• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• 제49권3호
• /
• pp.291-294
• /
• 2011

Trichomonas vaginalis is a flagellated lumen-dwelling extracellular protozoan parasite that causes human trichomoniasis via sexual intercourse. Human neutrophils play a crucial role in acute tissue inflammatory responses in T. vaginalis infection. In this study, we investigated the signaling mechanism of neutrophil responses when stimulated with T. vaginalis-derived secretory products (TvSP), which were collected from $1{\times}10^7$ live trichomonads. Incubation of human neutrophils isolated from peripheral blood with TvSP induced up-regulation of IL-8 protein secretion. In addition, stimulation with TvSP induced phosphorylation of NF-${\kappa}B$ and CREB in neutrophils. Moreover, TvSP-induced IL-8 production was also significantly inhibited by pretreatment of neutrophils with $i{\kappa}B$ inhibitor or CREB inhibitor. These results suggest that transcription factors NF-${\kappa}B$ and CREB are involved in IL-8 production in human neutrophils induced by stimulation with T. vaginalis infection.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• 제59권2호
• /
• pp.173-178
• /
• 2021

The DM9 domain is a protein unit of 60-75 amino acids that has been first detected in the fruit fly Drosophila as a repeated motif of unknown function. Recent research on proteins carrying DM9 domains in the mosquito Anopheles gambiae and the oyster Crassostrea gigas indicated an association with the uptake of microbial organisms. Likewise, in the trematode Fasciola gigantica DM9-1 showed intracellular relocalization following microbial, heat and drug stress. In the present research, we show that FgDM9-1 is a lectin with a novel mannose-binding site that has been recently described for the protein CGL1 of Crassostrea gigas. This property allowed FgDM9-1 to agglutinate gram-positive and -negative bacteria with appropriate cell surface glycosylation patterns. Furthermore, FgDM9-1 caused hemagglutination across all ABO blood group phenotypes. It is speculated that the parenchymal located FgDM9-1 has a role in cellular processes that involve the transport of mannose-carrying molecules in the parenchymal cells of the parasite.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• 제60권6호
• /
• pp.419-421
• /
• 2022

To improve our understanding of the migration of sparganum in humans, we report a case of ocular sparganosis having the migratory episode from the muscle cone to the subconjunctiva. A 34-year-old woman was admitted to the Hospital of Anhui Medical University (Hefei, China), in December 2019. She presented with conjunctival hemorrhage and recurrent pain in the left eye. A foreign body was found in the muscle cone of the eye. Two months later, a ribbon-like white material was found under the conjunctiva on slit-lamp examination. A long and slender, actively moving parasite was extracted by surgery. The extracted worm was approximately 8 cm long and 2 mm wide. The worm was whitish, wrinkled, ribbon shaped, and had a slightly enlarged scolex. The worm sample was morphologically identified as a plerocercoid larva (sparganum) of the Spirometra tapeworm. Her conjunctival blood suffusion and eye pain ceased within 1 week after operation. She has been in good health without any symptoms during the 2-year follow-up. A case of ocular sparganosis, in which larval worm migrated from the muscle cone to the subconjunctiva is reported from China.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• 제36권4호
• /
• pp.241-248
• /
• 1998

1993년 외국여행 경험이 없는 말라리아 환자가 발견된 이래 1997년까지 총 2,198명의 환자가 발생하였다. 대부분은 휴전선 근처에서 복무한 군인이었으며, 민간인 환자는 총 650명으로 1994년 3례, 1995년 19례, 1996년 71례, 1997년 557례였다. 그 중 239명은 경기도의 파주, 연천, 김포, 강화, 동두천 및 강원도 철원에서 복무한 경험이 있는 제대군인이었으며, 308명은 유행지역에 거주하는 주민이었다. 72명은 모기 활동기에 유행지역을 방문한 적이 있었으며, 32명은 유행지역에 간 적이 없는 사람이었다. 전체적으로 보아 20대 남자가 가장 많았다. 연중 말라리아 발생지수는 높지 않았지만 1993년 이후 유행지역에서 꾸준히 증가하였다. 한국에서 말라리아는 일년 내내 발생하였으며, 8월에 가장 많았다. 제대군인들의 경우 153일에서 452일에 달하는 지연형 잠복기를 나타냈다. 발병에서 진단에 이르는 시간은 1995년 23.6일에서 1997년 13.7일로 단축되었다. 삼일열말라리아의 발생이 휴전선 부근에서 시각되어 일부 지역에서는 이미 정착되었을 가능성이 높다.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• 제52권1호
• /
• pp.1-7
• /
• 2014

