• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제33권3호
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• pp.231-234
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• 1995

한국해양연구소의 극지연구센터가 운영되고 있는 남극 기지 부근 남극해에서 대구(Notoaenia neglecta)를 잡아 조사한 결과 위와 간에서 선충류 유충이 발견되었다. 광학현미경 및 전자현미경적 관찰 결과 이들은 인체에 codworm anisakiasis를 일으킬 수 있는 물개회충(Pseudotewunon decipiens)의 제3기 유충으로 동정되었다 유충의 길이는 25.0-28.5 m였고, 폭은 0.6-0.8 mm 였다. 주사전자현미경 소견상 충체 앞부분에서 boring tooth가 뚜렷이 관찰되었고, 3개의 입술과 배설공이 존재하였다. 충체 끝부분에는 작지만 뚜렷한 mucron 1개가 관찰되었다. 충체 단면의 광학현미경적 소견에서는 ventriculus의 전방 부위에서 특징적으로 ventriculus, intestinal caecum 및 Renette cell이 동시에 절단되어 있는 것이 관찰되었다. 이상의 결과를 통해 남극해산 대구가 물 개회충의 제3기 유충에 감염되어 있음을 확인할 수 있었으며, 남극해산 대구를 날로 먹을 경우 codworm anisakiasis를 유발할 수 있으므로 주의가 요망되었다.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제36권1호
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• pp.55-58
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• 1998

라오스 남부의 메콩강 유역에서 위치한 Pakes 지역 주민의 장내 윤충류 감염 상황을 조사하였다. 대상 인원은 현지 보건소 직원 및 가족 등 성인 90명과 초등학교 학생 47명으로 모두 137명이었다. 검사방법으로는 Kato-Katz 셀로판후층도말법을 이용하였고, 1인당 1회 검사하였다. 검사 결과, 총 충란 양성률은 75.9%로 매우 높았고, 검출된 윤층은 Opisthorchis viverrini (평균 양성률 43.8%), 회충 (26.3%), 편충 (19.0%), 구충 (19.0%), 분선층 (2.2%), 유. 무구조충 (0.7%) 및 메콩주협흡충 (Schistosoma mekongi) (1.5%)이었다. O. viverrini 충란 양성자 3인으로부터 충체를 회수하고자 프라지콴텔로 치료하고 하제를 부여한 바 설사변에서 O. viverrini 성충 5, 10 및 395마리를 각각 회수할 수 있었다. 이상의 결과로 라오스의 Pakse 지역은 O. viverrini 및 토양매개성 윤충 감염이 농후하며, 메콩주혈흡충의 생활사가 이루어지고 있을 것으로 추측되었다.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제49권3호
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• pp.313-316
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• 2011

Vivax malaria is a significant military and civilian health threat in the north of the Republic of Korea (ROK). The island of Baengnyeong-do is the westernmost point of the ROK and is located close to the southwestern coast of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). Mosquitoes were collected using a black light trap on Baengnyeong-do, and Anopheles spp. were assayed by PCR, to identify the species, and screened for sporozoites of Plasmodium vivax. Of a subsample of 257 mosquitoes, Anopheles lesteri was the most frequently collected (49.8%), followed by Anopheles sinensis (22.6%), Anopheles pullus (18.7%), Anopheles kleini (7.8%), and Anopheles belenrae (1.2%). The overall sporozoite rate was 3.1%, with the highest rates observed in An. kleini (15.0%), An. sinensis (5.2%), and An. lesteri (1.6%). No sporozoite positive An. pullus or An. belenrae were observed. The results extend our knowledge of the distribution and potential role in malaria transmission of An. kleini, An. lesteri, and An. sinensis, for an area previously considered to be at a low risk for contracting vivax malaria.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제45권2호
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• pp.121-128
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• 2007

