• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.269-276
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• 1993

To ascertain that tegument of Pnragonimus westermoni has specific antigenic proteins, the tegumental fraction was isolated from 10-month-old worms by 0.1% digitonin solution, and subjected to SDS-PAGE and immunoblot. Component proteins of tegumental syncytium comprised of 94, 74 (76-66), 62, 54, 44, 42, 38, 28, 26, 25, 24, 17, 15.5 and 13.5 kDa proteins. Of them, the 94, 44 and 42kDa proteins were more specific to tegument, especially the 94 kDa protein was the most prevailing one. In immunoblot, antigens of the 94, 90, 78, 76, 74, 68, 65, 63, 60, 59 and 54 kDa proteins were commonly detected by 7 sera of 10 human paragonimlasis, but none of them reacted with 5 sera of clonorchiasis. In conclusion, the 94 kDa protein was the major tegumental protein, as well as the specific antigen. The 76 and 66 kDa proteins were the minor components of tegument, which were also specific antigens of R westermcni.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.75-84
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• 2000

Antibody responses in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from patients with active and chronic paragonimiasis and in sera from patients on whom follow-up studies were done after praziquantel treatment were analyzed using antigens of Paragonimus westermani prepared from eggs, metacercariae, juveniles of 4-and 7-week old, adult worms and recombinant protein of 28 kDa cruzipain-like cysteine protease (rPw28CCP). The patient sera/CSFs of active and chronic paragonimiasis revealed strong antibody reactions against the crude extracts of 4-and 7-week old juveniles as well as against those from egg and adult. rPw28CCP also showed specific reaction to the sera with active paragonimiasis. After the treatment, levels of specific antibodies in the sera gradually decreased to negative range in most patients. In some cases with persisting high antibody levels, however, the reactions at 27 kDa egg Protein were sustained throughout the observation period of 34 months. The reactions at 35 and 32 kDa in adult extract and rPw28CCP disappeared rapidly after the treatment. Persistent antibody reactions even after successful treatment are provoked by continuous antigenic challenge from eggs which were not resolved by treatment.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.75-78
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• 2010

The present study investigated characteristics of 24 parasite infection cases detected during colonoscopy in a regional hospital from January 2001 to December 2008. Sixteen patients were confirmed with Trichuris trichiura infection, 6 patients were with Ascaris lumbricoides infection, 1 patient with Enterobius vermicularis infection, and 1 patient with Anisakis infection. Among them, 7 patients (43.8%) were asymptomatic. Colonoscopy findings were normal in 18 patients (75.0%). Among the patients with T. trichiura infection, colonoscopy showed several erosions in 2 patients (8.3%) and non-specific inflammation of the affected segment of the colon in 3 patients (12.5%). In 1 patient with anisakiasis, colonoscopy revealed a markedly swollen colonic wall. Stool examinations were performed before treatment in 7 patients (29.2%) and were all negative for parasite eggs or worms. These results suggest that colonoscopy is a useful diagnostic approach for parasitic infections even for asymptomatic patients and for patients with negative stool examinations.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.441-448
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• 2013

This study describes the first record of Bourgelatia diducta (Nematoda: Chabertiidae) from wild boars in the Republic of Korea (=South Korea). Gastrointestinal tracts of 87 Korean wild boars (Sus scrofa coreanus) hunted in mountains in the south-western part of South Korea between 2009 and 2012 were examined for their visceral helminths. B. diducta, as identified by morphological characteristics of the head and tail, were recovered from the large intestine of 47 (54%) wild boars. The average length of adult female worms was $11.3{\pm}0.872$ mm and the thickest part of the body measured $0.54{\pm}0.04$ mm in maximum width, while those of males were $9.8{\pm}0.72$ and $0.45{\pm}0.03$ mm, respectively. The characteristic J-shaped type II ovejector was observed in females, and the type II dorsal ray with 2 rami on each side of the median fissure was uniquely seen in males. The buccal capsule was small, relatively thin-walled, cylindrical, very short, and ring-shaped. The externodorsal ray arose from a common stem with the dorsal ray. The cervical groove was absent. The anterior extremity was equipped with 20-22 external corona radiata, 4 cephalic papillae and 2 lateral amphids around the mouth. The eggs were $66.0{\times}38.9{\mu}m$ in average size. By the present study, B. diducta (Nematoda: Chabertiidae) is recorded for the first time in South Korea. Additionally, morphological characteristics and identification keys provided in the present study will be helpful in the faunistic or taxonomic studies for strongylid nematodes related.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.39-45
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• 2017

