• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.679-691
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• 1993

As a series of studies to investigate the effect of immunosuppression on Ascaris suum infection in undefinitive hosts, a delicate relationship between host and parasite, rabbits were divided into experiment 1(control group) and experiment 2(immnunosuppressive group treated with prednisolone acetate) and inoculated with a single dose of 5,000 embryonated A suum eggs. The recovery rates, sizes and morphology of the larvae and immunological responses in the rabbits were chronologically monitored according to somatic migration. In both experiments, the larvae failed to develop into the adults, but young adults in the experiment 2 grew somewhat faster and survied later than those in the experiment 1. The mast cells of small intestinal mucosa and mesenteric lymph nodes and the goblet cells of small intestinal mucosa in the worm detected cases of experiment 2 decreased remarkably in number comparing with those of experiment 1. Considering the experimental results. the expulsion mechanism of somatic migrant larvae may he related to the temporary increasing tendency of the mast cells, the goblet cells, T-cells of mesenteric lymph nodes and spleens, eosinophils in peripheral blood, degranulation rates of peritoneal mast cells and the migration inhibition rates of leucocytes. In addition, patent infection of A suum in the rabbits was not obviously observed despite of immunosuppression by prednisolone acetate.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.57 no.6
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• pp.587-593
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• 2019

Excavation (2008-2014) carried out under the Uffizi Gallery (Florence, Italy) led to the discovery of 75 individuals, mostly buried in multiple graves. Based on Roman minted coins, the graves were preliminarily dated between the second half of the 4th and the beginning of the 5th centuries CE. Taphonomy showed that this was an emergency burial site associated with a catastrophic event, possibly an epidemic of unknown etiology with high mortality rates. In this perspective, paleoparasitological investigations were performed on 18 individuals exhumed from 9 multiple graves to assess the burden of gastrointestinal parasitism. Five out of eighteen individuals (27.7%) tested positive for ascarid-type remains; these are considered as "decorticated" Ascaris eggs, which have lost their outer mammillated coat. Roundworms (genus Ascaris) commonly infest human populations under dire sanitary conditions. Archaeological and historical evidence indicates that Florentia suffered a period of economic crisis between the end of 4th and the beginning of the 5th centuries CE, and that the aqueduct was severely damaged at the beginning of the 4th century CE, possibly during the siege of the Goths (406 CE). It is more than plausible that the epidemic, possibly coupled with the disruption of the aqueduct, deeply affected the living conditions of these individuals. A 27.7% frequency suggests that ascariasis was widespread in this population. This investigation exemplifies how paleoparasitological information can be retrieved from the analysis of sediments sampled in cemeteries, thus allowing a better assessment of the varying frequency of parasitic infections among ancient populations.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.59 no.4
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• pp.329-339
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• 2021

Ion channels are important targets of anthelmintic agents. In this study, we identified 3 types of ion channels in Ascaris suum tissue incorporated into planar lipid bilayers using an electrophysiological technique. The most frequent channel was a large-conductance cation channel (209 pS), which accounted for 64.5% of channels incorporated (n=60). Its open-state probability (P_o) was ~0.3 in the voltage range of -60~+60 mV. A substate was observed at 55% of the main-state. The permeability ratio of Cl^- to K⁺ (P_Cl/P_K) was ~0.5 and P_Na/P_K was 0.81 in both states. Another type of cation channel was recorded in 7.5% of channels incorporated (n=7) and discriminated from the large-conductance cation channel by its smaller conductance (55.3 pS). Its Po was low at all voltages tested (~0.1). The third type was an anion channel recorded in 27.9% of channels incorporated (n=26). Its conductance was 39.0 pS and P_Cl/P_K was 8.6±0.8. P_o was ~1.0 at all tested potentials. In summary, we identified 2 types of cation and 1 type of anion channels in Ascaris suum. Gating of these channels did not much vary with voltage and their ionic selectivity is rather low. Their molecular nature, functions, and potentials as anthelmintic drug targets remain to be studied further.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.233-238
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• 2007

Intestinal helminths and schistosomiasis among school children were investigated in an urban and some rural communities of Ogun State, southwest Nigeria. Fecal samples of 1,059 subjects (524 males, 535 females) aged 3-18 years were examined using direct smear and brine concentration methods between June 2005 and November 2006. The pooled prevalence of infection was 66.2%. Ascaris lumbricoides showed the highest prevalence (53.4%) (P < 0.001) followed by hookworms (17.8%), Trichuris trichiura (10.4%), Taenia sp. (9.6%), Schistosoma mansoni (2.3%), Strongyloides stercoralis (0.7%), Schistosoma haematobium (0.6%), and Enterobius vermicularis (0.3%). The prevalences of A. lumbricoides, hookworms, Taenia sp., S. mansoni, and S. stercoralis in the urban centre were similar (P > 0.05) to those in the rural communities. The fertile and infertile egg ratios of A. lumbricoides in the urban centre and the rural communities were 13: 1 and 3.7: 1, respectively. Each helminth had similar prevalences among both genders (P > 0.05). The prevalence of A. lumbricoides increased significantly with age (P < 0.001). The commonest double infections were Ascaris and hookworms, while the commonest triple infections were Ascaris, hookworms, and Trichuris. The study demonstrates the need for urgent intervention programmes against intestinal helminthiases and schistosomiasis in the study area.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.8-12
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• 1963

