• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.1151-1160
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• 1999

This study was conducted to detect the toxoplasma-specific DNA in peripheral blood collected from cats experimentally infected with Toxoplasma gondii (RH strain) and from domiciled cats by B1 gene-base polymerise chain reaction(PCR). The sensitivity of oligonucleotide primer, T-1 & T-2, designed from toxoplasma B1 gene amplification method was compared with parasite detection by mouse inoculation(MI). And also, latex agglutination test(LAT) and indirect fluorescent antibody test(IFAT) were conducted to detect the fluctuation of serum antibodies compared with the detection of toxoplasma by PCR and MI. Toxoplasma B1 gene PCR was shown consistently high sensitivity and the results obtained by PCR agreed completely with those from MI. All blood samples collected before infection with T gondii gave negative results by PCR and MI. Also, toxoplasma Bl gene PCR was not cross reaction with Neospora caninum DNA and normal cat leucocyte as controls. The toxoplasma-specific DNA was detected by PCR in blood of 5 cats experimentally infected with T gondii 6 days after infection and the detection of this specific-DNA was long lasted in blood for 64 days after infection. The detection of toxoplasma-specific DNA by PCR could be identified as few as 10 tachyzoites and the isolation of T gondii by MI could be isolated as few as 1 tachyzoite from tenfold serial dilution of T gondii with normal cat blood, respectively. In healthy domiciled cats, the toxoplasma-specific DNA and the parasite were detected and isolated in blood from 3 of 56(5.3%) cats by both PCR and MI, respectively. In the results of antibody test from the total 56 heads of healthy domiciled cats, the positive rates are 15(26.7%) by LAT and 19(33.9%) by IFAT. These results suggest that PCR detection of toxoplasma can be applied as a sensitive and specific diagnostic and research tool.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.57 no.6
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• pp.607-612
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• 2019

The aim of this parasitological study is examining contemporary (the late 20th century) specimens of the arctic or subarctic areas in Western Siberia and comparing them with the information acquired from archaeological samples from the same area. In the contemporary specimens, we observed the parasite eggs of 3 different species: Opisthochis felineus, Ascaris lumbricoides, and Enterobius vermicularis. Meanwhile, in archaeoparasitological results of Vesakoyakha, Kikki-Akki, and Nyamboyto I burial grounds, the eggs of Diphyllobothrium and Taenia spp. were found while no nematode (soil-transmitted) eggs were observed in the same samples. In this study, we concluded helminth infection pattern among the arctic and subarctic peoples of Western Siberia throughout history as follows: the raw fish-eating tradition did not undergo radical change in the area at least since the 18th century; and A. lumbricoides or E. vermicularis did not infect the inhabitants of this area before 20th century. With respect to the Western Siberia, we caught glimpse of the parasite infection pattern prevalent therein via investigations on contemporary and archaeoparasitological specimens.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.57 no.4
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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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• v.59 no.6
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• pp.573-583
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• 2021

Toxoplasma gondii, an intracellular protozoan parasite that infects one-third of the world's population, has been reported to hijack host cell apoptotic machinery and promote either an anti- or proapoptotic program depending on the parasite virulence and load and the host cell type. However, little is known about the regulation of human FHs 74 small intestinal epithelial cell viability in response to T. gondii infection. Here we show that T. gondii RH strain tachyzoite infection or ESP treatment of FHs 74 Int cells induced apoptosis, mitochondrial dysfunction and ER stress in host cells. Pretreatment with 4-PBA inhibited the expression or activation of key molecules involved in ER stress. In addition, both T. gondii and ESP challenge-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and cell death were dramatically suppressed in 4-PBA pretreated cells. Our study indicates that T. gondii infection induced ER stress in FHs 74 Int cells, which induced mitochondrial dysfunction followed by apoptosis. This may constitute a potential molecular mechanism responsible for the foodborne parasitic disease caused by T. gondii.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.375-380
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• 2016