The present study was performed to reveal the morphological characteristics and molecular phylogenetic position of Platynosomum fastosum Kossack, 1910. A total 167 specimens of P. fastosum were collected in 8 (4.9%) out of 163 sets of gall-bladders and bile ducts of cats. The number of worms was 1-105 per infected cat. This species was characterized by having a long and slender body, slightly larger ventral sucker than the oral sucker, indistinct prepharynx, small pharynx, short esophagus, bifurcation midway between 2 suckers, and ceca extending to the posterior end of the body. The length of the partial sequences of ITS1 and 5.8S rDNA of P. fastosum were 990 bp, GC-rich. AT/GC ratio was 0.9, there were 9 polymorphic sites, and intraspecific variations ranged from 0.1% to 0.9%. Phylogenetic analyses by neighbor-joining phylogram inferred from ITS1 rDNA sequences revealed that the genetic distance between P. fastosum specimens ranged from 0.3 to 1.5% while the smallest interspecific distance among dicrocoeliid species was 20.9 %. The redescription and genetic characters of P. fastosum are taxonomically important to recognize future different species of the genus Platynosomum showing high intraspecific and morphological variability.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.87-91
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• 2018

Morphological and molecular characteristics of spirometrid tapeworms, Spirometra decipiens, were studied, which were recovered from a heavily infected stray cat road-killed in Eumseong-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do (Province), the Republic of Korea (=Korea). A total of 134 scolices and many broken immature and mature proglottids of Spirometra tapeworms were collected from the small intestine of the cat. Morphological observations were based on 116 specimens. The scolex was 22.8-32.6 mm (27.4 mm in average) in length and small spoon-shape with 2 distinct bothria. The uterus was coiled 3-4 times, the end of the uterus was ball-shaped, and the vaginal aperture shaped as a crescent moon was closer to the cirrus aperture than to the uterine aperture. PCR amplification and direct sequencing of the cox1 target fragment (377 bp in length and corresponding to positions 769-1,146 bp of the cox1 gene) were performed using total genomic DNA extracted from 134 specimens. The cox1 sequences (377 bp) of the specimens showed 99.0% similarity to the reference sequence of S. decipiens and 89.3% similarity to the reference sequence of S. erinaceieuropaei. In the present study, we report a stray cat heavily infected with S. decipiens identified by mitochondrial cox1 sequence analysis and morphological examinations of the adult worms.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.559-567
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• 1994

As a series of studies to investigate the effect of immunosuppression on Ascaris suum infection in undefinitive hosts, and a delicate relationship between host and parasite, in the present studies, SPF ICR mice were alloted to experiment 1(normal undefinitive host group) and experiment 2(immunosuppressive group treated with prednisolone acetate) and inoculated with a single dose of 1,100 embryonated A suum eggs. In normal group, the infection essentially terminates 4 days after inoculation(DAI) with the attainment of middle third-stage in the liver, although few larvae migrate to the lungs where a few advance to late third stage. In immunosuppressive group, significant numbers developed to late third-stage in liver 8 DAI. In general, increasing of the mast cells and the goblet cells in the jejunum mucosa, of T-cells in the spleen and of activity of peritoneal macrophages followed by expulsion of the worms in the both groups. Considering a series of the results, suitabilities for the host of the worm appeared the highest from rabbit, hamster and mouse in that order. In addition, patent infection of A suum in the mice was also not obviously observed in spite of immunosuppression by prednisolone acetate.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.135-148
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• 2005

