• Title/Summary/Keyword: Korean mummy

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Discovery of Taeniid Eggs from A 17th Century Tomb in Korea

  • Lee, Hye-Jung;Shin, Dong-Hoon;Seo, Min
    • Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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    • v.49 no.3
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    • pp.327-329
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    • 2011
  • Even though Taenia spp. eggs are occasionally discovered from archeological remains around the world, these eggs have never been discovered in ancient samples from Korea. When we attempted to re-examine the archeological samples maintained in our collection, the eggs of Taenia spp., 5 in total number, were recovered from a tomb of Gongju-si. The eggs had radially striated embryophore, and $37.5-40.0\;{\mu}m{\times}37.5\;{\mu}m$ in size. This is the first report on taeniid eggs from ancient samples of Korea, and it is suggested that intensive examination of voluminous archeological samples should be needed for identification of Taenia spp.

Two Helminthic Cases of Human Mummy Remains from Joseon-Period Graves in Korea

  • Oh, Chang Seok;Lee, Hyejin;Kim, Jieun;Hong, Jong Ha;Cha, Soon Chul;Chai, Jong-Yil;Ha, Cheol Min;Kang, Ryang-Ji;Lim, Do-Seon;Shin, Dong Hoon;Seo, Min
    • Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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    • v.59 no.2
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    • pp.149-152
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    • 2021
  • Our previous research on coprolite specimens from the mummies of Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910 CE) has revealed various species of parasite eggs. Herein, we added 2 new helminthic cases of human remains from Joseon-period graves in the Republic of Korea (Korea). The organic materials precipitated on the hip bones of 2 half-mummied cases (Goryeong and Gwangmyeong cases) were collected, rehydrated, and examined by a microscope. In the sample from Goryeong-gun (gun=County), ova of Trichuris trichiura, Clonorchis sinensis, and Metagonimus spp. were detected, and eggs of T. trichiura and A. lumbricoides were found from the sample of Gwangmyeong-si (si=City). By adding this outcome to the existing data pool, we confirm our previous estimates of Joseon-period parasite infection rates. The overall rates of A. lumbricoides, T. trichiura, and C. sinensis decreased dramatically from Joseon to the modern period. In Goryeong mummy specimen, we also found Metagonimus spp. eggs that has rarely been detected in archaeological samples so far.

Unveiling dietary lifestyle of a Joseon-era mummy by extracting isotopic information from hair and bone (조선시대 회곽묘 출토 미이라의 안정동위원소 분석으로 생애 주기에 따른 식생활 변화 추적)

  • Kang, Da Young;Shin, Ji Young
    • Analytical Science and Technology
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    • v.25 no.5
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    • pp.300-306
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    • 2012
  • This study reports the stable carbon and nitrogen isotope of mummy, the preserved human time capsule from Joseon Dynasty. The stable isotopic composition of biological tissue is expected to be a direct and constant function of diet because the stable isotope ratios do not decay or change in abundance through time. Over the past three decades, stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis has been extensively applied for archaeological topics. However, this is the first case in Korean mummy to extract palaeodietary information using stable isotope analysis. We extracted isotopic information from bone collagen and hair keratin, which reflects the lifetime average diet and short-term diet, respectively. The average values of ${\delta}^{13}C$ and ${\delta}^{15}N$ values are -19.0‰ and 11.4‰ (bone collagen), and -21.3‰ and 14.3‰ (hair keratin). Stable carbon isotope shows a mainly $C_3$-based diet from cradle to grave. On the other hand, there is significant difference in stable nitrogen isotope which implies a relatively enriched diet before death. We expect this study opens up a potential to understand the palaeodietary lifestyle in Joseon Dynasty.

Ancient Mitochondrial DNA Analyses of Ascaris Eggs Discovered in Coprolites from Joseon Tomb

  • Oh, Chang Seok;Seo, Min;Hong, Jong Ha;Chai, Jong-Yil;Oh, Seung Whan;Park, Jun Bum;Shin, Dong Hoon
    • Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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    • v.53 no.2
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    • pp.237-242
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    • 2015
  • Analysis of ancient DNA (aDNA) extracted from Ascaris is very important for understanding the phylogenetic lineage of the parasite species. When aDNAs obtained from a Joseon tomb (SN2-19-1) coprolite in which Ascaris eggs were identified were amplified with primers for cytochrome b (cyt b) and 18S small subunit ribosomal RNA (18S rRNA) gene, the outcome exhibited Ascaris specific amplicon bands. By cloning, sequencing, and analysis of the amplified DNA, we obtained information valuable for comprehending genetic lineage of Ascaris prevalent among pre-modern Joseon peoples.

Discovery of Maritrema obstipum (Digenea: Microphallidae) from Migratory Birds in Korea

  • Chung, Ok-Sik;Sohn, Woon-Mok;Chai, Jong-Yil;Seo, Min;Lee, Hye-Jung
    • Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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    • v.49 no.4
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    • pp.457-460
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    • 2011
  • Adults of Maritrema obstipum (Digenea: Microphallidae) were found in the intestines of 4 species of migratory birds, including the sanderling (Crocethia alba), Kentish plover (Charadrius alexandrines), Mongolian plover (Charadrius mongolus), and red-necked stint (Calidris ruficollis), collected from Yubu Island, Chungcheongnam-do, Korea. The worms of were $451{\times}265{\mu}m$ in size, and were easily identifiable as Maritrema species by the presence of the cirrus sac, and the ring-like distribution of the vitellaria. More specifically, the ejaculatory duct curved posteromedially, and the 2 parts of vitelline follicles were found to be distinct at the posterior end. The eggs were brown-colored, and $19.8{\times}12.3{\mu}m$ in size. All these findings implicated M. obstipum as the pertinent species of the worms. Beside these, adult worms of Gynaecotyla squatarolae, Parvatrema duboisi, and Acanthoparyphium sp. were also discovered. This is the first report establishing migratory birds as the natural definitive hosts for M. obstipum.

Seroprevalence of Trichinella sp. in Wild Boars (Sus scrofa) from Yanggu-gun, Gangwon-do, Korea

  • Lee, Hye-Jung;Chung, Ok-Sik;Kim, Jae-Lip;Lee, Seung-Ha;Yoo, Young-Bok;Seo, Min
    • Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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    • v.53 no.2
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    • pp.233-236
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    • 2015
  • A total 7 outbreaks of trichinellosis have occurred in Korea, mostly as a result of consumption of raw wild boar (Sus scrofa) meat. Since only 1 serological survey on wild boars had yet been performed in Korea, the present study aimed to estimate the prevalence of trichinellosis in wild boars and some species of rodents by artificial digestion and serological examinations in Yanggu-gun, Gangwon-do, the endemic area of trichinellosis. Both the wild boar and rodent muscle samples revealed no Trichinella larvae by direct examination and artificial digestion method. However, serological examinations revealed that 4 wild boar sera samples out of 118 (3.4%) were positive to Trichinella antigen. Although the recovery of Trichinella larvae ended in a failure, it is proved for the first time that the sylvatic cycle of Trichinella has been maintained in wild boars of Gangwon-do, Korea.