• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.49-55
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• 2010

In vitro cultivation of trematodes would assist studies on the basic biology of the parasites and their hosts. This is the first study to use the yolk of unfertilized chicken eggs as a simple and successful method of ovocultivation and the first time to obtain the adult-stage of the trematode Cymatocarpus solearis Braun, 1899 (Digenea: Brachycoeliidae). Chicken eggs were inoculated with metacercariae from the muscle of the spiny lobster, Panulirus argus (Latreille, 1804). The metacercariae were excysted and incubated for 576 hr (24 days) at $38^{\circ}C$ to obtain the adult stage. Eggs in utero were normal in shape and light brown color. The metacercariae developed into mature parasites that have been identified as the adultstage found in marine turtles. The adult lobsters collected in Quintana Roo State, Mexico, showed the prevalence of 49.4% and the mean intensity of 26.0 per host (n=87). A statistical study was performed to determine that no parasitic preference was detected for male versus female parasitized lobsters. Morphometric measurements of the adult-stage of C. solearis obtained in our study have been deposited in the National Helminths Collection of the Institute of Biology of the National Autonomous University of Mexico. This study is significant because it is the first time that a digenean of the family Brachycoeliidae has been demonstrated to develop in vitro from metacercariae into adults capable of producing eggs using the yolk of unfertilized chicken eggs. Secondly, this technique allows to obtain the adult stage of C. solearis without the presence of its marine turtle host, allows us to describe the mature parasites, and thus contribute to our understanding of the biology of C. solearis.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.305-312
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• 1995

A species of metacercariae recovered from the fresh-water fish, collected from Kaumji (Pond), Kaechonji (Pond) and Ssanggyechon (River), Uisong-gun, Kyongsangbuk-do, Korea, was identified as Clinostomum compzcnatum by morphological observation and experimental infection to chicks. The excysted metacercariae, tongue-shaped and progenetic, were 3.28-4.27 mm in length and 0.94-1.46 mm in width. The adult flukes recovered from the chicks four days after infection were 4.20-4.86 mm long and 1.14-1.49 mm wide. Twelve species of the fresh-water fish were found to be infected with the metacercariae. The infection rate ranged from 1.6% (Zacco temminkii) to 88.9% (Acheilognathus rhombec and Microphwsogobio voluensis) . The intensity was highest in Cnrqssius curatus (13.0/fish infected) and the abundance (relative densityl was highest in A. rhombea (7.8/fish examined). This survey demonstrated for the first time the source of human infection by C. complnnntum in Korea.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 2000

A scanning electron microscopic study was performed on the surface ultrastructure of metacercariae and adults of Metagonimus takahashii. Metacercariae were collected from the scale of crucian carp (Carassius auratus) , and adult flukes were harvested 1-4 weeks after infection to rats. In excysted metacercariae. the oral sucker had type I (numerous) and type II (seven in total) sensory papillae. Tegumental spines were dense and digitated into 5-7 points on the surface anterior to the ventral sucker, but became sparse and less digitated posteriorly toward the end of the body In adults, seven type II sensory papillae were characteristically arranged around the lip of the oral sucker, and on the inner side of the lip four small and two large type I sensory papillae were symmetrically seen on each side (12 in total). Tegumental spines on anterior two-thirds of the body. were digitated with 9-12 tips ventrally and 8-13 tips dorsally. Sperms entering into the Laurer's canal were observed. The results show that the surface ultrastructure of M. takuhashii is generally similar to those of M. yokogawai and M. miyatai except for the digitation of tegumental spines.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.161-166
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• 1998

Fasciola hepatica eggs were obtained from the bile of infected cattle at a local abattoir. Metacercariae(MC) were produced using Lymnaea viridis, the intermediate host of the parasite. They were stored in distilled water at refrigerator($3{\sim}5^{\circ}C$) and at room temperature($22{\sim}27^{\circ}C$). The viability and infectivity of the MC were determined at monthly intervals for 12 months. The viability was determined by both microscope and excystation, and the infectivity by infecting mice. The MC stored at room temperature had a high viability up until 60 days, and thereafter the viability declined rapidly ; at day 120, only 2.5% of the MC were excysted. Most of the MC stored at refrigerator retained the viability up until 90 days, and thereafter the viability declined slowly ; about half of them were viable at day 210 and 5% of them retained the viability until day 270. The survival rates of the MC determined by microscope were always higher than those determined by excystation(p<0.05). The infectivity of the MC wisely followed the viability at the two different storage temperatures. Most of the mice infected orally with the MC died within 3-9 weeks of acute fasciolosis.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.165-169
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• 2008

Microphallus species occur primarily as intestinal parasites of birds and mammals, and metacercariae of a new species belonging to this genus have been discovered from the crab, Macrophthalmus dilatatus, in the Republic of Korea. The metacercaria of this fluke was round with 2 thick walls, and the excysted one had mature genital organs. The adult flukes recovered from experimentally infected chicks had numerous intrauterine eggs, well-developed pars prostatica, widely bifurcating ceca, and prominent uterine bulge. After observing internal structures, it was concluded that this species is different from any other known Microphallus spp. Based on the morphology of metacercariae and adult flukes, we describe this specimen as a new species, Microphallus koreana n. sp.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.677-681
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• 2013