Objective : The purpose of this study is to take around the oriental medical treatment about substance related disorder in china. Method : We review the studies which are published by six different journal in China since 1992 to 2002 involved in substance related disorders. Result 1. The kinds of substance which is the subject of each study. It suggest that the narcotics-withdrawal patients in china take kinds of opium many more than phillopon or barbiturate, cocain etc. especially the heroine takes the most portion in the kinds of opium. 2. The type of chinese medicine demonstration which is about the addiction and withdrawal. There are many symptoms in the each period of withdrawal, According to the each period demonstration, the herbal formula must be different. 3. The formula used in treatment and the substance which is used in common Codonopsis radix is widely used, and pinellia ternata, aractylodes japonica, citrus nobilis, vegetable worms, angelica gigas, zizyphus jujuba, panax ginseng, astragalus membranaceus etc are also used in treatment. 4. The methods of acupunture treatment Hapkok(LI-4), Naegwan(PC6), and Sanyinjiao(SP6) are the widely used acu-points. in addition to these acupoints, there are waegwan(TE5) choksamli(ST36) hanggan(LR2)etc. Conclusion : We expect that this review about substance related disorders in TCM help the clinical study of substance related disorders in Korean medicine.

• BMB Reports
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.107-113
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• 2004

Since the completion of the genome project of the nematode C. elegans in 1998, functional genomic approaches have been applied to elucidate the gene and protein networks in this model organism. The recent completion of the whole genome of C. briggsae, a close sister species of C. elegans, now makes it possible to employ the comparative genomic approaches for identifying regulatory mechanisms that are conserved in these species and to make more precise annotation of the predicted genes. RNA interference (RNAi) screenings in C. elegans have been performed to screen the whole genome for the genes whose mutations give rise to specific phenotypes of interest. RNAi screens can also be used to identify genes that act genetically together with a gene of interest. Microarray experiments have been very useful in identifying genes that exhibit co-regulated expression profiles in given genetic or environmental conditions. Proteomic approaches also can be applied to the nematode, just as in other species whose genomes are known. With all these functional genomic tools, genetics will still remain an important tool for gene function studies in the post genome era. New breakthroughs in C. elegans biology, such as establishing a feasible gene knockout method, immortalized cell lines, or identifying viruses that can be used as vectors for introducing exogenous gene constructs into the worms, will augment the usage of this small organism for genome-wide biology.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.30-36
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• 1984

An ultrastructural study on the mature spermatoBoa oi Cloptorchis sineitsis was carried out. For this study, the liver cukes were collected from the livers of rabbits and rats artificially infected with the metacercariae obtained from the fresh water fish, Pseudorasbora parve. Six-month old worms were used. The collected liver fiukes were washed with 0.85% saline solution and then immediately moved to cold 2% glutaraldehyde buffered with 0.1M Millonig's phosphate buffier (pH 7.4) . The materials were dissected into appropriate pieces in the fixative about 30 minutes after beginning of the fixation. Two hours later the materials containing the seminal receptacle were rinsed several times with the buffier and were secondarily fixed with cold, bugeyed 1% osmium tetroxide(OsO4) for 2 hours. The fully mixed tissue blocks Ivere dehydrated in a series of graded concentrations of acetone and were embedded in Epon 812 mixture. Thin sections obtained from LKB-5 ultramicrotome were stained with uranyl acetate and Reynold's lead citrate. Observations of the sections were carried out with JEM-100CX II electron microscope, In general, the mature sperm was long thread-like form with a sickle-shaped head. According to the longitudinal sectioned view of the sperm tail, the nucleus seemed to be spirally coiled and run a little far along the tail. The acrosome was not observed. The cytoplasm of the tail was biflagellated as usual in trematodes. Unlike other platyhelminth spermatozoa, the sperm tail of Clenorchis sinensis showed the ${\ulcorner}9+2{\lrcorner}$ in the microtubular arrangement. The mitochondria with poorly developed cristae were observed throughout the middle piece. The middle piece of the tail showed dull ladder or triangular shapes with the two flagella at the bottom. But, the principal piece of the tail was slightly flattened cylindrical shape with two aagella within the cytoplasm. The end piece was uniflagellated. It was not clearly identised whether the end piece was subdivided into two by aagellum or the lengths of the two aagella were different. The glycogen granules were rich in the cytoplasm throughout the lenght of the spermatozoa. These granules might be the energy source for the movement of the spermatosoa.