• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.147-165
• /
• 2021

In this work, we empirically evaluated the efficiency of the recent EfficientNetB0 model to identify and diagnose malaria parasite infections in blood smears. The dataset used was collected and classified by relevant experts from the Lister Hill National Centre for Biomedical Communications (LHNCBC). We prepared our samples with minimal image transformations as opposed to others, as we focused more on the feature extraction capability of the EfficientNetB0 baseline model. We applied transfer learning to increase the initial feature sets and reduced the training time to train our model. We then fine-tuned it to work with our proposed layers and re-trained the entire model to learn from our prepared dataset. The highest overall accuracy attained from our evaluated results was 94.70% from fifty epochs and followed by 94.68% within just ten. Additional visualization and analysis using the Gradient-weighted Class Activation Mapping (Grad-CAM) algorithm visualized how effectively our fine-tuned EfficientNetB0 detected infections better than other recent state-of-the-art DCNN models. This study, therefore, concludes that when fine-tuned, the recent EfficientNetB0 will generate highly accurate deep learning solutions for the identification of malaria parasites in blood smears without the need for stringent pre-processing, optimization, or data augmentation of images.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.41 no.1
• /
• pp.89-98
• /
• 2001

This study was conducted to detect the toxoplasma specific-DNA in circulating blood and organs collected from slaughtered pigs at slaughtering house and experimentally infected pigs with Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites by polymerase chain reaction(PCR), and also PCR was applied to diagnose for acute phase of swine toxoplasmosis as a newly developed diagnostic test. The sensitivity of oligonucleotide primer, T-1 & T-2, designed from toxoplasma B1 gene amplification method was compared with Tp parasite detection by mouse inoculation(MI). On the other hand, latex agglutination test(LAT) was conducted to detect the serum antibodies comparing with the detection of toxoplasma by PCR and MI. The results obtained were summarized as follows. PCR was able to determine at the lowest level of $10^0/ml$ T. gondii in blood samples which were blended with a serial diluted T gondii in vitro. On the other hand, $10^2/5g$ of T gondii could detect from a variety of tissues including lung, diaphragm, liver, heart, spleen and brain in vitro. The primer was proved to specifically determine T gondii in blood and tissues in vitro but it did not detect Neospora caninum used as a negative control. DNA of T. gondii was effectively extracted by freezing, thawing and grinding twice both tissues mixed with T gondii in vitro and in experimentally infected pig's tissues. PCR detected specific DNA in the blood of experimentally infected pigs at 108 hrs and 120 hrs post-infection, it was the same time that the pigs showed fever and parasitaemia. In case of tissue, specific DNA was, however, detected only lung from experimentally infected pigs. Even though the duration of acute phase was from 3 to 7 days post-infection, but the latex agglutination test (LAT) results appeared from 8 days post-infection. A comparison of sensitivity in determining T gondii in blood samples between PCR and MI, PCR positive rate ranged from 25 to 33.3%, but that of MI covered from 75 to 100%.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.51-61
• /
• 1977

The smears and tissue sections of organs (liver, lung, kidney, heart, lymph-node, brain) were carried out to compare the detection of parasites in the splenectomized calves artificially infected with B. bigemina and B. argentina, respectively. The results obtained from this experiment were abstracted as follows: 1. In the calves infected with B. argentina the parasites were easily detected by the blood smears and tissue smears but, particularly, the detection of parasites in the kidneys and brain by tissue smears and tissue sections was greater useful. In this experiment, the packing of the parasite-infected red blood cells was found in the capillary vessels of the organs. 2. When the fresh infected-brain was kept at $5^{\circ}C$ refrigerator, Babesia argentina could be detected during 9 days from the brain smears. According to this results, we could do differentiate the parasites from the brain of the dead animal by the doubtful babesiosis in the field. 3. If we use the brain smears and brain sections in order to survey or detect Babesia infections of cattle in Korea, these methods could be worthwhile for the differential diagnosis of B. argentina and B. bigemina.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.307-316
• /
• 1987

