• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.62 no.1
• /
• pp.1-29
• /
• 2024

This article analyzed the infection characteristics of metacercariae of Metagonimus spp. (MsMc) in fish from 9 major water systems in Korea. A total of 19,568 fish in 87 species were examined over a period of 10 years (2011-2020). MsMc were detected in fish from all 44 survey areas in 9 water systems. Most of the surveyed sites showed very low and low infection levels (66.7%), while 33.3% of the areas, such as Tamjin-gang and Seomjin-gang, revealed moderate and high infection levels. High endemicity depends on the abundance of susceptible fish species, especially sweet smelt (Plecoglosus altivelis). The susceptibility index (SI) with MsMc in index fish, Zacco spp., was very low and low levels in 62.0%, moderate in 28.0%, and high in 10.0% regions. The SI was highest in the following order: Yeongam-cheon (283.8), Hoeng-cheon (192.3), Togyo-jeosuji (131.2), Deokcheon-gang (119.1), and Joyang-gang (106.3). The recent infection status of MsMc in P. altivelis was analyzed by the survey localities. In addition, except for P. altivelis, 9 fish species were highly infected with MsMc in some survey areas, including Zacco platypus, Z. koreanus, Z. temminckii, Opsariichthys uncirostris, Rhynchocypris oxycephalus, Carassius auratus, Acheilognathus rhombeus, Onchorhynchus masou, and Tribolodon hakonensis. In Korea, 74 fish species (15 families) are collectively listed as second intermediate hosts of Metagonimus spp. This review provides several novel characteristics of MsMc infection and clarifies the fish species of second intermediate host of Metagonimus spp. in this country.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.99-108
• /
• 1993

An epidemiological study of Metogonimus infection was undertaken along the upper reaches of the Nmhn River, with special consideration on the species (type) of the worms collected from humans. Eggs of Metogonimus spp. were detected from 15 (9.7%) of 154 people examined in Umsong-gun, and from each Infected person (5 cases) 6.015- 24,060 worms (mean 13,2331 were recovered after treatment with praziquantel (10 mg/kg). Eggs were also detected from 37 (48.1% of 77 people In Yongwol-gun, from whom (27 casesl 1-4,965 worms (mean 1,2151 were collected. The worm from Umsong-gun consisted of both Metagonimus Miyata type and Metagonimus takohashii, whereas those from Yongwol-gun consisted of only Metqsonimus Miyata type. When the uterine eggs of the two kinds and M. yokogawoi (obtained from people In Tamjin River basin) were morphologically compared, it was suggested that the egg size should be a good Indicator for discrlmination of the species or type. The source of human Infection was proved to be fresh water fleshes: 49 of 52 Znsco plntvpus examined, 6 of 8 Hemibcrbus loniroskis, 13 of 15 Pseunogobio esuinl:, 4 of 6 Odontobutis obscura intemfptn, and 17 of 18 Corqssiw carassiw were found Infected with Metosonimw metacercariae. From the results, it is concluded that the upper reaches of the Namhan River are endemic foci of Metogonimn Miyata type and M. takahashii.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.69-82
• /
• 1987

The prevalences of the cuke belonging to genus Metagonimus hove been reported along the upper stream of inhabitants by several workers since 1980, however the taxonomical problems of the fluke was not yet settled. The larval flukes; cercaria and metacercaria as well as their intermediate hosts, and adult were studied in order to identify the Mepagonimus in the areas. The results obtained are summarized as follows: 1. The snails, Semisulcospira globus were collected (rom the three different localities along the upper stream of the River. The cercariae were found from 125(7.2%) out of 1,730 snails by natural emerging method, and were identified into 5 species including Metagenimus sp. (3.7%), Pseudexorchis major(1.4%), Cercaria nipponensis (0.9%), Cercaria incerpa(0.6%), and Cercaria yoshidae(0.6%). Cercariae of Metagonimus species had four to dye oral spines on its anterior of the first line. 2. The cercariae of Metagonimus were experimentally exposed to goldfish. nfection rate was 22.9% out of 105 goldfish, and the encysted metacercariae were found in fins(86.7%) and on scales (13.7%) of the fishes, but not in their muscle, head or visceral organs. 3. Seven species of ask were caught in the Daecheong Reservoir and the upper stream. Infestations with metacercaria of Metagonimus were found 100% in Opsariichtys widens and the parasitized numbers of the metacercariae were observed from 250 to 2,400 per fish. In the upper stream, Zacco termmincki, Z. platypus and Pseudogobio esocinus were infected 100% with the metacercaria, on the other hand, the fishes caught in the reservoir showed the lower infestation rates, and a few metacercariae found in the fishes Carassius carassius and Cyprinus carpio in the reservoir and the stream. The majority of metacercariae was detected only on the scales of fishes. 4. In order to know the infectivity and the distribution patterns in the intestine of hosts, rats and dogs were infected with the metacercariae obtained from O. bidens and Z. platypus. In addition the metacercariae obtained from Z. temmincki, P. esocinus and goldfish were given to the rats. The recovery rates of the worms in the small intestine of dogs were higher (63.3~65.8%) than those of the rats (3.5~31.6%). The flukes were found mostly in the middle and the lower part of small intestine of the rats and the dogs, but no worm was collected in the upper part of the intestine of rats. 5. The sixte of adult flukes varied by the hosts. In the adult cukes, oral sucker was smaller than ventral sucker, and the right and left testes were located diagonally, the uterine tubules circled around the upper left testis. The average egg sixte was $29.1{\times}1.7{\mu\textrm{m}}$. According to the above results, the cukes belonging to genus Metagonimus distributed along the Geum River was concluded to be identical with Miyata type of M. yokogawai as that Saito had proposed.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.35 no.4
• /
• pp.295-298
• /
• 1997

