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This study of South Korea's response to COVID-19 has three purposes. First, it uses document analysis to examine policies, strategies, and resources offered by the South Korean government and public organizations to support young children and families during the first 6 months of the pandemic. Next, it uses open-ended surveys with 30 directors of early childhood institutions to explore institutional-level supports and needs during the pandemic. Finally, it looks at the discrepancies between stated policies outlining the South Korea's response to COVID-19 and the lived experiences of early childhood educators as a route to arriving at recommendations for education policymakers and other stakeholders. To that end, we reviewed government documents (n = 84) containing early childhood education-related responses to COVID-19 established by the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and other relevant government sectors. An online survey with 17 kindergarten and 13 child care center directors was also analyzed. Using content analysis, the findings revealed that the government's policies and guidance for Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) as well as the institutional supports for children and families were overall comprehensive in its scope. The analysis, based on the five tenets of the Whole Child approach, also indicated that the government's policy responses and services for ECEC focused mainly on the 'Safe' and 'Supported' tenets, while 'Challenged' was given the least amount of consideration. The survey responses demonstrated different measures taken by kindergartens and child care centers highlighting the separate nature of 'education' and 'care' in South Korea, while also indicating limited resources for supporting children's psychological well-being and for children and families in need. This overview provides a foundation for further discussion and research on the impact of COVID-19 on ECEC in South Korea and beyond.

Simple Summary: Bluetongue (BT) is an economically significant disease in ruminants, transmitted worldwide by Culicoides midges, with the causative agent being the bluetongue virus (BTV). Traditionally prevalent in tropical regions, its geographic range is expanding due to climate change. Despite its global impact, research on the BTV in the Republic of Korea (ROK) is scarce. In this study, we aimed to assess BTV seroprevalence and conduct genetic analyses on isolates from South Korea. Out of 5824 cattle samples, 194 (3.33%) showed BTV antibodies, and 2 out of 1095 (0.18%) goat samples were positive. BTV RNA analyses of 422 high-risk area cattle samples revealed 51 (12.1%) positive cases. The virus was successfully isolated from one sample, identified as serotype 3 based on segment 2 analysis. This study presents the first full-genome sequence of a South Korean BTV serotype 3 isolate, serving as a global reference. These data aid in understanding phylogenetic relationships among BTV strains and recognizing reassortment events, enhancing our knowledge of this developing virus. The bluetongue virus (BTV) is a significant animal pathogen with economic implications in the ruminant industry. Despite global reports on BTV detection and epidemiologic investigations, limited studies have focused on the virus in the ROK. In this study, BTV epidemiological research was conducted on blood samples from cattle and goat farms across nine regions during 2013–2014. The results showed that 3.33% of bovine blood samples (194/5824) and 0.19% of goat blood samples (2/1075) tested positive for BTV antibodies using ELISA. In Jeju-do, BTV RNA amplification occurred in 51 of 422 samples (12.1%) using real-time reverse transcription (RT-qPCR). The isolation of one sample revealed it as serotype 3, as indicated by the sequence of segments 2 (Seg-2) and 6 (Seg-6), associated with the eastern BTV topotype. However, based on Seg-1, -3, -4, -5, -7, -8, -9, and -10 analyses, the BTV-3/JJBB35 strain is more closely related to distinct BTV strains. These findings imply BTV circulation and that the Korean-isolated BTV might originate from Asian BTV strains due to multiple reassortment events. This study provides foundational data for ongoing BTV monitoring and disease-control policies in the ROK. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The discourse of active aging, as introduced by the WHO, aims at optimizing older adults' opportunities for health, participation, and security that could eventually enhance their social integration and quality of life. Considering that even those with frailty could strive for active aging in the given circumstances, we examined the meaning of active aging in long-term care settings and care strategies to promote it based on the WHO's framework. We conducted interviews with a total of 35 participants. The interpretative analyses revealed that the activities taken place in LTCFs have various scopes depending on older adults' physical and cognitive functional ability, and it captures the forms of activities that go beyond its lexical meaning. By defining being "active," the present findings could contribute to an understanding of how the three elements of active aging can be carried out in LTCFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study of South Korea's response to COVID-19 has three purposes. First, it uses document analysis to examine policies, strategies, and resources offered by the South