• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.13-19
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• 2015

Blastocystis sp. is a common zoonotic intestinal protozoa which has been classified into 17 subtypes (STs). A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence and subtype distribution of Blastocystis in villagers living on the Thai-Myanmar border, where the risk of parasitic infection is high. A total of 207 stool samples were collected and DNA was extracted. PCR and sequencing using primers targeting small-subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene were performed. The prevalence of Blastocystis infection was 37.2% (77/207). ST3 (19.8%; 41/207) was the predominant subtype, followed by ST1 (11.6%; 24/207), ST2 (5.3%; 11/207), and ST4 (0.5%; 1/207). A phylogenetic tree was reconstructed using the maximum likelihood (ML) method based on the Hasegawa-Kishino-Yano + G + I model. The percentage of bootstrapped trees in which the associated taxa clustered together was relatively high. Some sequences of Blastocystis positive samples (TK18, 39, 46, 71, and 90) were closely related to animals (pig and cattle) indicating zoonotic risks. Therefore, proper health education in parasitic prevention for the villagers should be promoted to improve their personal hygiene. Further longitudinal studies are required to monitor the prevalence of parasitic infections after providing health education and to investigate Blastocystis ST in animals living in these villages.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.513-521
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• 2017

Infectious diarrhea is endemic in most developing countries. We aimed to investigate the protozoan, viral, and bacterial causes of acute diarrhea in Taif, Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional prospective 1-year study was conducted on 163 diarrheal patients of various ages. Stool samples were collected, 1 per patient, and tested for 3 protozoa, 3 viruses, and 9 bacteria with the Luminex Gastrointestinal Pathogen Panel. Overall, 53.4% (87/163) of samples were positives (20.8% protozoa, 19.6% viruses, 2.8% bacteria, and 9.8% mixed). Rotavirus (19.6%), Giardia duodenalis (16.5%), and Cryptosporidium spp. (8.5%) were the mostly detected pathogens. Adenovirus 40/41 (4.2%), Salmonella (3%), Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (3%), and Entamoeba histolytica (2.4%) were also detected. Norovirus GI/II, Vibrio cholerae, Yersinia enterocolitica, and Clostridium difficile toxin A/B were not detected in any patients. All pathogens were involved in coinfections except E. histolytica. Giardia (5.5%) and rotavirus (3%) were the most commonly detected in co-infections. Enterotoxigenic E. coli (2.4%), Campylobacter spp. (2.4%), E. coli 0157 (1.8%), and Shigella spp. (1.2%) were detected in patients only as co-infections. Infections were more in children 0-4 years, less in adults <40 years, and least >40 years, with statistically significant differences in risk across age groups observed with rotavirus (P<0.001), Giardia (P=0.006), and Cryptosporidium (P=0.036) infections. Lastly, infections were not significantly more in the spring. This report demonstrates the high burden of various enteropathogens in the setting. Further studies are needed to define the impact of these findings on the clinical course of the disease.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.37-44
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• 2018

Purpose: This study investigates the influences of coughing direction and healthcare worker's location on the transport characteristics of coughed particles in airborne infection isolation room (AIIR), which is commonly called negative pressure isolation room, with a downward ventilation system. Methods: Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) was used to simulate the airflow and for tracing the behavior of particles. Results: The results show that the airflow pattern and coughing direction have a significant influence on the characteristics of particle dispersion and deposition. When healthcare workers are in the isolation room with the patient who is lying on the bed, it is recommended to be located far from the anteroom to reduce the exposures from infectious particles. And when the patient is lying, it is more effective in removing particles than when the patient is in Fowler's position. Although it is an isolation room that produces unidirectional flow, coughing particles can spread to the whole room and a large number of particles can be deposited onto patient, bed, side rails, healthcare worker, ceiling, floor, and sidewall. Implications: Following the patients' discharge or transfer, terminal cleaning of the vacated room, furniture, and all clinical equipment is essential. Also, it is necessary to establish detailed standard operating procedure (SOP) in order to reduce the risk of cross-contamination.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.227-237
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• 1997

