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In total, 39 clinical cases of fowl adeno-viruses (FAdV) infection in chickens (28 broiler, 7 na-tive, and 4 layer chickens) between 2007 and 2010 in Korea were investigated. The FAdV types 4, 8b, and 11 comprised 18, 9, and 12 clinical cases, respectively. All FAdV type 4 cases showed clinical hydropericar-dium (HPS) lesions as well as inclusion body hepatitis (IBH), whereas all FAdV types 8b and 11 cases exhibit-ed IBH lesions without HPS. All 3 types were detected in broiler (9-30 d old) and layer chickens (23-112 d old), whereas most native chickens (14-65 d old) were affected only by FAdV type 4. Infectious bursal disease virus and chicken infectious anemia virus were com-plications in 51.3% of FAdV cases, with mortalities of 55% to <0.1%. Chicken infectious anemia virus was de-tected in all native chicken cases. These results indicate that preventive measures against FAdV infection and immunosuppressive diseases on poultry farms should be implemented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is an extremely infectious, systemic viral disease of birds that produces high mortality and morbidity. HPAI was diagnosed in the three dead magpies (Pica pica sericea) submitted to the National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service. At necropsy, the prominent lesions were multifocal or coalescing necrosis of the pancreas with enlargement of the livers and spleens. Microscopically, there were severely necrotizing pancreatitis and lymphocytic meningoencephalitis. Influenza viral antigen was also detected in areas closely associated with histologic lesions. Avian influenza virus was isolated from cecal tonsils and feces of the magpies. The isolated virus was identified as a highly pathogenic H5N1, with hemagglutinin proteolytic cleavage site deduced amino acid sequence of QREKRKKR/GLFGAIAG. To determine the pathogenicity of the isolate, eight 6-wk-old specific-pathogen-free chickens were inoculated intravenously with the virus, and all birds died within 24 hr after inoculation. This is the first report of HPAI in magpies.

Setting: A survey based on biennial medical examinations for civil servants, including school teachers., Objective: To estimate the incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) for the general population from a sample survey, and to compare it with the previous results from 1988-1990., Design: A retrospective follow-up study which started in April 1996 and ended in December 1997. Development of PTB among all South Korean civil servants who were tuberculosis-free in the 1992 biennial medical examination was followed up to the 1994 medical examination. The survey was based on newly-developed cases by 1) the findings of the biennial medical examination, 2) scrutiny of the medical records of all those claiming health insurance for tuberculosis, and 3) checking of the TB registers in all health centres during the period. Civil servants constituted 2.6% of the Korean population aged 20 to 64., Results: Of 958137 subjects who were found to be TB-free in the 1992 medical examination, 957216 were eligible for the study. Radiologically active PTB was found in 4146 cases over the 2-year period of the study. Bacteriological examinations were performed in 3306 patients: there were 1551 bacteriologically proven cases (46.9%), including 1049 smear-positives (31.7%) and 502 smear-negative culture-positives (15.2%). The age-sex adjusted incidence rate for the general population was 202/100000 in radiologically active PTB, 81/100000 in bacteriologically proven PTB, and 54/100000 in smear-positive PTB. Overall PTB incidence rates were higher in males (240/100000) than in females (163/100000), and in the age group 20-24 years (280/ 100 000) than in the other age groups., Conclusion: Comparing the 1992-1994 PTB incidence with that observed in the 1988-1990 survey, the highest incidence was observed among young adults in both surveys, and it had not changed over time.

PPD RT23 is a tuberculin that is used worldwide. Korea has been using 1TU RT23 for its nationwide tuberculosis prevalence surveys at five-yearly intervals since 1965, and found a drop in its potency after the 1975 survey. This finding draws attention to the interpretation of tuberculin survey data observed with RT23 at different time periods.

Setting: Cohort analyses of the results of sputum smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients registered in health centres in Korea under programme conditions from 1983 to 1994., Objective: To assess the overall treatment results and their annual changing trend., Design: Retrospective sample surveys of the nationwide treatment results of registered new smear-positive and retreatment patients., Results: The numbers of registered smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients have decreased steadily, from over 35000 in 1983 to about 14000 in 1994. Over 90% of health centres, and 60-80% of registered patients, were covered in the cohort analyses. The overall cure rate for all patients was 56% in 1983; this improved to around 80% in the last three years of the period studied, owing to increased use of short-course chemotherapy. Over 5000 patients per year required retreatment during the first four years; this number decreased steadily to less than 700 in 1994, due to the reduction in initial treatment failures., Conclusion: The overall treatment results have improved significantly in Korea, due to the application of short-course chemotherapy.

Setting: Nationwide random sample survey for tuberculosis prevalence in Korea in 1995., Objective: To investigate the prevalence of tuberculosis infection, morbidity and drug resistance, and BCG coverage, and to compare the findings with those of the previous six surveys., Design: The following investigations were performed: tuberculin test, BCG scar screening, chest miniature radiography (70 x 70 mm) for those aged over five years, sputum direct smear, culture and drug susceptibility test, and a questionnaire to obtain history of antituberculosis chemotherapy and symptoms., Results: The coverages of the 1995 survey were as follows: tuberculin 87.0%, radiology 88.4%, bacteriology 98.3%. The observed tuberculin positivity (> or =10 mm in diameter) of subjects aged under 30 was 15.5%. The prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis per 100000 has decreased in the last 30 years: direct smear positive from 686 to 93, smear and/or culture positive from 940 to 219, active tuberculosis from 5065 to 1032. Rates of drug resistance have also fallen: of those with no previous chemotherapy from 26.2% to 5.8%, of those with history of chemotherapy from 55.2% to 25.0%, and in total from 38.0% to 9.9%. BCG scar prevalence of infants (aged under one year) was 87.7%, and of those under 30 it was 91.8% in 1995., Conclusion: Tuberculosis prevalences and the drug resistance rates have decreased significantly.