Angiostrongyliasis is difficult to be diagnosed for the reason that no ideal method can be used. Serologic tests require specific equipment and are not always available in poverty-stricken zone and are time-consuming. A lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) may be useful for angiostrongyliasis control. We established a LFIA for the diagnosis of angiostrongyliasis based on 2 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against antigens of Angiostrongylus cantonensis adults. The sensitivity and specificity were 91.1% and 100% in LFIA, while those of commercial ELISA kit was 97.8% and 86.3%, respectively. Youden index was 0.91 in LFIA and 0.84 in commercial ELISA kit. LFIA showed detection limit of 1 ng/ml of A. cantonensis ES antigens. This LFIA was simple, rapid, highly sensitive and specific, which opened an alternative approach for the diagnosis of human angiostrongyliasis.

• Journal of Korea Association of Health Promotion
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.62-71
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• 2005

In order to investigate the epidemiological situation of intestinal parasite infections in Lao PDR, parasitological surveys were carried out on a national scale including 17 Provinces and the Vientiane Municipality. A total of 29,846 stool specimens were collected from primary schoolchildren in May 2000 June 2002 and examined once with the cellophane thick smear technique. The cumulative egg Positive rate For intestinal helminthes was 61.9%, BV species, the rate for As caris lumbricoides was 34.9%, hookworm 19.1%, Trichuris trichiura 25.8%,Opisthorchis viverrini 10.9%, Taenia spp. 0.6% and Hymenolepis spp. 0.2%. The northern mountainous regions suck as Phongsaly, Huaphan or Saysomboune Province showed higher prevalence(over 70%) of soil- transmitted helminthes. The regions along the Mekong River such as Khammuane, Saravaue or Savannakhet Province showed higher prevalence(over 20%)of fish-borne parasites. On the other hand, Schistosoma mekongi eggs were detected from1.7% of schoolchildren only in Champassak Province, a previously known endemic area. The highest prevalence was noted in Phongsaly Province(96.0%) and the lowest in Bolikhamxay Province(27.5%). An additional smal1-scale survey by cellophane anal swab detected Enterobius vermicularis eggs in 35.7% of 451 schoolchildren aged 6-8 in Khammuane, Vientiane, Champassak Province and the Vientiane Municipality. Meanwhile, the mean blood hemoglobin level of hootrworm-infected children was not lower than that of hookworm-uninfected children, suggesting that nutritional factors are more important than parasite infection per se. Nevertheless, the above results indicate that a nationwide parasite control project is necessary to reduce possible morbidity of parasitic diseases in the country.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.485-488
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• 2010

Purpose: Paragonimiasis is infectious disease occurred by Paragonimus Westermani, which invades into human body as a final host. Habitual eating the freshwater crab or crawfish unboiled is one of the reason of infection. Paragonimiasis raged in 1970s in Korea, Japan, China and other Asian countries but the incidence decreased rapidly. Once people eat infected second host, parasite penetrates the duodenal wall and migrates to the lung. During this migration period, the parasite can migrate to other organ, such as brain, spinal cord, liver and subcutaneous tissue, but the cases are rarely reported. The objective of our study is to present our experience of the ectopic migration of parasite to the subcutaneous tissue of the abdomen, which was easily treated with excision and Praziquantel medication. Methods: A 59-year-old woman who likes eating unboiled freshwater crab was diagnosed as Paragonimiasis 15 months ago. Her symptoms were fever and cough, and she was treated with Praziquantel medication. 3 months after discharge, she visited our hospital with left pleuritic chest pain, cough with fever, and palpable mass formation on left lower quadrant of the abdomen. Wedge resection of the left lung and Praziquantel medication was maintained for a week. Nevertheless, fever persisted after the treatment. The patient received total excision of the abdominal soft tissue mass, and the fever was relieved. Results: Pathologic findings of the mass showed multiple cyst and abscess formation with crystal structure which is suspicious parts of the parasite or calcified egg shells. Uncontrolled fever was relieved after the operation, and there was no evidence of recurrent Paragonimiasis and ectopic migration for 1 year follow up period. Conclusion: Ectopic migration of Paragonimus is rare, but multiple organ can be involved. Patient with Paragominiasis who was refractory in fever control after Praziquantel medication or surgical evaluation of the lung should be considered as ectopic migration of the Paragonimiasis.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.319-329
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• 2022

