• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제50권4호
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• pp.281-286
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• 2012

Helminthic infections afflict over 1.5 billion people worldwide, while Mycobacterium tuberculosis infects one third of the world's population, resulting in 2 million deaths per year. Although tuberculosis and helminthic infections coexist in many parts of the world, and it has been demonstrated that the T-helper 2 and T-regulatory cell responses elicited by helminths can affect the ability of the host to control mycobacterial infection, it is still unclear whether helminth infections in fact affect tuberculosis disease. In this review article, current progress in the knowledge about the immunomodulation induced by helminths to diminish the protective immune responses to bacille Calmette-Guerin vaccination is reviewed, and the knowledge about the types of immune responses modulated by helminths and the consequences for tuberculosis are summarized. In addition, recent data supporting the significant reduction of both M. tuberculosis antigen-specific Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2 and TLR9 expression, and pro-inflammatory cytokine responses to TLR2 and TLR9 ligands in individuals with M. tuberculosis and helminth co-infection were discussed. This examination will allow to improve understanding of the immune responses to mycobacterial infection and also be of great relevance in combating human tuberculosis.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제52권1호
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• pp.51-56
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• 2014

The prevalence of helminthic infections was surveyed on a total of 6,178 residents (males 2,549 and females 3,629) in 102 villages of 9 provinces in Lao PDR between 2007 and 2011 under the project of Korea-Laos Collaborative Project for Control of Foodborne Trematode Infections in Lao PDR. Fecal specimens were collected and examined by the Kato-Katz thick smear and Stoll's egg counting techniques. The overall liver/intestinal helminth egg positive rate was 71.9% with a single or mixed infections with Opisthorchis viverrini and minute intestinal flukes (Ov/MIF), Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworms, Trichuris trichiura, Trichostrongylus sp., echinostomes, Taenia spp., and others. Ov/MIF revealed the highest prevalence (55.6%) followed by hookworms (27.8%) and T. trichiura (6.5%). The endemic regions with the highest prevalence of Ov/MIF were Savannakhet, Khammouane, Vientiane (Nam Ngum), Champasak (Khong Island), and Saravane Province. High prevalences of A. lumbricoides (33.8%), hookworms (47.8%), and T. trichiura (32.6%) were observed in Phongsaly, Luang Prabang, and Vientiane (Nam Ngum) areas, respectively. The results of this study highlight helminth parasites of current public health significance in different areas of Lao PDR.

• Annals of Geriatric Medicine and Research
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• 제22권4호
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• pp.200-203
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• 2018

Strongyloides stercoralis is an intestinal nematode that occurs sporadically in temperate areas like Korea. People who are in the immunosuppressed state, over the age of 65 or under the corticosteroid therapy are at risk for developing Strongyloides hyperinfection syndrome. Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) with alveolar hemorrhage is a rare presentation of Strongyloides hyperinfection. A 78-year-old man had been irregularly injected corticosteroid on his knees, but did not have any immunosuppressive disease. He was initially diagnosed with ARDS and septic shock. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid was bloody and its cytology revealed helminthic larvae identified as S. stercoralis. Results of Cytomegalovirus polymerase chain reaction (PCR), Pneumocystis jirovecii PCR, and Aspergillus antigen testing of the BAL fluid were positive. The clinical progress quickly deteriorated with multiple organ failure, shock and arrhythmia, so he finally died. This is a rare case of ARDS in an older patient without any known immunosuppressive conditions, with alveolar hemorrhage and S. stercoralis being found via BAL.

• 농촌의학ㆍ지역보건
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.275-285
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• 1998

간흡충(Clonorchis sinensis), 폐흡충(Paragonimus westermani), 스팔가눔(sparganum), 뇌낭미충(Cysticercus cellulosae), 아니사키스(Anisakis spp.), 선모충(Trichinella spiralis), 개화충(Toxocara canis)에 대한 IgG항체반응을 ELISA를 이용하여 연변지역주민의 혈청역학적 조사를 시행하고 그 결과를 PC-SAS 시스템으로 통계분석하여 다음과 같은 결과를 얻었다. 1995년 10월부터 1997년 6월 사이에 수집된 총 975명의 혈청에 대한 검사결과 23.87%에서 한 종류이상의 혈청항체 양상을 나타내였다. 이중 간흡충증은 5.74%, 폐흡충증은 4.92%, 낭미충증은 1.54%, 스팔가눔증은 8.51%, 아니사키스증은 1.85%, 개회충증은 12.51%, 선모충증은 7.08%의 혈청항체 양성률을 나타내었다. 판정된 양성혈청을 통계분석한 결과 간흡충(p<0.01), 혜흡충(p<0.01), 아니사키스(p<0.05), 개회충(p<0.01), 선모충(p<0.01)의 각 연령그룹비교에서 통계학적으로 유의한 차이를 나타내었고 스팔가눔증은 성별 사이에 유의한 차이가 보였다(p<0.05). 간흡충과 폐흡충은 50대 연령층에서 높은 양성항체가를 나타내는 반면 개회충과 선모충은 20대에서 높은 항체가를 보여주었다. 또한 내과질병으로 않고 있는 환자혈청은 낭미충증을 제외한 6종류 윤충류에서 정상대조인과 비교하여 볼 때 모두 통계학적으로 유의한 차이를 나타내었다(p<0.05 혹은 p<0.01). 즉 환자가 정상대조인보다 혈청양성률이 훨씬 높았다. 이상의 결과는 물론 선충사이의 교차반응이 있을거라고 추측되며 정확한 진단을 위해서는 EITB를 시행해야 한다고 생각한다. 이번 조사는 중국 연변에서 처음으로 되는 혈청역학조사이며 앞으로 기생충진환 퇴치대책에 아주 중요한 기초자료가 될 수 있을 것으로 생각한다.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제51권6호
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• pp.651-656
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• 2013