Arthrostoma miyazakiense (Nematoda: Ancylostomatidae) is a hookworm species reported from the small intestines of raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) in Japan. Five Korean raccoon dogs (N. procyonoides koreensis) caught from 2002 to 2005 in Jeollanam-do (Province), a southeastern area of South Korea, contained helminth eggs belonging to 4 genera (roundworm, hookworm, whipworm, and Capillaria spp.) and cysts of Giardia sp. in their feces. Necropsy findings of 1 raccoon dog revealed a large number of adult hookworms in the duodenum. These hookworms were identified as Arthrostoma miyazakiense based on the 10 articulated plates observed in the buccal capsule and the presence of right-sided prevulval papillae. Eggs of A. miyazakiense were $60-65{\times}35-40{\mu}m$ (av, $62.5{\times}35{\mu}m$), and were morphologically indistinguishable from those of Ancyiostoma caninum. The eggs were cultured to infective 2nd stage larvae via charcoal culture, and 100 infective larvae were used to experimentally infect each of 3 mixed-bred puppies. All puppies harbored hookworm eggs in their feces on the 12th day after infection. This is the first report thus far concerning A. miyazakiense infections in raccoon dogs in Korea, and the first such report outside of Japan.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제53권5호
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• pp.605-610
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• 2015

Toxoplasmosis is considered as an important risk factor for bad obstetric history (BOH) and one of the major causes of congenitally acquired infections. The present study aimed to estimate the seropositivity of T. gondii infection and associated risk factors among the attendees of high risk pregnancy and low risk antenatal care clinic of Minia Maternity and Pediatric University Hospital, Minia, Egypt. The study was carried out from April 2013 to April 2014 through 2 phases, the first phase was case-control study, and the second phase was follow-up with intervention. A total of 120 high risk pregnant and 120 normal pregnant females were submitted to clinical examinations, serological screening for anti-Toxoplasma IgM and IgG antibodies by ELISA, and an interview questionnaire. Seropositive cases were subjected to spiramycin course treatment. The results showed that the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in high-risk pregnancy group was 50.8%, which was significantly different from that of normal pregnancy group (P<0.05). Analysis of seropositive women in relation to BOH showed that abortion was the commonest form of the pregnancy wastage (56.5%). The high prevalence of T. gondii seropositive cases was observed in the age group of 21-30 years. Post-delivery adverse outcome was observed in 80.3% of high-risk pregnancy group compared to 20% of normal pregnancy group. There was a statistically significant relationship between seropositivity and living in rural area, low socioeconomic level, and undercooked meat consumption (P<0.05). Serological screening for anti-Toxoplasma antibodies should be routine tests especially among high-risk pregnant women.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제51권1호
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• pp.75-84
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• 2013

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is an endemic parasitic infection in the Mediterranean region, including Libya and its Al-jabal Al-gharbi province. We aimed at studying the occupational relevance as well as other epidemiological aspects of CL. We investigated 140 CL cases who attended at Gharyan outpatient polyclinic during a period of 6 months in 2009. CL infection was clinically diagnosed and confirmed by demonstration of Leishmania parasites on smears from lesions. Our findings showed that males were more affected than females (P=0.04), and people above 10-years were more affected than younger ones (P=0.0001). A significant percent of CL cases belonged to Al-Kawasem subprovince (P=0.0001). Farm-related activities were the most frequent occupations among CL cases (P=0.04). In addition to farm workers, housewives and students are at risk groups since they are engaged at farm activities. Moreover, those who have occupations that require staying outdoors for a part of night, e.g., policemen, are also at risk. Compared to children, adult CL patients had multiple lesions (P=0.001) that were more prevalent in their upper and lower extremities than the face (P=0.0001). We conclude that CL is a major health problem in Al-jabal Al-gharbi province of Libya. The presence of rodents and sandflies makes it a suitable environment for Leishmania to spread in an endemic epidemiological pattern. Being engaged in farming activities or outdoor occupations increases the risk of infection. Various clinical patterns of CL suggest the presence of more than 1 species of Leishmania at Al-jabal Al-gharbi province. We propose that the 2 species responsible for CL in this area are L. major and L. tropica. Further investigations to identify the leishmanial species responsible for CL at Al-jabal Al-gharbi together with adoption of preventive and control programs are needed.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제51권1호
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• pp.139-142
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• 2013