The paramyxean parasite Marteilioides chungmuensis infects the cytoplasm of the eggs of Pacific oysters Crassostrea gigas , resulting in spawning failure of the infected females. Such infected eggs appear as bump-like nodules on the body in late fall when most of the uninfected females complete spawning. In this study, we estimated the quantity of the infected eggs using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), which is destroyed by M. chungmuensis parasitism. In December, the infected oysters collected from Tongyoung on the south coast exhibited numerous yellowish bump-like nodules as signs of infection. In histology, the infected oysters exhibited mature eggs in the follicle, which were heavily infiltrated by hemocytes. ELISA indicated that the infected egg mass accounted for 7.52±5.50 percent of the body weight, suggesting the ovarian parasite causes substantial reproductive loss. Histology also indicated that the infected oysters are in a poor nutritional condition, as the digestive gland atrophy (DGA) level is comparatively higher than the uninfected oyster. The total carbohydrate contents in the infected oysters (108.68±44.41 mg/g dry wt) were significantly lower than in uninfected oysters (269.76±50.97 mg/g dry wt), suggesting that M. chungmuensis parasitism also affected the energy storage capacity of the host during the resting stage.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.95-102
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• 1997

Author investigated internal parasitism for the feces of dog's training center, breeding-dog farm, dairy farm, home by 120 indoor breeding dog and 566 outdoor one in Inchon area. This survey was done from February in 1994 to December in 1995. 1. As a result of total 686 samples, positives were 373(54.4%). Among them, indoor and outdoor breeding dogs were 21(3.1%) 352(51.3%), respectively. 2. According to breeding, it was manifested that 21samples (17.5%) of 120 indoor breeding dogs were positive, and 352 samples(62.2%) of outdoor breeding were positive. 3. The infection rate of dogs for food in dairy farm, breeding dogs in the farm, dog of training center and dog of house is high in order. 4. Infection rate of parasites in 24 dogs breeds, Mongrel dogs were 81.3%, Shepherds were 80.0%, Tosas were 78.4%, Akida and Siberian huskys were 76.2%, Jindos were 55.5%, Pointers were 50.0%, although Afghan hound, Spanial, Shin-tzu, Maltis and Buldog were examined as aparasites negative. 5. After administration with vermicide parasites infection rate were 43.0% in two months. In four months, it were 66.7%, and dogs without vermicide were 87.0%. It seemed like that further research about dosage of vermicide is needed. 6. The rate of single-infection was 37.6% and that of mixed-infection was 16.8%. Among classified 13 types, Ancylostoma caninum 35.6%, Toxocara cams 11.2%, Isospora sp 9.3%, Toxascaris leonina 5.1%, Trychuris vulpis 4.4% were investigated.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.110-117
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this research was to describe clonorchis sinensis infection experience in high risk populations living in riverside areas. The research question was "How do local residents perceive Clonorchiasis and how are they infected with the parasite". Methods: Qualitative data were collected by focus group interviews with 16 participants from January to February, 2009. All the interviews were tape-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed by the content analysis method. Results: Five main categories were conceptualized, which were "lacking in understanding of Clonorchiasis," "culture of the rural community," "life style," "recovering experience from infection" and "change of health behavior." Conclusion: The result of this study indicates that residents are infected with Clonorchiasis through interaction between individual and group risky factors. Therefore, it is important to develop effective health education programs on both individual and group levels to prevent infection with Clonorchiasis.