Genonlic DNA from Metagonimn vokogawci and Metagonimw Miyata type was amplified by polymerase chain reaction based on the random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPDI technique. Eight random 10-mer oligonucleotide primers (OPA-02, 5-TGCCGAGCTG-3; OPA-09, 5-GGGTAACGCC-3; OPA-17, 5-GTGATCGCAG-3; OPA-11, 5-CAATCGCCGT-3; OPA-13, 5-CAGCACCCAC-3; OPA-17. 5-GACCGCTrGT-3; OPA-19, 5-CAAACGTCGG-3; OPA-20, 5-GTTGCGATCC-3) WITH A G+C CONTENT FO 60-70% (Kit A. Operon Technologies Inc., California, USAI could produce distinguishable banding patterns between the two Metngonimus species. From the results of this study, it was suggested that Metcsonimus Miyata type has a different DNA sequence from M. WOkQgGUIGi. Key words: Metcgonimw vokognwai, MetnBonimw Miyata type, random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD)

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.35 no.4
• /
• pp.223-232
• /
• 1997

Metagonimus miyatai n. sp. (Digenea: Heterophyidae) is described based on adult flukes collected from experimental dogs and hamsters fed with metacercariae encysted in the sweetfish, Plecoglossus altivelis, dace, Tribolodon hakonensis and T. taczanowskii, common fat-minnow. Morocco steindachneri pale chub, Zacco platypus, and dark chub, Zacco temmincki, and on those collected from naturally infected humans. The new species was morphologically compared with M. yokogawai and M. takahashii obtained from experimental animals fed with the sweetflsh and the crucian carp, Cnrossius caressius, respectively. The uterine loops of M. miyatai reached near the posterior end of the body through the space between the two testes, whereas those of M. yokogawai, occupied only the space between the acetabulum and anterior border of two testes. This uterine tubule distribution was similar to that of another closely related species, M. takahashii. However vitellaria of M. miyatai ended in front of the posterior end of the left testis, while those of M. takahcshii reached the posterior end of the left testis and ran it over. By raising M. miyatai as a new species, differentiation of M. yokogawai and M. takahashii became very clear. A key to the species of the genus Metagonimus in the Far East has been proposed.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.7-14
• /
• 1996

Taxonomic problems of Metagoninus spry. in Korea were investigated. Metacercariae of various freshwater fish species - PlecoBlossus cltiuelis, Carnssius aurctus, Zacco platypus, Zncco temmincki, Opscriichthws bidens - were collected from different localities in Korea and experimentally fed to golden hamsters. Observation of recovered adult worms showed that PLeco91ossus nltiuelis was infected with metacercariae of both M. vokognwni and M. toknhoshii. C. auratus was infected with metacercariae of M. takchcshii and Z. platvpf, Z. temmincki, O. binens were infected only with metacercariae of Metofonimuf Miyata type. From the inferences about the morphological characteristics, host specificities and occurrence patterns in infected animals, Metogonimus Miyata type is considered to be an independent group.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.52 no.2
• /
• pp.201-204
• /
• 2014

