• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.561-569
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• 2015

Schistosomiasis and intestinal worm infections are widespread diseases of public health importance in Tanzania. A study on perceptions and practices related to schistosomiasis and intestinal worm infections was undertaken among a community population of Kome Island in Sengerema District, north-western Tanzania, where intestinal schistosomiasis and intestinal worm infections are endemic. Schistosomiasis and intestinal worm-related perceptions and practices were assessed before and 3 years after implementation of a participatory hygiene and sanitation transformation (PHAST) intervention as a control measure. Data were obtained from baseline and post-intervention knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) questionnaire surveys conducted twice in 2009 and 2012 among 82 individuals aged ${\geq}15years$. We found significant increases in respondents' knowledge of the cause, transmission, symptoms, health consequences, and prevention of schistosomiasis and intestinal worm infections after PHAST intervention. The increase in respondents' knowledge on almost all aspects of the said infections was translated into actions to control schistosomiasis and intestinal worm infections. This has not been achieved by chance, but due to well-designed and locally-adapted PHAST intervention. We conclude that despite criticisms, PHAST approach is still useful in empowering communities to control water, sanitation, and hygiene related infectious diseases such as schistosomiasis and intestinal worm infections.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.545-551
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• 2015

Schistosomiasis is one of the important neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in Tanzania, particularly in Lake Victoria zone. This baseline survey was a part of the main study of integrated control of schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) aimed at describing morbidity patterns due to intestinal schistosomiasis among adults living on Kome Island, Sengerema District, Tanzania. Total 388 adults from Kome Islands (about 50 people from each village) aged between 12 and 85 years, were examined by abdominal ultrasound according to the Niamey protocol. Liver image patterns (LIPs) A and B were considered normal, and C-F as distinct periportal fibrosis (PPF). The overall prevalence of PPF was 42.2%; much higher in males than in females (47.0% in male vs 34.4% in females, P=0.007). Abnormal increase of segmental branch wall thickness (SBWT) and dilated portal vein diameter (PVD) were also more common in males than in females. Hepatosplenomegaly was frequently encountered; 68.1% had left liver lobe hepatomegaly and 55.2% had splenomegaly. Schistosoma mansoni-related morbidity is quite high among adults in this community justifying the implementation of integrated control strategies through mass drug administration, improved water supply (pumped wells), and health education that had already started in the study area.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.451-456
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• 2019

Adult specimens of Echinochasmus caninus n. comb. (Verma, 1935) (Trematoda: Echinostomatidae) (syn. Episthmium caninum Yamaguti, 1958) were recovered from 11 riparian people who resided along the Mekong River in Khammouane Province, Lao PDR. In fecal examinations done by the Kato-Katz technique, the cases revealed eggs of Opisthorchis viverrini/minute intestinal flukes, hookworms, and in 2 cases echinostome eggs. To recover the adult helminths, praziquantel 30-40 mg/kg and pyrantel pamoate 10-15 mg/kg in a single dose were given and purged with magnesium salts. Various species of trematodes (including O. viverrini and Haplorchis spp.), cestodes, and nematodes were recovered from their diarrheic stools. Among the trematodes, small echinostome flukes (n=42; av. 3.8 specimens per case) of 0.7-1.2 mm in length are subjected in this study. They are morphologically characterized by having 24 collar spines interrupted dorsally and anterior extension of vitellaria from the cirrus sac or genital pore level to the posterior end of the body. Particularly based on this extensive distribution of vitellaria, the specific diagnosis was made as Echinochasmus caninus. The cases were co-infected with various other helminth parasites; thus, clinical manifestations specific for this echinostome infection were difficult to determine. The present paper describes for the first time human E. caninus infections in Lao PDR. Our cases marked the 4-14th human infections with this echinostome around the world following the 3 previous cases reported from Thailand.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.61 no.1
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• pp.15-28
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• 2022

Neuropeptides produced in neurosecretory cells are the largest group of insect hormones. They regulate various physiological functions, such as fat body homeostasis, feeding, digestion, excretion, circulation, reproduction, metamorphosis, and behavior throughout all life stages. The PRXamide peptide family (X, a variable amino acid) is a well-characterized neuropeptide component with a common amino acid sequence, PRXamide (NH₂), at the C-terminal end conserved across Insecta. The PRXamide peptides are classified into three subfamilies, each having diverse biological roles in insects: (1) pyrokinin (PK) includes the pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN) and the diapause hormone (DH), (2) the capability (CAPA) peptides, and (3) the ecdysis-triggering hormone (ETH). PBAN as a member of PK subfamily was first identified to stimulate pheromone biosynthesis in moths three decades ago. Since then, PBAN peptides have been extensively studied by various research groups from a broad spectrum of arthropods. In this paper, we briefly review insect PBAN molecules with emphasis on gene structure and expression, signal transduction, physiological mechanism in sex pheromone biosynthesis, and application for pest management.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.875-890
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• 2021