Human schistosomiasis caused by Schistosoma japonicum and Schistosoma mekongi is a chronic and debilitating helminthic disease still prevalent in several countries of Asia. Due to morphological similarities of cercariae and eggs of these 2 species, microscopic differentiation is difficult. High resolution melting (HRM) real-time PCR is developed as an alternative tool for the detection and differentiation of these 2 species. A primer pair was designed for targeting the 18S ribosomal RNA gene to generate PCR products of 156 base pairs for both species. The melting points of S. japonicum and S. mekongi PCR products were $84.5{\pm}0.07^{\circ}C$ and $85.7{\pm}0.07^{\circ}C$, respectively. The method permits amplification from a single cercaria or an egg. The HRM real-time PCR is a rapid and simple tool for differentiation of S. japonicum and S. mekongi in the intermediate and final hosts.

• 셀메드
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• 제9권4호
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• pp.9.1-9.4
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• 2019

Ayurveda is one of the ancient systems of traditional medicine in India, however, there is a lack of proper scientific research and controlled studies on efficacy and toxicity of several Ayurvedic formulations using the methods of modern science, which hinders the proper development of Ayurveda, both in India and abroad. The present study was undertaken to further corroborate the efficacy of some popular anthelmintic Ayurvedic medicines, as evident by the pharmacological effects of Ayurvedic formulations on body surface of a cestode parasite. This study employed a common intestinal cestode of domestic fowl, Raillietina sp., as a model parasite, that was exposed in vitro to different concentrations of three common Indian Ayurvedic anthelmintic drugs, namely Krimimudgar Ras, Kriminol and Vidangasava, and also to a modern anthelmintic drug, praziquantel (PZQ). After the paralysis of parasites, the specimens from the highest drug-treated concentration (50 mg/ml), praziquantel (1 mg/ml), and control groups, were collected and processed for scanning electron microscopic studies to document the effects of drugs on the body surface of parasite. In this study, maximum degree of alterations on parasite body surface was observed in the worms exposed to Krimimudgar Ras, indicating this drug to be highly efficacious against intestinal worms and brings out a transtegumental mode of action on parasite. In conclusion, the findings of present study suggest that of the three Ayurvedic formulations tested, Krimimudgar Ras possesses significant anthelmintic effects, which are mediated through parasite's body surface. Therefore, Krimimudgar Ras may be considered as a reliable anthelmintic Ayurvedic formulation, as validated through this study.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제57권4호
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• pp.423-427
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• 2019

Coenurosis is an important zoonotic helminthic disease caused by the larval stage of the tapeworm Taenia multiceps. This parasite typically infects the brain of the intermediate hosts, including sheep, goat, cattle and even humans. We report a case of T. multiceps infection in a yak confirmed by clinical symptoms, morphological characteristics, and molecular and phylogenetic analyses. The coenurus was thin-walled, whitish, and spherical in shape with a diameter of 10 cm. The parasite species was identified as T. multiceps by PCR amplification and sequencing of the 18S rRNA, cox1 and nad1 genes. Three gene sequences all showed high homology (all above 97%) with the reference sequences from different hosts. Moreover, phylogenetic reconstructions with the 3 published Taenia gene sequences confirmed that the Qinghai yak isolate was closely related to T. multiceps. Although there are advanced diagnosis and treatment methods for coenurosis, early infection is difficult to diagnose. Importantly, the findings of yak infection case should not be ignored due to its zoonotic potential.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제60권1호
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• pp.25-34
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• 2022

Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) caused by infection with E. multilocularis metacestode, represents one of the most fatal helminthic diseases. AE is principally manifested with infiltrative, proliferating hepatic mass, resembling primary hepatocellular carcinoma. Sometimes metastatic lesions are found in nearby or remote tissue. AE diagnosis largely depends on imaging studies, but atypical findings of imaging features frequently require differential diagnosis from other hepatic lesions. Serological tests may provide further evidence, while obtaining reliable AE materials is not easy. In this study, alternative antigens, specific to AE were identified by analyzing E. granulosus protoscolex proteins. An immunoblot analysis of E. granulosus protoscolex showed that a group of low-molecular-weight proteins in the range from 14 kDa to 16 kDa exhibited a sensitive and specific immune response to AE patient sera. Partial purification and proteomic analysis indicated that this protein group contained myosin, tubulin polymerization promoting protein, fatty-acid binding protein, uncharacterized DM9, heat shock protein 90 cochaperone tebp P-23, and antigen S. When the serological applicability of recombinant forms of these proteins was assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, DM9 protein (rEgDM9) showed 90.1% sensitivity (73/81 sera tested) and 94.5% specificity (172/181 sera tested), respectively. rEgDM9 showed weak cross-reactions with patient sera from the transitional and chronic stages of cystic echinococcosis (3 to 5 stages). rEgDM9 would serve as a useful alternative antigen for serodiagnosis of both early- and advanced-stage AE cases.

• 농촌의학ㆍ지역보건
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.94-101
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• 1987

Enterobiasis is common helminthic infections found in man. But control of this disease is still troublesome because of its difficulty in the d diagnosis and prevention of infection. Considering the difficulty of accurate diagnosis of pinworm infection, which is very common and somewhat pathogenic, reevaluation of cellotape anal swab method for the diagnosis of enterobiasis was performed. A total of 147 children ranging the ages of 1-12 years in 3 orphanages in the suburbs of Seoul, Korea was subjected for this study. Repeated cellotape anal swabs were carried out against 70 children, 7 times for 3 days interval, in the morning 6am. Finally 10 mg/kg body weight pyrantel pamoates were given to all children including egg negative cases and whole stools of 3 following successive days were collected for the confirmation of residual worm ourden at the time of treatment. Cellotape anal swabs were also performed to another 77 children at 6am, 3pm, 9pm, twice for 3 days interval. The resultant findings were summarized as follows; 1) While the each time average detection rate of Enterobius egg was 28.8% in this study group, the accumulative detection rate up to 7th examination was 62.8%. The accumulative detection rate rose continuously up to 6th examination. 2) After administration of pyrantel pamoate 10 mg/kg body weight, final infection rate was increased to 72.9% by adding worm positive cases who didn't show any evidence of infection in the cellotape anal swabs. 3) Although pinworms were detected in 35 among 70 children treated, 7 cases (20%) of them were egg negative cases in 7 consecutive cellotape anal swabs. 4) Pinworms were expelleded in 14 (87.5%) among 16 children whose swab result was positive in the last examination which was done concurrently with drug administration. 5) Estimated infection rate calculated by best asymptotically normal estimate of Neuman from Moriya's modification revealed 71.5% similar to 72.9% of present results. 6) The result of anal swab performed at 6am was higher than that of 3pm or 8pm. In conclusion, cellotape anal swab method for Enterobius vermicularis infection was considered as method having relatively high positive accuracy. However to gain the reliable infection rate, at least 6 examination is required in the group with 25-30% infection rate by single swab. Moriya's modification of Neuman could be used efficiently in the mass control of this diease for the estimation of true infection rate of E. vermicularis in the sampled population.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.77-82
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• 2020

한국의 회충 감염률은 1970년대까지 높았으나 성공적인 기생충 관리로 매우 낮은 수준으로 감소하였다. 최근 회충 유행 지역으로부터의 인구 유입 및 해외여행 증가, 수입 농산물의 증가 등으로 인해 발생 가능성이 높아지는 가운데 성인에서 회충감염으로 장폐쇄나 췌담관 질환이 유발된 증례 보고들이 있었다. 저자들은 회충증을 의심할 만한 위험 요인이 없는 2세 남아의 기저귀에서 회충 성충이 발견된 증례를 경험하여 보고한다. 아침에 환아의 어머니가 기저귀를 갈다가 움직이는 충체를 발견하여 내원하였다. 특이 과거력 없이 평소 건강하던 환아로 이상 증상은 없었고 신체 진찰에서 특이 소견은 관찰되지 않았다. 충체는 길이 약 25 cm, 폭 5 mm의 선충으로 머리와 꼬리는 원추상을 보여 회충으로 추정하였고 대변 기생충란 검사에서 Ascaris lumbricoides의 불수정란이 확인되어 회충증으로 진단하였다. 구충제인 알벤다졸 400 mg을 1회 경구 투여 후 추적 관찰하였고 추가적인 회충 발견이나 증상 발생은 없었다. 전체적인 기생충 감염률이 감소하여 관심이 줄어드는 현실에서 회충 감염에 대한 인식을 높일 필요가 있겠다.