This study was conducted to identify Babesia sp. strain isolated from the imported beef cattle, Aberdeen-angus heifers, in J farm of Jangsu Prefecture, Cheon-buk Province of Korea, morphologically, etiologically and serologically. Babesia sp. strain was purely isolated through the serial blood passages of three generations against splenectomized calves and one generation of blood passage against non-splenectomized calf(intact calf) by inhibiting the appearance of Theileria sergenti in the blood stream by means of injection of 20% oil pamaquine intramuscularly. In the splenectomized calves, the parasite multiplied markedly in blood stream soon after inoculation and parasitaemia was much severe. An elevated body temperature, anorexia, severe anaemia and icterus were observed clinically. Of three splenectomized calves, two were affected with haemoglobinuria and died. But in the non-splenectomized calf the clinical signs and parasitaemia were very mild. The means of the incubation period, the highest parasitaemia, the highest body temperature and the lowest PCV were 3.5 days, 41.1%, ${42^{\circ}C}$ and 9%, respectively, in the splenectomized calves. In calf erythrocytes Babesia sp. protozoa were polymorphic showing the round, oval, ameboid, piriform and paired piriform etc. The sizes of protozoa were $2.51{\sim}3.91{\times}1.32{\sim}2.19{{\mu}m}$ ($3.20{\times}1.60{\mu}m$). Serologically the isolated Babesia sp. were compared with other parasites, B. ovata, B. bigemina, B. bovis, T. sergenti, A. marginale and A. centrale by using the complement fixation(CF) test. As a result, the antibody titer between the homologous species were high. It was two tubes or more in the CF test. From the results obtained above the pure isolated Babesia species was identical with Babesia ovata Minami and Ishihara, 1980.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.47 no.1
• /
• pp.53-56
• /
• 2009

The authors report here a rare case of cerebellar schistosomiasis identified by pathological diagnosis, lacking extracranial involvement. The clinical symptoms included headache, dizziness, and nausea. Studies in blood were normal and no parasite eggs were detected in stool. Computed tomography of brains showed hypodense signal, and magnetic resonance imaging showed isointense signal on T1-weighted images, hyperintense signal on T2-weighted images, and intensely enhancing nodules in the right cerebellum after intravenous administration of gadolinium. A high-grade glioma was suspected, and an operation was performed. The pathologic examination of the biopsy specimen revealed schistosomal granulomas scattered within the parenchyma of the cerebellum. The definitive diagnosis was cerebellar schistosomiasis japonica. A standard use of praziquantel and corticosteroid drugs was applied, and the prognosis was good. When the pattern of imaging examinations is present as mentioned above, a diagnosis of brain schistosomiasis should be considered.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.61 no.4
• /
• pp.33.1-33.5
• /
• 2021

This study reports the detection and genotyping of the first clinical case of bovine anemia due to Theileria orientalis group (BATOG) in non-grazed dairy cow in upper South Korea. Blood and serum tests revealed anemia and hyperbilirubinemia from animal showing clinical symptoms, and later confirmed as piroplasmosis-positive. Follow-up surveillance on the herd revealed 2 asymptomatic cows with anemia. The three animals were confirmed theileriosis-positive and genotyping revealed the clinical and one of the asymptomatic cases have Chitose, while the other has Ikeda genotype. Clinical BATOG cases were rarely reported worldwide, and asymptomatic animals left untreated could serve as parasite reservoir.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.42 no.4
• /
• pp.205-208
• /
• 2004

Neutrophils are important effector cells against protozoan extracellular parasite Entamoeba histolytica, which causes amoebic colitis and liver abscess in human beings. Apoptotic cell death of neutrophils is an important event in the resolution of inflammation and parasite's survival in vivo. This study was undertaken to investigate the ultrastructural aspects of apoptotic cells during neutrophil death triggered by Entamoeba histolytica. Isolated human neutrophils from the peripheral blood were incubated with or without live trophozoites of E. histolytica and examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Neutrophils incubated with E. histolytica were observed to show apoptotic characteristics, such as compaction of the nuclear chromatin and swelling of the nuclear envelop. In contrast, neutrophils incubated in the absence of the amoeba had many protrusions of irregular cell surfaces and heterogenous nuclear chromatin. Therefore, it is suggested that Entamoeba-induced neutrophil apoptosis contribute to prevent unwanted tissue inflammation and damage in the amoeba-invaded lesions in vivo.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.53 no.1
• /
• pp.1-11
• /
• 2015