Plasmodium vivax reemerged in the Republic of Korea (ROK) in 1993, and is likely to continue to affect public health. The purpose of this study was to measure levels of anti-P. vivax antibodies using indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) in border areas of ROK, to determine the seroprevalence of malaria (2003-2005) and to plan effective control strategies. Blood samples of the inhabitants in Gimpo-si, Paju-si, and Yeoncheon-gun (Gyeonggi-do), and Cheorwon-gun (Gangwon-do) were collected and kept in Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). Out of a total of 1,774 serum samples tested, the overall seropositivity was 0.94% (n=17). The seropositivity was the highest in Paju-si (1.9%, 7/372), followed by Gimpo-si (1.4%, 6/425), Yeoncheon-gun (0.67%, 3/451), and Cheorwon-gun (0.19%, 1/526). The annual parasite incidence (API) in these areas gradually decreased from 2003 to 2005 (1.69, 1.09, and 0.80 in 2003, 2004, and 2005, respectively). The highest API was found in Yeoncheon-gun, followed by Cheorwon-gun, Paju-si, and Gimpo-si. The API ranking in these areas did not change over the 3 years. The seropositivity of Gimpo-si showed a strong linear relationship with the API of 2005 (r=0.9983, P=0.036). Seropositivity data obtained using IFAT may be useful for understanding malaria prevalence of relevant years, predicting future transmission of malaria, and for establishing and evaluating malaria control programs in affected areas.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• 제63권3호
• /
• pp.545-562
• /
• 2021

A 3 yr experiment was conducted to evaluate the influence of diet and feeding location on animal performance, carcass characteristics, whole blood counts, and internal parasite burden of lambs assigned to 1 of 4 treatments: 1) confinement fed 71% alfalfa, 18% barley pellet, 5% molasses, 0.013% Bovatec, 6.1% vitamin/mineral package diet (CALF), 2) confinement fed 60% barley, 26% alfalfa pellet, 4% molasses, 2.5% soybean-hi pro, 0.016% Bovatec, 7.4% vitamin/mineral package diet (CBAR), 3) field fed 71% alfalfa, 18% barley pellet, 5% molasses, 0.013% Bovatec, 6.1% vitamin/mineral package diet (FALF), and 4) field fed 60% barley, 26% alfalfa pellet, 4% molasses, 2.5% soybean-hi pro, 0.016% Bovatec, 7.4% vitamin/mineral package diet (FBAR). A year × location interaction was detected for ending body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG), and dry matter intake (DMI); therefore results are presented by year. In all years, cost of gain and DMI were greater for CALF and FALF than for CBAR and FBAR feed treatments (p ≤ 0.03). In yr 2 and 3 field treatments had greater ending BW and ADG than confinement treatments. For all years, diet did not affect ending BW or ADG. In yr 1 dressing percent and rib eye area were greater for field finished lambs than confinement finished (p ≤ 0.02) and Warner-Bratzler shear force was greater for CALF and FALF (p = 0.03). In yr 2 lambs in FALF and FBAR treatments had greater leg scores and conformation than CALF and CBAR (p = 0.09). In yr 1, FALF had a greater small intestine total worm count than all other treatments. In yr 1, ending Trichostrongyle type egg counts were greater for FALF (p = 0.05). In yr 2, ending Nematodirus spp. egg counts were greater for FALF and lowest for CBAR (p < 0.01). Abomasum Teladorsagia circumcinta worm burden was greater in CALF than all other treatments (p = 0.07) in yr 2. While field finishing lambs with a grain- or forage-based diet we conclude that it is possible to produce a quality lamb product without adverse effects to animal performance, carcass quality or increasing parasite burdens.