Korean government and public organizations to support young children and families during the first 6 months of the pandemic. Next, it uses open-ended surveys with 30 directors of early childhood institutions to explore institutional-level supports and needs during the pandemic. Finally, it looks at the discrepancies between stated policies outlining the South Korea's response to COVID-19 and the lived experiences of early childhood educators as a route to arriving at recommendations for education policymakers and other stakeholders. To that end, we reviewed government documents (n = 84) containing early childhood education-related responses to Covid-19 established by the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and other relevant government sectors. An online survey with 17 kindergarten and 13 child care center directors was also analyzed. Using content analysis, the findings revealed that the government's policies and guidance for Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) as well as the institutional supports for children and families were overall comprehensive in its scope. The analysis, based on the five tenets of the Whole Child approach, also indicated that the government's policy responses and services for ECEC focused mainly on the 'Safe' and 'Supported' tenets, while 'Challenged' was given the least amount of consideration. The survey responses demonstrated different measures taken by kindergartens and child care centers highlighting the separate nature of 'education' and 'care' in South Korea, while also indicating limited resources for supporting children's psychological well-being and for children and families in need. This overview provides a foundation for further discussion and research on the impact of Covid-19 on ECEC in South Korea and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although entrepreneurial orientation (EO) at the firm‐level is often conceptualized as a direct antecedent of performance, the findings of previous studies lending support to this association are inconsistent. Consequently, drawing on the attraction/selection/attrition and institutional theories and employing the moderated mediation analysis approach, this study conceptualizes the individual perception of a firm's EO or individual entrepreneurial orientation (IEO). It examines the direct and indirect effects of IEO on individual outcomes measured in terms of performance expectation, job involvement, and organizational commitment. More specifically, it examines whether these effects are mediated by value congruence and moderated by the institutional entrepreneurial environment to understand these inconsistent findings better. Using a sample of 398 environmentally concerned small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) in South Korea, partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS‐SEM), and the PROCESS macro were employed to analyzed the research model. This study finds that value congruence mediates the association between IEO and performance expectation, job involvement, and organizational commitment. The moderated mediation model analysis also suggests that the mediating role of value congruence increases as the level of the institutional entrepreneurial environment increases. These findings offer useful theoretical and managerial implications of the IEO on individual outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify and explore what leadership characteristics constitute humanistic leadership in the South Korean context. Moreover, this study examines how these leadership characteristics are connected to Korean culture. Design/methodology/approach: Based on the information gathered from semi-structured interviews and other sources, including books, case study articles and news articles, this study captures a more comprehensive perspective of Mr. Kook-Hyun Moon, the former CEO of Yuhan–Kimberly. Findings: The key characteristics of Mr. Moon's humanistic leadership that are identified in this study are: respect for all mankind, benevolence (seeking the greater good), sincerity (building trusting relationships with stakeholders) and continuous learning and innovation (developing self and others). These key characteristics set Mr. Moon apart from other leaders and are connected to the fundamental values and philosophies of Korean culture. Originality/value: This study contributes to the current leadership literature by identifying and exploring Mr. Moon's humanistic leadership characteristics that enable him to gain respect and contribute to communities and society in the South Korean context. This study also finds that the humanistic leadership characteristics of Mr. Moon reflect three major attributes of Korean culture: the ideology of the Dangun mythology, the principle of Neo-Confucianism in Korea and jeong – an indigenous cultural concept in Korea (these attributes will be discussed in detail in the South Korean values and philosophies section). Such reflection suggests that investigating how humanistic leadership characteristics are connected to local cultural roots is important to enhance the understanding of humanistic leadership. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the advent of live-attenuated, quadrivalent, and cell-cultured vaccines for influenza, there have been discussions on the safety of these vaccines compared to conventional vaccines (such as inactivated, trivalent, and egg-cultured vaccines) because of the development of neurological adverse events (AEs). This study aimed to compare the trends and safety signals in the AE reporting systems of the US and South Korea and, more particularly, to evaluate the association between influenza vaccination and Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS). In total, 400,535 AE reports from the US Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) and 28,766 AE reports from the Korea Adverse Event Reporting System (KAERS) between 2005 and 2017 were assessed. Disproportionality analysis was performed to detect the safety signals and examine the potential risk of GBS with influenza vaccination using the case/non-case approach. In both databases, GBS was the most frequently reported AE following influenza immunization. Using the case/non-case approach, the adjusted reporting odds ratio (ROR) of GBS was 3.57 (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.16–4.03) and 3.09 (95% CI, 0.83–11.45) in the VAERS and KAERS data, respectively. People vaccinated with live-attenuated vaccines reported 2.30 times (95% CI, 1.74–3.05) more cases of GBS than those vaccinated with other types of vaccines. Our analysis of the VAERS and KAERS reports for AEs following immunization (AEFI) for influenza shows the need for cautious monitoring regarding the development of GBS after influenza vaccination, particularly, after live-attenuated vaccination. However, owing to potential reporting bias caused by limited AEFI reports after the introduction of new types of influenza vaccines, further prospective safety studies are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

African swine fever, a fatal haemorrhagic disease of swine, was confirmed in domestic pigs for the first time in South Korea in September 2019. The causative virus belonged to the p72 genotype II and had an additional tandem repeat sequence in the intergenic region (IGR) between the I73R and I329L. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Aims: To determine the need for care robots among nurses and to suggest how robotic care should be prioritized in integrated nursing care services. Background: Korea is expected to be a super‐aged society by 2030. To solve care issues with elderly inpatient caused by informal caregivers, the government introduced “integrated nursing care services”; these are comprehensive care systems staffed by professionally trained nurses. To assist them, a care robot development project has been launched. Design: The study applied a cross‐sectional survey. Methods: In 2016, we conducted a multicentre survey involving 302 Registered Nurses in five hospitals including three tertiary and two secondary hospitals in Korea. The questionnaire consisted of general characteristics of nurses and their views on and extents of agreement about issues associated with robotic care. Results: Trial centre nurses and those with ≥10 years of experience reported positively on the prospects for robotic care. The top‐three desired primary roles for care robots were “measuring/monitoring”, “mobility/activity” and “safety care”. “Reduction in workload”, especially in terms of “other nursing services” which were categorized as nonvalue‐added nursing activities, was the most valued feature. The nurses approved of the aid by care robots but were concerned about device malfunction and interruption of rapport with patients. Conclusion: Care robots are expected to be effective in integrated nursing care services, particularly in “measuring/monitoring”. Such robots should decrease nurses’ workload and minimize nonvalue‐added nursing activities efficiently. No matter how excellent care robots are, they must cooperate with and be controlled by nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to identify types of adaptation strategies used by unskilled migrant workers living in South Korea as they acculturated to life in the country and to determine specific characteristics by acculturation patterns. To this end, a Q methodology was used. A total of fifty-nine statements were drawn through in-depth interviews with eight migrant workers and two South Koreans working in related organizations as well as from thirteen other studies, and four factor types of acculturation patterns were identified by conducting a Q sorting on thirty-eight subjects. Interpretation of the study revealed that the subjects used four types of adaptation strategies: accepted separation, compromising integration, conflict marginalization, and harmonious assimilation. The subjects in each type showed concrete socio-psychological adaptation strategies in response to South Korea’s unique culture and policies of discriminative exclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Healthy eating is becoming increasingly important in consumers’ minds. However, the impact of food healthiness on the restaurant business has been understudied. This study examines the interrelationships among perceived restaurant food healthiness, value, satisfaction, and re-patronage intentions in mid-to-upscale restaurants in South Korea. Structural equation modeling analysis reveals that the proposed model is supportive of the sequential, mediated (indirect) relationship (healthiness→value→satisfaction→revisit intentions) among the four variables with the exception of the direct path from healthiness to diner satisfaction (healthiness→satisfaction). In other words, perceived food healthiness increases value and satisfaction; and the feeling of satisfaction functions as a predictor