• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.313-317
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• 2017

Paragonimiasis is a parasitic disease caused by Paragnonimus species. The primary site of infection is the lung, and extrapulmonary involvement is also reported. When infected with Paragonimus westermani, which is the dominant species in Korea, the central nervous system is frequently involved along with the liver, intestine, peritoneal cavity, retroperitoneum, and abdominal wall. Ectopic paragonimiasis raises diagnostic challenge since it is uncommon and may be confused with malignancy or other inflammatory diseases. Here, we report an ectopic paragonimiasis case initially presented with recurrent abdominal pain. The patient developed abdominal pain 3 times for the previous 3 years and the computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen revealed fluid collection with wall enhancement. Recurrent diverticulitis was initially suspected and part of the ascending colon was resected. However, the specimen showed intact colon wall without evidence of diverticulitis and multiple parasite eggs and granulomas were found instead. The size of about $70{\mu}m$, the presence of an operculum and relatively thick egg shell suggested eggs of Paragonimus species. With appropriate exposure history and a positive antibody test, the definitive diagnosis was made as peritoneal paragonimiasis.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.209-214
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• 1984

This study was conducted to evaluate prevalence of intestinal helminthic infections and skin tests for Paragonimus and Clenorchis in tuberculosis (TB) patients in Korea. Stool examinations by formalin-ether technique and intradermal tests were carried out in 2 areas; Masan TB hospital and Kong-Ju TB hospital. 1, The positive rate of intestinal helminths of any kind was 51.7% among 329 patients in Masan hospital, but 18.1% among 215 patients in Kong-Ju hospital. 2.The infection rates of Trichocephalus trichiurus and Clenerchis sinensis were 20.7% and 17, 6% respectively in Masan hospital patients, but the infection rates of T. trichiurus and C. sinensis were 6.5% and 6.0% respectively in Kong-Ju hospital patients. 3. In skin tests, positive reactions to Paragonimus and Clonerchis antigens were 22.0% and 37.6% respectively in Masan hospital patients. On the contrary, Kong-Ju hospital patients showed the positive rates of 15.2% for Paragoftineus and 27.2% for Clonorchis respectively.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.71-79
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• 1977

An epidemiological study of clonorchiasis sinensis and paragonimiasis westermani prevailed among the people of a rural county. The author studied the infection rates of of clonorchiasis sinensis and paragonimiasis westermanl in the inhabitants of Chungsong Gun, Kyungbuk Province, Korea. The examinations were carried out from March 1965 to November 1965 fowards 1.303 inhabitants whose ages were ranging from three months to over sixty years. All the inhabitants were tested intradermally with clonorchis and paragonimus antigen and then confirmed the eggs by M. G. L. technique and sputum test. The results of the examination were summarized as follows : 1. Out of the persons tested, 15.8% were infected with clonorchiasis sinensis. 2. Out of the persons tested with paragonimus antigen, 20.9% were infected with Paragonimus westermani. 3. The infection rate of paragonimiasis was higher than that of clonorchiasis. 4. The infection rate of clonorchiasis in male was 20.8% (147 out of 706), while that in female was 7.1% (58 out of 597). The infection rate of paragonimiasis in male was 21.2% (150 out of 706), while that in female was 20.1% (120 out of 597). 5. The maximum infection rates of clonorchiasis and paragonimiasis were observed among the $45{\sim}49$ age group (65.2% and 43.5%) respectively), however it was gradually decreased in the senile group. 6. By occupation, the maximum infection rate of clonorchiasis was observed in policemen (45.7%) and the maximum carrier of eggs (by sputum test) was observed in the unemployed (paragonimiasis). 7. By education, the maximum infection rate of clonorchiasis was observed in the unepmloyed (28.9%) and the maximum carrier of eggs (by sputum test) was observed in the unemployed (paragnoimiasis).

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 1992

In order to observe the antigenic localization in the tissues of Paragonimus westermani of deve- lopmental stages, immunogoldlabeling method was applied using serum of the cats which were infected with isolated metacercariae from Cambaroides similis. The sectioned worm tissues from orch developmental stage were embedded in Lowicryl HM20 medium, stained with infected semi IgG and protein A gold complex(particle size: 12 nm) and observed by electron microscopy. In the young adult worm tissue of 4 weeks after infection with metacercariae, the gold particles were specifically concentrated on the tegumental syncytium and cytoplasm of the tegumental cells as well as the secretory granules in the parenchymal tissue. The antigenic materials in the adult worm tissue were specifically concentrated on the secretory granules in the parenchymal tissue, the cytoplasm between granules in the vitelline gland and the epithelial lamella in the lumen of the caecum.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.25-29
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• 2009