• 대한수의학회지
• /
• 제36권3호
• /
• pp.681-692
• /
• 1996

The present study was conducted to isolate Babesia gibsoni by culture method of the microaerophilous stationary phase(MASP) and analyse the antigenic properties of the parasite by SDS-PAGE and immunoblot. The results obtained were summarized as follows. The protozoan parasite Babesia gibsoni multiplied in canine erythrocytes in RPMI 1640 medium(pH7.0) containing 20 40% normal canine serum under the MASP condition of 5% CO2 and 95% air at $37^{\circ}C$ incubator. The levels of parasitaemia in the erythrocytes were shown more higher by exchanging the medium at 24 hours interval. Under the above condition of MASP, the percentage of parasitized erythrocytes(PPE) after incubation for 8 days increased about 14 times more than that in the initiation of the 1% infected canine erythrocyte culture. The parasites were purely isolated from the MASP culture of red blood cells collected from dogs infected with Babesia gibsoni naturally or artificially. Among the total of 36 canine(Pit-bullterier) blood samples the parasites were isolated from 17 cases(47.2%) in the MASP culture while the parasites were detected from 20 cases(56%) and 12 cases(33.3%), respectively, by indirect fluorescent antibody(IFA) test and direct light microscopy(DLM). On the other hand, Babesia gibsoni was isolated by MASP culture from 15 cases(75%) and 11 cases(92%) of positive cases of IFA and DLM, respectively. In the analysis of the erythrocytic merozoite(AEOM) antigen derived from infected dog approximately 11 antigenic bands in molecular weight of 130, 120, 97.4, 92, 80, 52, 50, 42, 36, 30 and 29 KDa were observed on SDS-PAGE. Antigenic bands in the endoerythrocytic merozoite(CEOM) antigen derived from infected erythrocyte (sediment) in MASP culture were much similar to those of AEOM bands. In the exoerythrocytic merozoite(CEEM) antigen derived from supernatant of the infected erythrocyte culture approximately 20 antigenic bands were observed and the molecular weight of the major bands among these were 140, 120, 114, 105, 96, 93, 92, 80, 60, 52, 50, 38, 36, 30, 24, 18.5 and 16 KDa. In the protein patterns of AEOM and CEOM antigen by immunoblot 15 bands were observed and these patterns were much similar between each other. The molecular weight of the major bands in the both antigens were 130, 120, 80, 60, 52, 50, 42, 30, 29, 18.5 and 16 KDa. Approximately 21 bands were observed in CEEM antigen and the molecular weight of the major bands were 140, 120, 96, 92, 85, 80, 76, 60, 52, 50, 37, 30, 24, 16 and 15 KDa. The specific antigenic bands in the artificially infected dogs were firstly observed at 3 weeks afrer inoculation of infected blood and these antigenic bands were maintained up to 18 months after inoculation. In the immunoblot of the sera of the splenectomized dogs the specific antigenic bands with the molecular weight of 93 KDa and 52 KDa, respectively, were observed weakly comparing to those of non-splenectomized dog. In immunoblot of the sera collected from the naturally infected dogs the antigenic bands were observed as same as those of artificially infected dogs while antigenic band of 29 KDa in some individual dog showed strongly. In comparison of immunoblot of the sera collected from dogs non-treated and treated with diminazene aceturate(7mg/kg, IM) after artificial infection no differences of antigenic bands were observed. In analysis of antigenic bands by digoxigenin glycan/protein double labeling, antigenic bands in the molecular weight of 106, 60 58, 36, 30 and 29 KDa were determined as glycoproteins.