of revisit intentions. Additionally, four healthiness attributes (nutritional information, fresh and natural ingredients, weight control, and nutritionally balanced diet) are found to be essential factors to increase Korean diners’ value perceptions, satisfaction and revisit intentions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Despite the impact of bovine group A rotaviruses (GARVs) as economically important and zoonotic pathogens, there is a scarcity of data on cross-species pathogenicity and extra-intestinal spread of bovine reassortant GARVs. During the course of characterizing the genotypes of all 11 genomic segments of bovine GARVs isolated from diarrheic calves in South Korea, a unique G6P[7] reassortant GARV strain (KJ9-1) was isolated. The strain harbors five bovine-like gene segments (VP7: G6; VP6: I2; VP1: R2; VP3: M2; NSP2: N2, and NSP4: E2), five porcine-like gene segments (VP4: P[7]; NSP1: A1; NSP3: T1, and NSP5: H1), and one human-like gene segment (VP2: C2). To investigate if this reassortant strain possessed cross-species pathogenicity in calves and piglets, and could induce viremia and extra-intestinal spread in calves, colostrum-deprived calves and piglets were experimentally inoculated with the KJ9-1 strain. The KJ9-1 strain caused severe diarrhea in experimentally infected calves with extensive intestinal villous atrophy, but replicated without causing clinical symptoms in experimentally infected piglets. By SYBR Green real-time RT-PCR, viral RNA was detected in sera of the calves at post-inoculation day (PID) 1, reaching a peak at PID3, and then rapidly decreasing from PID4. In addition, viral RNA was detected in the mesenteric lymph node, lungs, liver, choroid plexus, and cerebrospinal fluid. An immunofluorescence assay confirmed viral replication in the extra-intestinal organs and tissues of virus-inoculated calves. The data indicates that the homologous/heterologous origin of the NSP4 gene segment (E2 genotype), may play a key role in the ability to cause diarrhea in calves and piglets. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Porcine group A rotavirus (GARV) is considered to be an important animal pathogen due to their economic impact in the swine industry and its potential to cause heterologous infections in humans. This study examined 475 fecal samples from 143 farms located in 6 provinces across South Korea. RT-PCR and nested PCR utilizing primer pairs specific for the GARV VP6 gene detected GARV-positive reactions in 182 (38.3%) diarrheic fecal samples. A total of 98 porcine GARV strains isolated from the GARV-positive feces were analyzed for G and P genotyping. Based on the sequence and phylogenetic analyses, the most predominant combination of G and P genotypes was G5P[7], found in 63 GARV strains (64.3%). The other combinations of G and P genotypes were G8P[7] (16 strains [16.3%]), G9P[7] (7 strains [7.1%]), G9P[23] (2 strains [2.0%]), and G8P[1] (1 strain [1.0%]). The counterparts of G or P genotypes were not determined in three G5, five P[7], and one P[1] strains. Interestingly, phylogenetic analysis indicated that all Korean G9 strains were more closely related to lineage VI porcine and human viruses than to other lineages (I–V) of GARVs and to Korean human G9 strains (lineage III). These results show that porcine GARV infections are common in diarrheic piglets in South Korea. The infecting strains are genetically diverse, and include homologous (G5P[7]), heterologous (G8P[1]), and reassortant (G8P[7]), as well as emerging G9 GARV strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The purposes of this study were (1) to examine the South Korean residents’ perceptions of the impacts of the 2002 World Cup Games on their communities before and after the games and (2) to compare any perceptual differences between the two time periods. Using the data collected prior to the 2002 World Cup Games, an exploratory factor analysis was performed to identify perceived impact dimensions. These identified dimensions were validated with the data collected after the games. MANOVA and a series of ANOVA tests were performed to analyze the differences in perceptions before and after the games. Significant differences were found in every dimension: benefits of cultural exchange, social problems, economic benefits, natural resources and cultural development, traffic congestions and pollution, price increase, and construction costs. The findings of this study can be used as valuable information for future sports mega-events organizing/governing bodies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The purposes of this study were to validate Groves’ (Perceived service orientation of restaurant employees, unpublished doctoral dissertation, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 1992) restaurant service orientation scale, to examine contact employees’ service orientation in Korean casual-dining restaurants, and to investigate the effect of employee characteristic variables on service orientation. Self-administered questionnaires were distributed to waitpersons and bartenders working for a casual-dining chain in Seoul, Korea. Factor analysis indicated that Groves’ scale had four dimensions (organizational support, customer focus, service under pressure, and prior customer relationship) rather than three. The additional factor of prior customer relationship was determined to be a subdimension of the customer-focus factor. Age, gender, marriage, and education did