The piperazine salts with 24 kinds of phenols and 6 kinds of organic carboxylic acids were prepared. The test of anthelmintic effect against Ascaris suilla, in vitro, for Hexachlorophene-piperazine salt, Bithionol-piperazine salt, Kainic acid-piperazine salt were also carried out compared with piperazine, Hexachlorophene, Bithionol and Kainic acid.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.427-431
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• 1993

Rectal fecal samples from zebu cattle (Bos indicus) at Savar, Dhaka, were collected in every two months of the year from March, 1987 to February, 1988 and were examined using Stoll's dilution technique. Out of a total of 737 fecal samples examined in six periods, 589 (79.9%) samples were found to be positive for one or more helminths. Overall prevalences for fasciola, paramphistome, schistosome, strongylids, ascaris, strongyloides, trichuris and capillaria infestations were respectively 19.5%, 48.0%, 5.9%, 52.2%, 1.5%, 2.5%, 5.5% and 12.7%. Prevalences of fasciola, paramphistome and schistosome infestations were significantly (p<0.01) higher from middle of August to December. Strogylids, trichuris and capillaria infestations were significantly (p<0.01) higher from July to October, although strongylids infestation also increased during January-February. Significantly (p<0.01) higher fasciola and paramphistome infestations were observed in animals after one year of age, whereas strongylids, ascaris, strongyloides and trichuris infestations were significantly (p<0.01) higher in cattle upto one year of age. Fasciola infestation was significantly (p<0.01) higher in female cattle and significantly (p<0.05) higher strongylids infestation was found in males.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.1-4
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• 1975

The law prohibits use of human excreta without proper treatment since 1968 in Korea, but the rate of infection of parasitic diseases is high among all ages of people. An examination of parasitic eggs in soil and vegetables was performed from April to September, 1974, soil samples were collected near toilet, at gardens, at vegetable farms with excreta used and not used, and strawberry farms in Shindong myon, Chunseong-gun, Kangwon province, and vegetables collected were cabbage, young radish, lettuce, Welshonion, spinach and strawberry. Main findings are as follows 1. Positive samples of Ascaris lumbricoides are 18 out of 25(64%) in the soils near toilet, 9 out of 28(3.2%) in the garden soils and 8 out of 18(44%) in the soils of vegetable farms. 2. Trichocephalus trichiurus and Enterobius vermicularis were detected in 8 soil samples respectively Trichostrongylus orientalis 7(25%) and Ancylostoma duodenale 3(11%) out of in the soils near toilets. 3. Parasitic egg negatives are 62(55%) out of 112 soil samples. 4. Ascaris lumbricoides is found in 11 roots(48%) of cabbage and young radish out of 23 respectively, 14 lettuce(34%) out of 41,4 Welsh onion(40%) out of 10,3 spinach(33%) out of 9, and 2 strawberry(11%) out of 18. 5. Ancylostoma duodenale positives are 2 roots of cabbage(9%) out of 23, 4 young radish (17%) out of 23, and 7 lettuce(17%) out of 41, and negatives of parasitic eggs on vegetables are 62 roots(51%) out of 124 samples.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.569-573
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• 2014

In a paleo-parasitological analysis of soil samples obtained from V-shaped pits dating to the ancient Baekje period in Korean history, we discovered Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, and Clonorchis sinensis eggs. In light of the samples' seriously contaminated state, the V-shaped pits might have served as toilets, cesspits, or dung heaps. For a long period of time, researchers scouring archaeological sites in Korea have had difficulties locating such structures. In this context then, the present report is unique because similar kind of the ancient ruins must become an ideal resource for successful sampling in our forthcoming paleoparasitological studies.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.489-492
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• 2013

A paleoparasitological survey to detect helminth eggs was performed in archaeological sites of Jeolla-do and Jeju-do, the Republic of Korea. Total 593 soil samples were collected in 12 sites of Jeolla-do and 5 sites of Jeju-do from April to November 2011, and examined by the methods of Pike and coworkers. A total of 4 helminth eggs, 2 eggs each for Trichuris trichiura and Ascaris sp., were found in soil samples from 1 site, in Hyangyang-ri, Jangheung-eup, Jangheung-gun, Jeollanam-do. The egg-recovery layer was presumed to represent a 19th century farm, which fact suggested the use of human manures. This is the third archaeological discovery of parasite eggs in Jeolla-do. Additionally, no helminth eggs in archaeological sites of Jeju-do is an interesting problem to be solved in the further investigations.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.265-268
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• 2006

The present authors investigated intestinal parasitic infections among North Korean residents and refugees in China in 2003. The Kato-Katz method was applied to 236 residents and soldiers in a town on the North Korea-China border and to 46 people at a refugee camp in China. Only eggs of Ascaris and Trichuris were detected, with egg positive rates of 41.1 % and 37.6%, respectively. The total egg positive rate was 55.0% and most of those who were egg positive were only lightly infected. Women of 61.2% and men of 53.1 % were egg positive. The refugees from rural areas showed higher egg positive rates than those from urban areas. The present investigation confirmed high prevalence of soil-transmitted intestinal helminths in rural borderline areas of North Korea.