Five species of intertidal clams including Ruditapes philippinarum, Tegillarca granosa, Solen strictus, Heteromacoma irus, and Coecella chinensis were tested for the presence of the protozoan parasite, Perkinsus sp. using fluid thioglycollate medium (FTM) fortified with antibiotics and histological techniques. Each individual clam was placed in a test tube filled with 10ml FTM, placed in totally dark place, and incubated over a week. After incubation the clam tissues were stained with Lugol's iodine solution and examined under a light microscope to find out any hypnospores of Perkensus sp. in the tissues. Cross-sections of the clams were also embedded in paraffin, sliced to 3um, and stained with Harry's hematoxylene and Picro eosine to observe the presence of tomont or trophozoites. Perkinsus sp. were found in the presence of tomont or trophozoites. Perkinsus sp. were found in the tissues of R. philippinarum collected from Kangjin and Wando, along the south coast of Korea. However, Perkinsus sp. was not found in four other species of clams nor R. philippinaurm collected from Kimnyong and Waido in Cheju. A size-dependent Perkinsus sp. infection was found in R. philippinarum collected rom Kangjin and Wando the clams smaller than 15mm in shell width do not exhibit and Perkinsus sp. while other clams greater than 20mm in shell width exhibit almost 100% infection. To determine the number of Perkinsus sp. in the clams, FTM cultured clam tissues were digested with 2M NaOH solution and the number of hypnospores in the tube were counted. The number of hypnospores counted from the tissues indicated that each Manila clam contains 100,000 to 3,500,000 Perkinsus cells or 20,000 to 1,000,000 cells per gram tissue wet weight. The results of cell counts also suggests that such a high occurrence of Perkinsus sp. in the clam may cause mortality, as already reported from other studies of Perkinsus spp.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.2007-2011
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• 2014

Background: Human papilloma virus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infectious agent. It is estimated that 10% of all women worldwide are infected with HPV, that is some 660 million each year. HPV vaccination has a reported efficacy of more than 98% for protection against infection in females. In 2008 the Abu Dhabi Health Authority in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) introduced free HPV vaccination for all eligible schoolgirls in both public and private schools. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 640 women aged 18-50 years in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi in UAE from April 2012 to October 2012 was conducted. Results: Thirty-seven percent of the women in our sample had heard about HPV vaccination, and 80% of these would consider getting vaccinated themselves, and 87% would recommend vaccination to relatives or friends. Most women in the study (69%) had a favorable opinion about the vaccine. Only 17% of the women felt it might not be culturally acceptable, and 1% felt that there might be religious objections to HPV vaccination. Vaccine safety and recommendation by a doctor (36% each) were the factors identified most frequently by our sample of women which would enhance the uptake of the HPV vaccination. Conclusions: Knowledge about HPV vaccination among women in our sample was below average (37%); however, 80% of those who had heard about HPV vaccination were willing to be vaccinated themselves, and 87% would recommend vaccination to relatives and friends.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.507-510
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• 1990

A preliminary survey of Sarcocystis species in the slaughtered cattle in Cheju was undertaken during May through October 1989, using digested diagnostic technique for the heart, the esophagus and the dorsal muscles of the neck specimens digested in 0.5% trypsin solution. The results obtained were summarized as follows. 1. The overall infection rate of Sarcocystis in a total of 218 slaughtered cattle was as high as 36.7% with the highest frequencies in the esophagus muscles(21. 6%), followed by in the dorsal muscles of the neck(19.1%) and in the heart rnuscles(17.9%). 2. Age difference was noticed as 64.3% in the cattle older than five years in comparison with 41.7%, 34.4%, in the group of two to four years and in the group of younger than two years respectively. 3. It was also noticed that the prevalence in the Brahman cross breed was higher(40.0%) than in any other breeds. 4. Regional distribution of Sarcocystis infections was observed as 75.0% in south-east area, 50.0% 44.7%, 35.0%, 32.0% and 20.6% in the areas of Seogwipo city, north-west, south-west, Cheju city and northeast area respectively. 5. According to the type of rearing the infection rate in the ranch type farm was noticed with and in the stock farms(36.2%).

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.163-167
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• 1996

Aseptic meningitis, the most common infection of the central nervous system, is an acute illness mostly caused by enteroviruses. Cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) has been used for the detection of enteroviral RNA but the detection has been mostly performed in a single CSF specimen obtained during the illness. A major objective was to evaluate the relation of sampling time to the recovery of enteroviral RNA in CSF. Thirty seven CSF specimens were obtained from 24 patients between May and August 1993, when an outbreak of asceptic meningitis by echovirus type 9 occurred. Enteroviral RNA in CSF was detected by polymerase chain reaction(PCR). Data about onset of symptom development were obtained by review of medical records. Enteroviral RNA was detected by PCR in 29 of 37 CSF specimens. PCR yielded positive results in 4 of 5 CSF specimens obtained on day 1 to 3, 10 of 11 on day 4 to 6, 8 of 10 on day 7 to 9, 6 of 8 on day 10 to 12, 1 of 3 on day 13 to 15 postonset. Of 11 patients from each of whom more than one CSF were obtained on different day postonset, PCR yielded positive resutls in 2 of 3 cases in whom enteroviral RNA detection was negative in the first CSF. These results indicate that two or more CSF specimens obtained within 12 days postonset are required for improving the accuracy of the diagnosis of enteroviral meningitis.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.402-413
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• 2015