not have significant impacts on service orientation. However, employees with a longer length of service and those in supervisory positions displayed a higher degree of service orientation. Lastly, employees in each unit of the chain displayed significant differences in service orientation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objectives: There is little evidence on interrelationships between physical activity, sedentary behaviors, and health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) among adolescents with congenital heart disease (CHD). We hypothesized that exercise capacity would have a mediating effect on the associations of either physical activity or sedentary behavior with HRQOL. Methods: Adolescents with complex CHD (n = 111) were consecutively recruited from an outpatient clinic in a general hospital in South Korea. Physical activity and sedentary behavior were assessed using the global physical activity questionnaire. Exercise capacity was directly measured by peak oxygen uptake using a symptom‐limited maximal treadmill exercise test. HRQOL was evaluated by both adolescents and their parents using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory questionnaire. Results: The self‐reported and parent proxy‐reported HRQOL were positively associated with physical activity (ß = 0.16, P =.003; ß = 0.12, P =.049) and exercise capacity (ß = 0.63, P < .001; ß = 0.66, P < .001), but not with sedentary behavior in adjusted regression models. When both variables were entered in the same regression models, only exercise capacity remained significantly associated with the self‐reported (ß = 0.50, P =.008) and parent proxy‐reported HRQOL (ß = 0.62, P =.003). Exercise capacity acted as a full mediator variable on the relationship between physical activity and HRQOL (P < .05 for both). Conclusions: The present findings suggest that exercise capacity mediates the association between physical activity and HRQOL, highlighting the importance of improving exercise capacity to potentially enhance HRQOL in adolescents with complex CHD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Group A rotaviruses (RVAs) are agents causing severe gastroenteritis in infants and young animals. G9 RVA strains are believed to have originated from pigs. However, this genotype has emerged as the fifth major human RVA genotype worldwide. To better understand the relationship between human and porcine RVA strains, complete RVA genome data are needed. For human RVA strains, the number of complete genome data have grown exponentially. However, there is still a lack of complete genome data on porcine RVA strains. Recently, G9 RVA strains have been identified as the third most important genotype in diarrheic pigs in South Korea in combinations with P[7] and P[23]. This study is the first report on complete genome analyses of 1 G9P[7] and 3 G9P[23] porcine RVA strains, resulting in the following genotype constellation: G9–P[7]/P[23]–I5–R1–C1–M1–A8–N1–T1–E1–H1. By comparisons of these genotype constellations, it was revealed that the Korean G9P[7] and G9P[23] RVA strains possessed a typical porcine RVA backbone, similar to other known porcine RVA strains. However, detailed phylogenetic analyses revealed the presence of intra-genotype reassortments among porcine RVA strains in South Korea. Thus, our data provide genetic information of G9 RVA strains increasingly detected in both humans and pigs, and will help to establish the role of pigs as a source or reservoir for novel human RVA strains. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Orthoreoviruses infect virtually all mammalian species, causing systemic infections including mild gastrointestinal and respiratory illnesses. However, little is known about the prevalence or genetic diversity of porcine orthoreoviruses in South Korea. We examined 237 diarrheic fecal samples collected from 78 pig farms around the country. RT-PCR utilizing primers specific for the L1 gene of mammalian orthoreoviruses showed that 45 (19.0%) samples were positive. The 10 strains isolated from orthoreovirus-positive samples formed typical perinuclear cytoplasmic inclusion bodies and had an atypical hemagglutination pattern; these are characteristics of type 3 orthoreovirus. Phylogenetic analysis of the S1 gene in these 10 Korean and other strains showed that type 3 orthoreoviruses could be divided into four lineages; the 10 Korean strains were included in porcine lineage IV, along with T3/porcine/Sichuan/2006. Sequence analysis showed that strains in lineage IV had nucleotide identities of 97.0–98.1% and deduced amino acid identities of 96.4–98.2%. Sequence analysis of the σ1 protein, a viral attachment protein, revealed that the amino acid sequences associated with neurotropism (amino acids 198–204, 249I, 350D, and 419E) were highly conserved among the Korean strains, confirming that neural tropism was present. In conclusion, our findings suggest that porcine orthoreovirus infections are endemic in pig farms in South Korea and that the 10 novel Korean porcine orthoreoviruses belong to porcine lineage IV of type 3 orthoreovirus. In addition, sequence analysis of S1 genes encoding the σ1 protein showed that the 9 of 10 Korean porcine orthoreoviruses exhibited neural tropism. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study aimed to establish a second national standard for hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) that can be used for potency assays of hepatitis B and normal immunoglobulin. The candidate material was manufactured using a process approved as Good Manufacturing Practice. The freeze-dried candidate preparation was tested for physicochemical and biological properties, including pH, residual moisture, molecular size distribution, and potency. A collaborative study was performed involving four laboratories, including the National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation, as an official national control laboratory in Korea and manufacturers. The potency was calibrated against the second international standard for HBIG using two enzyme immunoassays: enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. Results from 240 assays were obtained from four laboratories, and combined potency estimates were obtained by calculating the geometric means. Intra- and inter-laboratory variability showed acceptable geometric coefficients of variation of 1.3–6.0 and 3.2–3.6%, respectively. The candidate preparation showed satisfactory stability in accelerated thermal degradation and real-time stability tests. Based on these results, the potency value of 105 IU/vial was assigned (95% confidence intervals: 100.0–109.2 IU/vial), and it was deemed suitable to serve as the Korean national standard for HBIG. • The potency was calibrated against the second international standard for HBIG. • The candidate preparation showed satisfactory stability. • The potency value of 105 IU/vial was assigned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Group A rotaviruses (GARVs) cause severe acute gastroenteritis in children and young animals. Although zoonotic infections with bovine-like G6 and G8 GARVs have been reported in many countries, there is little evidence for reassortment between bovine GARVs and GARVs from heterologous species. The finding of bovine GARVs with the G6 and G8 genotypes in combination with the typical porcine P[7] prompted us to characterize all 11 genes of 30 bovine GARVs isolated from clinically infected calves. By the comparison of the full-length ORF of VP7 and NSP1–5, and the partial VP1–4 and VP6 nucleotide sequences between the 30 Korean and other known strains, three different genome constellations were found. Twenty seven strains showed the G8-P[7]-I5-R1-C1-M2-A1-N1-T1-E1-H1 genotypes, a single strain possessed the G6-P[7]-I2-R2-C1-M2-A1-N2-T1-E2-H1 genotype constellation and 2 strains the G6-P[7]-I2-R2-C2-M2-A3-N2-T6-E2-H3 genotype constellation. The complete genome of a single reference strains for each of these three genotype constellations (KJ25, KJ9-1 and KJ19-2) was determined and analyzed. A detailed phylogenetic analysis revealed a complicated picture, with several reassortments among bovine-like, porcine-like and human-like GARV strains, resulting in several different reassortant strains successfully infecting cattle. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Group C rotaviruses (GCRVs) cause acute diarrhea in humans and animals worldwide and the evidence for a possible zoonotic role of GCRVs has been recently provided. However, there is little evidence of porcine GCRV infections or of their genetic diversity in South Korea. We examined 137 diarrheic fecal specimens from 55 farms collected from six provinces. RT-PCR utilizing primer pairs specific for the GCRV VP6 gene detected GCRV-positive reactions in 36 (26.2%) diarrheic fecal samples. Of these, 17 samples (12.4%) tested positive for porcine GCRVs alone and 19 samples (13.8%) were also positive for other pathogens. Other enteric pathogens except for GCRV were detected in 64 feces samples (46.7%) and no enteric pathogens were evident in 37 feces samples (27.0%). Phylogenetic and sequence homology analyses of GCRV partial VP6 gene between 23 Korean and other known porcine GCRVs demonstrated that Korean strains belonged to the porcine lineage. Furthermore, one Korean porcine strain shared the highest nucleotide (89.7–89.0%) and deduced amino acid sequence (92.9–93.9%) identities with bovine GCRV strains and was placed in the bovine GCRV lineage indicative of bovine origin. In conclusion, porcine GCRV infections are widespread in piglets with diarrhea in South Korea. The infecting porcine GCRVs mostly belong to the porcine lineage with the exception of one bovine-like GCRV, which possibly originated from bovine GCRV due to interspecies transmission. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Serum samples from 3315 pigs from 363 farms located throughout all nine Korean provinces were tested for the presence of encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) antibodies using the virus neutralization test. The seroprevalence of EMCV in the total pig population was 9.1%, whereas in the herd the prevalence was 43.5%. The first two EMCVs isolated were K3 and K11; these strains were isolated in 1990 from a mummy and a stillborn fetus, respectively, suspected of having EMCV. Phylogenetic analyses of the capsid coding region and the VP3/VP1 genes using the Bayesian approach, and a neighbor-joining analysis, revealed that the EMCV strains fell into two clusters: groups 1 and 2, with two sub-clusters within group 1, group 1a and 1b. The Korean isolates belonged to the group 1a cluster, along with strains BJC3 (China), B424/90 (Greece) and BEL-2887A/91 (Belgium), whereas five strains isolated from Sus scrofa in Belgium (B279/95, B440/95), Italy (I001/96, I136/86), and Cyprus (C108/95) belonged to the group 2 cluster. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]