• 한국미생물·생명공학회지
• /
• 제33권2호
• /
• pp.148-153
• /
• 2005

말라리아는 세계적으로 다시 발생하는 감염성 질환으로 모기에 의해 옮겨지는 말라리아 원충에 의해서 발병한다. 말라리아 원충을 검출하기 위하여 혈액 도말법 등 여러 가지 정량적인 assay가 활용 되고 있다. Real time PCR 은 반응이 일어나는 동안 PCR 산물의 생성을 계속적으로 모니터링 할 수 있는 방법으로서 최근 많은 환자들의 말라리아 원충을 한번에 탐지 하는데 적용되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 말라리아 원충 중 한국에서 질환을 일으키는 Plasmodium vivax를 탐지하기 위해 26명의 환자 혈액에서 분리 정제한 genomic DNA를 가지고 SYBR Green based-real time PCR을 수행하였다. 특히, 기존의 real time PCR에 사용한 18S rRNA와는 달리 DBP 유전자를 사용하여 새로운 말라리아 검출방법을 정량적이면서도 간편하고 경제적인 방법으로 개발하였다. 특히, real time PCR로 나온 결과를 임상적인 titer로 바꾸어 주기 위해서 reference 유전자로는 말라리아 환자의 상태와 관계없이 ACTB이 안정하다는 것을 real time PCR로 입증하였고 ACTB 유전자를 reference 유전자로 사용하였다. 본 연구에서는 real time PCR assay에 DBP라는 유전자를 처음 사용하였을 뿐 아니라 titer 보정을 위한 reference 유전자, ACTB를 real time PCR assay을 통해 확보하여 더 정확한 titer 값을 얻고자 했다. 이런 결과를 바탕으로 Taqman based-real time PCR과 본 연구의 결과를 정량비교를 하였다. 특히, 26명의 말라리아 환자 샘플을 3 group(Group I, II, III)로 나누어서 그 결과 정량적인 경향성 일치를 나타내었다. 특히, 높은 titer을 갖는 말라리아 샘플(Group I)에서 가장 많은 정량적인 차이를 보였지만, 간편하고 경제적인 SYBR Green-based real time PCR을 이용하여 DBP 유전자를 증폭하는 새로운 방법으로 말라리아를 Semi-quantitative 하게 검출할 수 있음을 보였다.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• 제55권2호
• /
• pp.207-212
• /
• 2017

Infections of Toxoplasma gondii and Babesia microti are reported in many wild animals worldwide, but information on their incidence and molecular detection in Korean wild fields is limited. In this study, the prevalence of T. gondii and B. microti infection in blood samples of 5 animal species (37 Chinese water deer, 23 raccoon dogs, 6 roe deer, 1 wild boar, and 3 Eurasian badgers) was examined during 2008-2009 in Gangwon-do (Province), the Republic of Korea (=Korea) by using serological and molecular tests. The overall seropositivity of T. gondii was 8.6% (6/70); 10.8% in Chinese water deer, 4.3% in raccoon dogs, and 16.7% in roe deer. PCR revealed only 1 case of T. gondii infection in Chinese water deer, and phylogenic analysis showed that the positive isolate was practically identical to the highly pathogenetic strain type I. In B. microti PCR, the positive rate was 5.7% (4/70), including 2 Chinese water deer and 2 Eurasian badgers. Phylogenetic analysis results of 18S rRNA and the ${\beta}$-tubulin gene showed that all positive isolates were US-type B. microti. To our knowledge, this is the first report of B. microti detected in Chinese water deer and Eurasian badger from Korea. These results indicate a potentially high prevalence of T. gondii and B. microti in wild animals of Gangwon-do, Korea. Furthermore, Chinese water deer might act as a reservoir for parasite infections of domestic animals.

• 한국어병학회지
• /
• 제11권1호
• /
• pp.51-60
• /
• 1998

본 연구는 내수면 양식 어류에 백점충, Ichthyophthirius multifiliis를 인위 감염시켜 감염 특성 및 어체내 충체 발달상을 밝히고자 하였다. 어종별(무지개 송어, 메기, 이스라엘 잉어), 수온별($15^{\circ}C$, $18^{\circ}C$, $21^{\circ}C$) 및 충체 발달 단계별(trophont, protomont, theront) 인위 감염 시험 결과, 어종별로는 무지개 송어 시험구에서, 수온별로는 $18^{\circ}C$ 시험구에서 그리고 충체 발달 단계별로는 theront 시험구에서 양성적인 인위 감염을 확인할 수 있었다. 그리고 theront 농도별에 있어서는 어체당 1000개체의 theront가 감염을 양성적으로 유도할 수 있는 것으로 조사되었으며 어체당 1500개체 이상의 theront는 무지개 송어치어에 100%의 감염을 유도하였다. 수온 $18^{\circ}C$의 인위 감염된 무지개 송어에서 7일 동안 어체내 충체의 발달 과정을 조사한 결과, 충체는 시간이 경과함에 따라 연속적인 발달을 행하여 크기가 증대되었으며 감염 3일째부터는 성숙되는 것으로 확인되었다. 그리고 총체의 형태학적 변화는 감염 2일째에는 구부장치가 기능적으로 발달하기 시작한 것을 볼 수 있었고, 감염 4일째부터는 수축포가 현저히 발달되기 시작하였으며 감염 6일째는 이들의 수가 현저히 증가한 것을 확인할 수 있었다. 그리고 감염 기간이 경과함에 따라 충체는 숙주의 아가미 일차 새변의 입새 동맥쪽으로 이동하는 경향을 나타내었다.