Serine proteases form one of the most important families of enzymes and perform significant functions in a broad range of biological processes, such as intra- and extracellular protein metabolism, digestion, blood coagulation, regulation of development, and fertilization. A number of serine proteases have been identified in parasitic helminths that have putative roles in parasite development and nutrition, host tissues and cell invasion, anticoagulation, and immune evasion. In this review, we described the serine proteases that have been identified in parasitic helminths, including nematodes (Trichinella spiralis, T. pseudospiralis, Trichuris muris, Anisakis simplex, Ascaris suum, Onchocerca volvulus, O. lienalis, Brugia malayi, Ancylostoma caninum, and Steinernema carpocapsae), cestodes (Spirometra mansoni, Echinococcus granulosus, and Schistocephalus solidus), and trematodes (Fasciola hepatica, F. gigantica, and Schistosoma mansoni). Moreover, the possible biological functions of these serine proteases in the endogenous biological phenomena of these parasites and in the host-parasite interaction were also discussed.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.37 no.2
• /
• pp.106-108
• /
• 2020

An eight-month-old, outdoor, intact male English Pointer dog weighing 23.5 kg presented to the hospital with signs of hematochezia, soft stools, and weight-loss. There were no remarkable findings on physical examination, complete blood count, serum biochemistry, electrolyte and gas analysis, and radiography. The serologic and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests for canine parvovirus were negative. A fecal smear examination showed rod-shaped, sporeforming bacteria. Additionally, a fecal flotation test showed ova of Ancylostoma spp. The size of ova was 60 × 40 ㎛, and it was identified as Ancylostoma caninum using light microscopy. The PCR test indicated a Clostridial perfringens infection and the presence of C. perfringens alpha toxin. The diagnosis given was C. perfringens enterotoxicosis with ancylostomiasis. Treatment included antibiotics (metronidazole, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole) and anthelmintics (afoxolaner, milbemycin oxime). After two weeks, the clostridial infection resolved, but ancylostomiasis persisted for six weeks. The anthelmintic was changed to Drontal^â plus (praziquantel/pyrantel pamoate/febantel). After four weeks, there were no remarkable findings in the fecal samples, but the patient still presented with watery stools and hematochezia. Survey of abdominal ultrasound had performed, and a target-like sign with multiple rings was seen in the cecocolic region. The patient was diagnosed with A. caninum-induced cecocolic intussusception from the history and clinical signs. After a surgery, he recovered fully. This is the first clinical case report of Ancylostoma caninum parasitizing from the small intestine and causing an intussusception in the large intestine.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.127-134
• /
• 1994

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, in the present studies golden hamsters were alloted to experiment 1(normal undefinitive host group) and experiment 2(immunosuppressive group treated with prednisolone acetate) and inoculated with a single dose of 1,500 embryonated Ascaris suum eggs. The recovery rates, sizes and features of the larvae and immunological responses in the hamsters were chronologically monitored according to somatic migration. In both experiments, the larvae failed to develop into the adults, but the more and larger larvae were observed for a longer period from experiment 2 in comparison with experiment 1. The numbers of the mast cells in the small intestinal mucosa and mesenteric lymph nodes, of the goblet cells in the small intestinal mucosa and of T-cells in the mesenteric lymph nodes, spleens and cardiac blood from experiment 2 were fewer than those from the experiment 1. In general, increasing of these cells followed by expulsion of the worms in the both groups. Profound leukopenia due to lymphopenia was found through trial period in experiment 2. Considering the experimental results, development or expulsion mechanism of somatic migrant larvae may be related to lymphopenia and temporary increasing tendency of the mast cells, the goblet cells and T-cells. In addition, patent infection of A suum in the hamsters was not obviously observed in spite of immunosuppression by prednisolone acetate.