Pinworm infection can occur through contact with contaminated surfaces followed by ingestion or even through inhalation of infective eggs. We have limited information regarding environmental contamination by eggs of Enterobius vermicularis. In order to determine environmental risk factors associated with the rate of E. vermicularis infection, we investigated possible environmental risk factors using a questionnaire from 46 kindergartens in 3 different cities of the southeast area of Korea. In total, using the cellotape anal swab technique, 3,422 children were examined for E. vermicularis infection. We evaluated E. vermicularis egg of books, educational materials, toys, room door handles, dusts of window edges, desks, chairs, tables, and dusts of classrooms. The overall egg-positive rate for E. vermicularis was 6.0%, and the prevalence of enterobiasis in each kindergarten ranged between 0% and 16.9%. We found that 78.9% of egg positive kindergartens were managed by private foundations, which was significantly higher, compared with kindergartens managed by public foundations or the nation. Compared with public or national kindergartens, most private kindergartens were located in residential areas and the number of children in these areas was significantly higher. In conclusion, numbers of children in kindergartens was found to be an environmental risk factor associated with transmission of enterobiasis in Korea.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제57권6호
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• pp.705-708
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• 2019

Gymnophalloides seoi (Digenea: Gymnophallidae) is a human intestinal trematode contracted by eating raw oysters (Crassostrea gigas) in the Republic of Korea (=Korea). It has been known to be highly endemic in Aphae Island, Shinan-gun, Jeollanam-do (Province). However, recent epidemiological status of G. seoi has not been reported since the 1990s. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of G. seoi metacercariae in natural and cultured oysters collected from 3 islands and 2 coastal areas in western parts of Korea. The oysters were examined using the artificial digestion method followed by stereomicroscopy. The overall positive rate of G. seoi metacercariae in natural oysters was 66.0% (99/150), and the oysters collected from Yubu Island showed the highest infection rate (74.0%). However, the metacercarial density per oyster was relatively low (1.5-2.4 per oyster). By contrast, no metacercaria was found in cultured oysters purchased from 2 coastal areas in Chungcheongnam-do. Thus, we could confirm that natural oysters produced from 3 western coastal islands are infected with G. seoi metacercariae, whereas cultured oysters purchased from 2 coastal areas were free from infection.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제58권2호
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• pp.173-179
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• 2020

Leishmaniasis is a prevalent cause of death and animal morbidity in underdeveloped countries of endemic area. However, there is few vaccine and effective drugs. Antimicrobial peptides are involved in the innate immune response in many organisms and are being developed as novel drugs against parasitic infections. In the present study, we synthesized a 5-amino acid peptide REDLK, which mutated the C-terminus of Pseudomonas exotoxin, to identify its effect on the Leishmania tarentolae. Promastigotes were incubated with different concentration of REDLK peptide, and the viability of parasite was assessed using MTT and Trypan blue dye. Morphologic damage of Leishmania was analyzed by light and electron microscopy. Cellular apoptosis was observed using the annexin V-FITC/PI apoptosis detection kit, mitochondrial membrane potential assay kit and flow cytometry. Our results showed that Leishmania tarentolae was susceptible to REDLK in a dose-dependent manner, disrupt the surface membrane integrity and caused parasite apoptosis. In our study, we demonstrated the leishmanicidal activity of an antimicrobial peptide REDLK from Pseudomonas aeruginosa against Leishmania tarentolae in vitro and present a foundation for further research of anti-leishmanial drugs.

• 한국농공학회논문집
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• 제63권6호
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• pp.61-75
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• 2021

This study aims to assess the changes in crop water requirement of paddy and upland according to future climate and land use changes scenarios. Changes in the spatiotemporal distribution of temperature and precipitation are factors that lower the stability of agricultural water supply, and predicting the changes in crop water requirement in consideration of climate change can prevent the waste of limited water resources. Meanwhile, due to the recent changes in the agricultural product consumption structure, the area of paddy and upland has been changing, and it is necessary to consider future land use changes in establishing an appropriate water use plan. Climate change scenarios were derived from the four GCMs of the CMIP6, and climate data were extracted under two future scenarios, namely SSP1-2.6 and SSP5-8.5. Future land use changes were predicted using the FLUS (Future Land Use Simulation) model. Crop water requirement in paddy was calculated as the sum of evapotranspiration and infiltration based on the water balance in a paddy field, and crop water requirement in upland was estimated as the evapotranspiration value by applying Penman-Monteith method. It was found that the crop water requirement for both paddy and upland increased as we go to the far future, and the degree of increase and variability by time showed different results for each GCM. The results derived from this study can be used as basic data to develop sustainable water resource management techniques considering future watershed environmental changes.