This study was undertaken to characterize the properties of a 100 kDa somatic antigen from Metagonimus yokogawai. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were produced against this 100 kDa antigen, and their immunoreactivity was assessed by western blot analysis with patients' sera. The mAbs against the 100 kDa antigen commonly reacted with various kinds of trematode antigens, including intestinal (Gymnophalloides seoi), lung (Paragonimus westermani), and liver flukes (Clonorchis sinensis and Fasciola hepatica). However, this mAb showed no cross-reactions with other helminth parasites, including nematodes and cestodes. To determine the topographic distribution of the 100 kDa antigen in worm sections, indirect immunoperoxidase staining was performed. A strong positive reaction was observed in the tegumental and subtegumental layers of adult M. yokogawai and C. sinensis. The results showed that the 100 kDa somatic protein of M. yokogawai is a common antigen which recognizes a target epitope present over the tegumental layer of different trematode species.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.190-202
• /
• 1984

In an attempt to clarify the epidemiological feature of distomiasis in Tongjin riverside area, the prevalence of distomiasis in the residents and infection rates of the metacercariae in fresh-water fishes were investigated at the upper, middle and lower reaches of the river from January to April, 1984. The results obtained were summarized as follows: 1. Out of a total of 931 fresh-water fishes which composed of 33 different species, 611 fishes(65.6%) of 31 species were found positive with digenetic trematode metacercariae of 16 different species, and there were some differences in infection rates of the metacercariae among the fishes in the 3 parts of the river; 53.8% in upper, 80.7% in middle, and 61.0% in lower reaches, respectively. 2. Infection rates of the metacercariae of Exorchis oviformis, Metagonimus yokogawai, Echinochasmus japenicus, Metorchis orientalis and Clonorchis sinensis in the fishes were 48%,29%, 115, 7.9% and 6.3oA, respectively. 3. The average number of the encysted larvae of Clonorchis found in fish body/gram showed 4.44 in Pseudorasbera larva, Gnathepegon coreanus (1.2), Microphysogoio yaluensis (0.76), Abbottina springeri (0.4), Acanthorhodeus asmussi (0.21) and Cultriculus eigenmanni (0.17), respectively. 4. The average number of the metacercariae of Metagonimus found in fish body/gram disclosed 34.01 in Zacco platypus, Zacco temmincki (16.46), Carassius carassius (5.35), Moroco oxycephalus (1.54) , Aphyocypris chinensis (1.5) and etc., respectively. 5. Detection rates of the eggs of Clonorchis and Metagonimus among residents were 1.1% and 0.8%, respectively, out of a total 923 Persons.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.42 no.3
• /
• pp.129-135
• /
• 2004

We compared the DNA sequences of the genus Metagonimus: M. yokogawai, M. takahashii, and M. miyatai. We obtained 288 D1 ribosomal DNA (rDNA) and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (mtCOI) fragments from the adult worms by PCR, that were cloned and sequenced. Phylogenetic relationships inferred from the nucleotide sequences of the 28S D1 rDNA and mtCOI gene. M. takahashii and M. yokogawai are placed in the same clade supported by DNA sequence and phylogenie tree analysis in 28S D1 rDNA and mtCOI gene region. The above findings tell us that M. takahashii is closer to M. yokogawai than to M. miyatai genetically. This phylogenetic data also support the nomination of M. miyatai as a separate species.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.35 no.4
• /
• pp.239-244
• /
• 1997

Genus Metasonimus has been a subject of taxonomic debates for several years. In morphological aspects, M. vokogawci has been thought to have three subtypes, namely Yokogawa type (M. yokogawai in strict sense) , Miyata type and Koga type. But dif- ferences in the intestinal pathology induced by these subtypes have not been studied yet. In this study we compared the pathological reactions inducted by M. yokoBnwai and Metcgonimus Miyata type using proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) index. Metacercariae (Mc) of M. yokogcuani were collected by artificial digestion of Plecoslossw oLtiveLis and Mc of Metngonimus Miyata type were collected from Zacco pEntvpus. Three hundreds Mc of each species were infected orally to ICR mice. The mice were sacrificed at 3, 6. 10. 16 and 23 days after infection and the small intestines were resected into three portions (proximal. middle, and distal) . Immunohistochemical staining for PCNA was done using PC-10 (DAKO-PCNA, CA, USA) The PCNA indices in M. Wokosnwci infected group on the 6th and 23rd day after infection were lower than in the control and Miyata type infect ed groups (p < 0.05) from all of the three intestinal regions. On the other hand, the control group and Ifetngonimus Miyata type infected group did not make any differences in PCNA indices. The villus/crypt WIC) ratio was also decreased significantly in M. Wokogcwni infected mice but not in Metagonimus Miyata type infected ones. It is suggested that M. wokogawci induce villous atrophy through a decrease in the cell proliferation at the crypt. The results of this study suggested that M. WokoBnwai induce more serious intestinal pathology than Metcsonimuf Miyata type.