Paragonimus harinasutai metacercariae were found in a species of freshwater crab, Indochinamon ou, collected in a small stream of Namback District, Luang Prabang Province, Lao PDR. Adult flukes were recovered after experimental infection of the metacercariae to dogs. Metacercariae were round or slightly elliptical, $0.666{\times}0.626\;mm$ in average size, and had a thin cyst wall of about $20{\mu}m$ in thickness, a black excretory bladder, convoluted ceca, and some pinkish materials in the body. Adults were somewhat elongated, $95.2{\times}36.5\;mm$ in average size, covered with single-tipped tegumental spines, had a smaller oral sucker than the ventral sucker, a moderately branched ovary, and 5-6 lobulated testes. Eggs were ovoid and bilaterally symmetrical in shape, $79{\times}45{\mu}m$ in average size, and had a uniformly thickened shell. By the present study, it has been confirmed that I. ou is a new second intermediate host for P. harinasutai.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.31-42
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• 1991

In order to observe the antigenic localization in the tissues of the young adult Paragenimus westermani, immunogold labeling method was applied using serum immunoglobulins (IgG) of the dog which infected with isolated metacercariae from Cambaroides similis. The sectioned worm tissue was embedded in Lowicryl HM 20 medium and stained with infected serum IgG and protein A gold complex(particle size; 12 nm) It was observed by electron microscopy at each tissues of the worm. The gold particles were not observed on the basal lamina of the tegument, interstitial matrix of the parenchyma, the muscle tissue and mitochondria of the tegument. The gold particles were specifically labeled in the secretory granules in the vitelline cells. They were predominantly labeling on the epithelial lamela and lumen of caecum. The above finding showed that antigenic materials in young adult worm tissue were specifically concentrated on the tegumental syncytium as well as cytoplasm of tegumental cells.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.257-264
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• 1983

In order to obtain more specific antigenic preparation for the diagnosis of human paragonlmiasis, crude saline extract of whole worm (=PwWWE), secretory.excretory components (PwSEC) and secretion-excretion-free somatic extract (PwSM) of 12 week-old ParagoninBus westermani were filtrated through Sephadex G-200 gel column. The adult Paragonimus worms were obtained from expevimentally infected doge. A total of 11 antigenic solutions was Iyophilised or diluted to adjust protein content of 1mg/ml. To evaluate the antigenicity of crude antigens and fractions, micro-ELISA was done with the sera from P westermani in(ected cases, C. sinensis infected cases and non-infected control cases to detect Paragonimus specific IgG antibody. The results were as follows: 1. When the PwWWE was filtrated through Sephadex G-200 gel, it was separated into three fractions; PwWWE Fr. 1, PwWWE Fr. 2 and PwWWE Fr. 3. The percentage of protein content was 28.0%, 21.6% and 50.4% respectively. The PwSM was also. separated into three fractions; PwSM Fr. 1, PwSM Fr. 2, PwSM Fr. 3. and their percentage of protein content was 41.3%, 38.6% and 20.1%. However, the PwSEC showed different fractionation pattern; i.e. fraction 1 (=PwSEC Fr.1) and 3 (PwSEC Fr. 3) without fraction 2. The percentage of protein content was 14.0% in PwSEC Fr. 1 and 86.0% in PwSEC Fr. 3. 2. When the antigenicity of each Paragonimus crude antigen and fractionated antigen was evaluated for specific IgG aritibody by micro-ELISA in 10 human paragonimiasis sera, PwSEC Fr, 1 was the most potent antigen showing the mean absorbance 1.98. The PwWWE Fr. 1, PwSEC, PwWWE were next to that: their mean absorbance were 1.72, 1.38 and 0.83 respectively. The antigenicity of fractions 2 and 3 was much weaker in binding specific IgG antibody. 3. When the antigens were reacted in micro-ELISA with 10 human clonorchiasis sera, most antigens showed weak reactivity. Each fraction 1 of crude antigens reacted higher than other fractions or crude antigens; the mean absorbance was 0.17 in fraction 1, but in others the absorbances were about 0.06. 4. With non-infected control sera, the result of micro-RLISA revealed almost same pattern with those of the clonorchiasis sera. From the above results, it became apparent that PwWWE Fr. 1, especially PwSEC Fr. 1 was the most potent antigen reacted with Paragonisfaus specific IgG antibody.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.66-73
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• 1982

