving flutamide (100 mg/kg), VCZ (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg), and a combination of VCZ (200 mg/kg) + methyltestosterone (100 mg/kg). The animals were treated with test compounds by oral gavage daily during 35 to 44 days of age. In pubertal rats sacrificed on the next day after final treatment, VCZ or flutamide-treated group showed a decrease in weights of prostate, epididymis, and seminal vesicle, hypertrophy of Leydig cells in the testis, detached debris and sloughed cells in the tubules of the caput epididymis, and an increase in serum testosterone levels. On the other hand, combined treatment of VCZ + methyltestosterone decreased testicular weight, increased seminal vesicle weight, and induced degeneration of spermatocytes. In adult rats sacrificed at five weeks after final treatment, flutamide decreased testicular sperm counts, and VCZ, flutamide and VCZ + methyltestosterone also decreased epididymal sperm counts. In addition, treatment of VCZ (400 mg) or VCZ + methyltestosterone decreased some motion kinematic parameters of sperms including curvilinear velocity, mean angular displacement and lateral head displacement. Flutamide treatment also decreased lateral head displacement. These results indicate that VCZ exposure during pubertal period in male rats causes reproductive disorders in puberty and adulthood.