In order to confirm the safety of a genetically modified organism (GMO), we assess its potential toxicity on non-target insects and spiders. In this study, the effects of GM soybean, a type of vitamin-A-enhanced transgenic soybean with tolerance to the herbicide glufosinate, were assessed under a field condition. The study compared this vitamin-A-enhanced transgenic soybean and a non-GM soybean (Gwangan) in a living modified organism (LMO) isolated field of Kyungpook National University (Gunwi) and the National Institute Agricultural Sciences (Jeonju) in the Republic of Korea in 2019 - 2020. In total, 207,760 individual insects and arachnids, representing 81 families and 13 orders, were collected during the study. From the two types of soybean fields, corresponding totals of 105,765 and 101,995 individuals from the vitamin-A-enhanced transgenic soybean and Gwangan samples areas were collected. An analysis of variance indicated no significant differences (p < 0.05). A multivariate analysis showed that the dominance and richness outcomes of plant-dwelling insects were similar. The data on insect species population densities were subjected to a principal component analysis (PCA) and an orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA), which did not distinguish between the two varieties, i.e., the vitamin-A-enhanced transgenic soybean and the non-GM soybean in any cultivated field. However, the results of the PCA analysis could be divided overall into four groups based on the yearly survey areas. Therefore, there was no evidence for the different impact of vitamin A-enhanced transgenic soybean on the above-ground insects and spiders compared to non-GM soybean.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.185-198
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• 2016

Korea has put in significant efforts to increase the number of wildlife crossings between fragmented habitats to prevent loss of biodiversity and to encourage the habitat connectivity in Korea. However, there is a lack of biological data on the effect of vegetation structure in these wildlife crossings and guidelines for design and management of wildlife crossing structures in Korea. Therefore, we selected ground beetle assemblages as model organisms to compare the effect of vegetation structure in wildlife crossings, i.e. bare ground- and shrub-type corridors, in agro-forested landscapes. For this study, 4,207 ground beetles belonging to 33 species were collected through pitfall trapping along the northern forest-corridor-southern forest transects from late April to early September in 2015. Dominant species, abundance, and species richness of ground beetles were significantly higher in the shrub-type corridors than the bare ground-type corridors. Also, the species composition of bare ground-type corridor was significantly different compared to the other habitats such as shrub-type corridor and forests. Similarly, environmental variables were also influenced by vegetation management regimes or trap locations. Collectively, our study clearly indicates that the movement of forest associated ground beetles between forest patches can increase as the vegetation in wildlife crossings becomes complex. Although further studies are needed to verify this, there are indications that the current wildlife crossings that comply with the guidelines may be unfriendly to the movement of ground dwelling arthropods as well as ground beetles. To enhance the ecological function of wildlife crossings, the guidelines need to be rectified as follows: 1) Shrubs or trees should be planted along the corridor verges to provide refuge or movement paths for small mammals and ground dwelling arthropods, and 2) Open spaces should be provided in the middle of the corridors to be used as a path for the movement of large mammals.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.87 no.4
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• pp.571-576
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• 1998

Experiments were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of the application of low concentration insecticides by sprinkler system for control of the pine needle gall midge, Thecodiplasis japonensis, by killing the adults emerging and copulating near the ground. For ground spray, 2 insecticides of fenitrothion and deltamethrin, dilutions of $2,000{\times}$ and $3,000{\times}$ deltamethrin, and 3 spray intervals of 1-3 day were tested at the peak time of adult emergence during the day time. The results are as follows ; 1. Ground spray of fenitrothion 50% EC and deltamethrin 1% EC were found to be highly effective for control of the pine needle gall midge. Average gall formation by fenitrothion, deltamethrin and untreated ones were 3.40%, 5.23% and 45.69%, respectively ; control value of both insecticides exceeded 88%. 2. As a ground spray of deltamethrin 1% EC, dilution $2,000{\times}$ was significantly different from $3,000{\times}$ in gall formation rates. Average gall formation of $2,000{\times}$ plots and $3,000{\times}$ treated ones were 5.23% and 18.00% ; control values were 89.44% and 63.66%, respectively. 3. Diurnal treatment of ground spray was found to be highly effective for control of pine needle gall midge. 4. In particular, control by ground application of dilutions $2,000{\times}$ and $3,000{\times}$ of deltamethrin is suggested because it does not have an adverse effect on arthropods of the ground surface such as ants and spiders.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.39-45
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• 2012