Paragonimus westermani is one of the most popular endemic parasitic diseases in Korea. The nation-wide prevalence survey were carried out by Gobayashi (1921) with sputum examination and by Walton and Chyu (1959) with the intradermal skin test respectively. Recent studies showed the decline of positive rate in intradermal skin test of the local inhabitants and also showed the less distribution of intermediate host. The fact seemed that caused by economic improvement of village people, decrease of intermediate host by increasing use of pesticides, becoming lower water level at streams and rivers and better irrigation and finally by better community health education etc. Gangwha area of Gyeonggi-Do was found out as an endemic area of Paragonimus westermani through some studies in the past, however, in the vicinity area of Gangwha, the study in Kyodong island (myon) was carried out in 1965 by Yun et al. Therefore author carried out the intradermal skin test for 2,380 students of primary, middle and high school in Kyodong island and Samsan island. The results showed as follows : 1) The positive rate of intradermal test for paragonimus westermani infection showed positive in 152 among 1,845 students (8.2%) in Kyodong island, and 21 among 637 students (3.3%) in Samsan island respectively. 2) According to grade levels, 49 among 973 students (5.0%) in primary school, 62 among 962 students (6.4%) in middle school and 53 among 445 students (11.9%) in high school showed positive rate. This showed the higher grade the higher positive rate. 3) Among these total 164 positive cases in the intradermal skin test, only in 3 cases eggs were found in sputum. 4) Finding out the intermediate host, only 28 crayfishes from Kyodong island and 12 from Samsan island were collected and examined for metacercaria infection, however, none of metacercaria was found. 5) As a control group, 2 primary schools from the main island were selected. In these schools from the sixth grade students showed positive rate of 4.8% in Naega primary school and 0% in Hajeom Primary school respectively. Those results showed much decrease than studies carried out in the past. 6) The survey for food habit showed that 15 among 1,274 students (1.2%) had experiences of eating raw intermediate host(crayfish) and 266 among 988 students (27.0%) ate cooked.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.154-164
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• 1991

Albendazole is a broad spectrum anthelmintics with high activity against intestinal nematodes as well as tremtodes and cestodes infections. But so far wormicidal effect of albendazole against Paragonimus westermani is uncertain. The present study undertaken to observe the morphological changes of Paragonimus westermani which was obtained from experimentally infected with metacercariae isolated from Cambaroides similis and 9 of them were given albendazole 2 doses of 25mg/kg daily for the 2 days and 4 days from the day of 20 weeks after infection. The Paragonimus werms were collected from the lung of the cats which were autopsied at 24 hours after treatment. The fine structures of the collected worms were studied by means of scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The findings of the observations were compared with those of untreated worms. The results are as follows : 1) In the scanning electron microscopic(SEM) observations, the worms obtained from 2 days treated group showed many blebs which were formed on the surface of damaged tegument in between two suckers. Protrusion of oral sucker typically observed and surrounding tegumental ridges were damaged. 2) The worms obtained from 4 days treated group showed marked contraction revealing half size of normal worms. 3) The transmission electronmicroscopic(TEM) observations indicated that large blebs of irregular shapes were formed by the destruction of tegumental ridge of tegumental syncytium and also showed degeneration of mitochondriae. 4) Destruction of tegumental syncytium formation of blebs were usually observed in the ventral side of the worms. 5) Differentiation of tegumental layer and basement layer muscular layer and parenchymal layer around two suckers of worms obtained at 4 days treated group was difficult. 6) Many host cells invaded and destroyed the degenerated tegument by the occurrence of blebs or the exposed muscular layer of the worm after exfoliation of the tegument.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.239-244
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• 1988

In order to observe the antigenic fractions in saline extract of adult Paragonimus westermani, proteins in the crude extract were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacylamide gel electrophoresis(SDS.PAGE) in reducing conditions. The separated protein fractions were transferred to nitrocellulose paper on which 20 sera from human paragonimiasis were reacted and immunoblottrd. Out of 15 stained protein bands in SDS-PAGE, 7 reacted with infected sera while 8 did not. Additionally, 7 unstained protein bands in SDS-PAGE reacted with the sera. Of 14 reacted bands, 30 kilodalton(kDa) band was the most frequently reacted (95%) and was a strong antigen. Protein bands of 23 and 46 kDa were also strong antigens. Bands of over 150 kDa, 120 kDa, 92 kDa, 86 kDa, 74 kDa, 62 kDa, 51 kDa, 32 kDa, 28 kDa, 16.5 kDa and 15.5 kDa were also reactive but their frequencies of the reaction were variable. Key words: Paragonimus westermani, human paragonimiasis, antigenic proteins, SDS-PAGE/ immunoblot