Paragonimiasis is an important food-borne parasitic zoonosis caused by infection with lung flukes of the genus Paragonimus. Of the 7 members of the genus known in Thailand until recently, only P. heterotremus has been confirmed as causing human disease. An 8th species, P. pseudoheterotremus, has recently been proposed from Thailand, and has been found in humans. Molecular data place this species as a sister species to P. heterotremus, and it is likely that P. pseudoheterotremus is not specifically distinct from P. heterotremus. In this study, we collected metacercariae of both nominal species (identification based on metacercarial morphology) from freshwater crabs from Phetchabun Province in northern Thailand, Saraburi Province in central Thailand, and Surat Thani Province in southern Thailand. In addition, we purchased freshwater crabs imported from Myanmar at Myawaddy Province, western Thailand, close to the Myanmar-Thailand border. The DNAs extracted from excysted metacercariae were PCR-amplified and sequenced for ITS2 and cox1 genes. The ITS2 sequences were nearly identical among all samples (99-100%). Phylogenies inferred from all available partial cox1 sequences contained several clusters. Sequences from Indian P. heterotremus formed a sister group to sequences from P. pseudoheterotremus-type metacercariae. Sequences of P. heterotremus from Thailand, Vietnam, and China formed a separate distinct clade. One metacercaria from Phitsanulok Province was distinct from all others. There is clearly considerable genetic variation in the P. heterotremus complex in Thailand and the form referred to as P. pseudoheterotremus is widely distributed in Thailand and the Thai-Myanmar border region.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.85-93
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• 2012

Many metacercariae in the musculature of southern top mouthed minnow (Pseudorasbora parva) cultured at a farm in Chonbuk Province. The excysted metacercariae looked yellowish white and were $4.02{\pm}1.80$ mm (1.66-5.81) in length and $1.27{\pm}0.27$ mm (1.01-1.64) in width for acetocarmin-stained specimens. The oral sucker measuring $0.18{\pm}0.05$ mm (0.11-0.24) in length and $0.23{\pm}0.07$ mm (0.15-0.33) in width, was located at the anterior end of the body. The ventral sucker situated at the fourth third of the body were measured $0.47{\pm}0.08$ mm (0.35-0.53) in length and $0.55{\pm}0.09$ mm (0.43-0.63) in width. The tongue-shaped metacercariae were identified as Clinostomum complanatum on the basis of morphological characteristics. The metacercaria was also confirmed to be C. complanatum using PCR reaction with C. complanatum-specific primer sets, Trem 18S F and Ccom670 R. No histopathological changes in the infected fish were observed except necrosis and exfoliation of epidermis in the skin and atrophy of muscle fibers.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.75-78
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• 1997

In uitro excystation studies were done on the metacercarial cysts of Echinostomn triuolvis obtained from the kidneys of naturally infected Rnna species tadpoles. Cysts were excysted in an alkaline trypsin-bile salts medium and the percentage of excystation was compared with that from previous studies done on cysts obtained from the kidneys of snails. The percentage of excystation of E. triuoluis metacercariae from tadpole kidneys was similar to that reported for previous studies on cysts obtained from experimentally infected gastropod hosts. The possible role of tadpoles as an agent for the transmission of Echinostomn and echinostomiasis to humans is discussed.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.143-148
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• 1994

The metacercanae of the genus Stictodora encysted in gobies, Acnnthogobiln Snuimanw, purchased from a local market of Haenarn-gun, Chollanam-do, were identified as those of S. fuscotum A total of 1,437 metacercariae were collected from 30 gobies and sonle of them were orally fed to cats in order to obtain the adult worms. The metacercariae were 0.194-0.301 mm by 0.168-0.270 mm In size, yellowish brown, round to elliptical, and with a thin and transparent cyst wall. The excysted larvae were 0.280-0.423 mm long and 0.150-0.184 mm wide, beset with numerous tegumental spines on the anterior half of the body, and equipped 10 a characteristic ventrogenital sac. Total 21 adult worms were recovered from 2 cats 7 days after infection. The adult worms were small, leaf-like, 0.514-0.918 mm long and 0.235-0.377 mm wide. The ventrogenital sac was elliptical and its gonotyl was armed with 13-18 spines which were radially arranged and appeared as fan-shape. It has been confirmed that A. flavimanus is a second interinedlate host of 5. Juscatum In Korea.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.189-194
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• 2018

To determine that Paragonimus sp. is actively transmitted in a tropical area of the Pacific region of Ecuador where human cases of pulmonary paragonimiasis have recently been documented, a total of 75 freshwater crabs were collected from 2 different streams in the Pedernales area of $Manab\acute{i}$ Province, Ecuador. All collected crabs were identified as Hypolobocera guayaquilensis based on morphological characteristics of the male gonopods. The hepatopancreas of each crab was examined by compressing it between 2 glass plates followed by observation under a stereomicroscope. Excysted Paragonimus metacercariae were detected in 39 (52.0%) crabs and their densities varied from 1 to 32 per infected crab. There was a positive relationship between crab size and metacercarial density. Sequences of the second internal transcribed spacer region of the ribosomal RNA gene of the Paragonimus metacercariae obtained in this study were identical to those of Paragonimus mexicanus deposited in the DDBJ/EMBL/GenBank database. Thus, the present study is the first to confirm that the crab species H. guayaquilensis is the second intermediate host of P. mexicanus in $Manab\acute{i}$ Province, Ecuador. Because this crab might be the possible source of human infections in this area, residents should pay attention to improper crab-eating habits related with a neglected parasitic disease, i.e., paragonimiasis.