Yellow rust (stripe rust), caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici, is one of the most destructive foliar diseases of wheat in Egypt and worldwide. In order to identify wheat genotypes resistant to yellow rust and develop molecular markers associated with the resistance, fifty F8 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from a cross between resistant and susceptible bread wheat landraces were obtained. Artificial infection of Puccinia striiformis was performed under greenhouse conditions during two growing seasons and relative resistance index (RRI) was calculated. Two Egyptian bread wheat cultivars i.e. Giza-168 (resistant) and Sakha-69 (susceptible) were also evaluated. RRI values of two-year trial showed that 10 RILs responded with RRI value >6 <9 with an average of 7.29, which exceeded the Egyptian bread wheat cultivar Giza-168 (5.58). Thirty three RILs were included among the acceptable range having RRI value >2 <6. However, only 7 RILs showed RRI value <2. Five RILs expressed hypersensitive type of resistance (R) against the pathogen and showed the lowest Average Coefficient of Infection (ACI). Bulked segregant analysis (BSA) with eight simple sequence repeat (SSR), eight sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) and sixteen random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers revealed that three SSR, three SRAP and six RAPD markers were found to be associated with the resistance to yellow rust. However, further molecular analyses would be performed to confirm markers associated with the resistance and suitable for marker-assisted selection. Resistant RILs identified in the study could be efficiently used to improve the resistance to yellow rust in wheat.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.32-35
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• 1978

The infectious flacherie viruses are serious diseases in the silkworm, which affects the cocoon crops. However, there is only a few study on this diseases up-to-date in Korea and, in this experiment, the authors investigated the resistance of the silkworm varieties to flacherie and Ina-flacherie viruses by peroral infection. A cross, Hansaeng ＃1$\times$ Harisaeng ＃2, showed the highest resistance to the flacherie virus a Mudeung$\times$Geumho showed the lowest resistance among the examined varieties. It seemed that the varietal difference of resistance against Ina-flacherie virus was appeared and Jam117$\times$ Jam118, Gyeongchu$\times$Yeonil, Mudeung$\times$Geumho, Hansaeng＃1$\times$Hansaeng＃2 and Hansaeng＃3 $\times$ Hansaeng ＃4 showed non susceptibility by peroral infection. However it was shown that Jam115 $\times$Jam116 had the lowest resistance to Ina-flacherie virus.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.85-94
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to observe the degree of mask contamination in dental hygienist for general and oral bacteria and to identify areas of mask contamination after treatment. Methods: Masks were collected with every fifty dental hygienists who currently working in the department of preventive dentistry, prosthodontics, and orthodontics in Busan. The mask bacteria were collected in specific upper and side parts of the mask. Hand germs were collected using sterile cotton swabs, and then placed in a sterile conical tube. These were transferred to the laboratory. Hand germs and mask bacteria were incubated with nutrient broth (NB) and brain heart infusion broth (BHI) for 24 hrs and each cultured with NB and BHI plate at $37^{\circ}C$ for 48 hrs. Collected data were analyzed using the SPSS Window 20. Results: The number of bacteria was observed in the order of the department of preventive dentistry ($10.1{\times}10^5CFU/ml$), prosthodontics ($14.7{\times}10^5CFU/ml$), and orthodontics ($23.3{\times}10^5CFU/ml$) in the hand. In general bacteria, the difference of contamination was seen by the parts of the mask, but there was no significant difference. However, the oral bacteria were observed highly contaminated upper part of the mask in preventive dentistry. The mask contamination according to the medical departments was observed. Especially, the contamination of mask in preventive dentistry was significantly higher than other departments in oral bacteria. Conclusion: This study suggested that correct mask replacement and recognition of contamination areas can contribute to the prevention of infectious disease. and it would be necessary to increase hand hygiene performance to prevent cross-infection with masks. Also, this study may give an idea for making guidelines for mask management and supporting to establish clear criteria for the education program of personal protective equipment.