To explore on the defense strategies against hervivory of 67 broadleaved tree species, morphological characteristics of the leaf, leaf domatia structure and the number, herbivores insects and mites on the leaves, collected from the trees growing in Taean-gun, Chuncheongnam-do were investigated. 46 broadleaved tree species(68.7%) had the domatia structures, and 21 species including Quercus salicina and Magnolia grandiflora did not. 31 species including Juglans mandshurica and Carpinus laxiflora reveals tuft type, 12 species including Quercus dentata and Corylus heterophylla reveals pocket+tuft type, and 2 species, Sorbus alnifolia and Prunus yedoensis does pocket type, and Viburnum odoratissimum var. awabuki does pouch type. Domatia number per leaf proves the highest figures, 23.4/leaf for Quercus dentata. Plant defense strategies using leaf lower-surface trichomes of Magnolia grandiflora reveals dense villous, those of Populus alba and Vitis vinifera reveals dense pilose, that of Elaeagnus umbellata does dense scaly hairs, that of Pueraria lobata does dense strigose. Plant defense strategies using extrafloral nectaries were adapted 23 tree species(34.3%). Observed examples are Prunus tomentosa, Ficus carica, Viburnum dilatatum and Carpinus laxiflora. Predatory mites were observed on the leaves of 40 tree species(59.7%), and mean values of predatory mites was highest values 23.4/leaf in Quercus dentata. Minute arthropods destroying the leaf of broadleaved trees. are such as Periphyllus californiensis, P. viridis, Diaspididae sp., gall mites, thrips, and total numbers observed were odered gall mites, Diaspididae sp., aphids and thrips. Natural enemies of these hervivores arthropods are such as predatory mites, Chilocorus rubidus, Coccinella septempunctata and the nymph, Aphidius ervi. These results indicate that defense strategies including protective mutualisms may be frequent in the temperate broadleave trees.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.206-211
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• 2014

Anaplasmosis is a rickettsial zoonosis mediated by blood-sucking arthropods, such as ticks, flies, and mosquitos. Migratory birds are common hosts of ticks that are mediators of anaplasmosis, in particular, the tick infection rate in thrushes (family Turdidae) has been known to be high. The main purpose of this study is to survey the occurrence and prevalence of Anaplasma spp. from the migratory thrushes in Jeju island. We collected blood samples from 6 thrushes rescued at the Jeju Wildlife Rescue Center and from 34 wild-caught thrushes on Mara island which is a satellite island of Jeju. As a result, the nested PCR confirmed that seven out of 40 individuals (17.5%) were infected by Anaplasma spp. and all of them were identified as A. phagocytophilum based on sequences obtained from partial 16S rRNA. All the infected birds were on their northward migration in spring, our results suggest that the Turdidae family, which is a common and abundant migrant group passing through Jeju island, may act a role as active reservoir and disperser of A. phagocytophilum causing potential influx of the zoonotic pathogens from its wintering grounds in lower latitude to the mainland Korea as well as Jeju.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.177-188
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• 2016

The alpha-proteobacterium Wolbachia is one of the most important intracellular symbionts of arthropods. This Gram-negative bacterium is involved in many biological processes and is currently considered as a potential tool for biological control. Wolbachia is a cytoplasmic bacterium, maternally transferred through generations, and to facilitate its success, it has evolved several strategies that manipulate its host reproductive system to increase the number of infected individuals in the host population. The variety of Wolbachia was first recognized using genes wsp, 16S rRNA, ftsZ, gltA and groEL as molecular markers while strain genotypes of Wolbachia are determined of Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and sequence of amino acid in region, hyper variable regions (HVRs) in protein WSP. Possible uses of the bacteria and their predominant phenotypes in control programs for agricultural pests and human disease vectors have been considered. Phenotypes are known to induce cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI), parthenogenesis induction (PI), feminization (F) and male killing (MK). Finally, applications of the bacterium in control programs of agricultural and medical insect pests have been discussed.