• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.13-23
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• 1987

Total of 216 animals conserved in Seoul Grand Park were examined on the antibody titers of Toxoplasma by the indirect latex agglutination test, 20 out of 131 cases (15.3%) in mammals, 2 out of 75 cases (2.7%) in birds, and none in reptiles, according to species, 15 out of 68 species (22.1%) in mammals, 2 out of 36 species (5.6 %) in birds showed positive antibody titers when the titers of 1 : 32 or higher were regarded as positive. In mammals, it appeared as positive in 2 out of 6 cases (1 out of 3 species) in marsupials, 1 out of 15 cases (1 out of 11 species) in primates, lout of 1 case in bats, 6 out of 13 cases (5 out of 10 species) in carnivores, 1 in 12 cases (1 species out of 3) in odd-toed ungulates, 9 out of 80 cases (6 species out of 38) in even-toed ungulates, and none in rodents and in whales. In birds, 1 out of 21 cases (1 out of 7 species) in gallinaceous birds and lout of 6(5 species) in parrots appeared to have the positive antibody titers of Toxoplasma. And, none of reptiles showed positive. Frequencies of positive antibody titers were high in 1 : 64, 9 cases in mammals, followed by 1 : 32, 6 cases, 1 : 128, 3 cases, and 1 : 256, 2 cases, respectively. Two positive cases in birds appeared to be 1 : 64.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.251-256
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• 2000

There have been some reports about the prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibody among Koreans, and most of all data were taken from patients visiting hospitals. However, the epidemiological data of the community-based study in Korea are rare. This study was performed to evaluate the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis among the inhabitants of the rural area Okcheon-gun, Korea. A total of 1,109 serum samples (499 males, 610 females) were examined for the IgG antibodies by ELISA. To set up the cut-off point for ELISA, we used a commercial latex agglutination (LA) kit. The sensitivity and specificity of ELISA against LA test were 89.5%, and 98.6% respectively. Among 1,109 sera, 6.9% showed seropositivity by ELISA. The positive rates of males and females were 6.0% and 7.2%, respectively. However, there were no significant differences between sexes. Comparing the age groups, the highest seropositive rate showed in the seventies or higher, and their rates had a tendency to increase with age (0.05 < p < 0.3). These results revealed that the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in rural inhabitants is similar to previous reports in Korea; however we need further investigation to clarify the prevalence of toxoplasmosis in the general population.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.29-39
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• 1998

This study was carried out to investigate the prevalence of antibody against Toxoplasma gondii in the dog by Latex agglutination test and Indirect fluorescent antibody test. Two month-old dogs were infected intraperitoneally with T gondii to observe histopathological and immunohisto-chemical changes. Results obtained through this experiment were summarized as follows ; 1. Among the serum samples of 163 heads of the dog, 10 samples(6.1%) were positive. 2. In the sex, 6 heads (7.1%) out of 84 female dogs and 4 heads(5.1%) out of 79 male dogs were positive. However, there were no significant differences between the male and female. 3. Overall proportion of agreement between indirect fluorescent antibody and Latex agglutination test in 163 sera of dogs was 97.5%. 4. When 2 month-old dogs were infected intraperitoneally with T gondii, main clinical signs were intermittent fever, dyspnea, diarrhea. In general, the infected dogs recovered closely on the 11th day of post-inoculation. 5. At necropsy, petechial and ecchymotic hemorrages and swelling in small intestine, lung, spleen, liver and kidney were observed. 6. In histopathological observation, interstitial pneumonia, hyperemia and hemorrhages in lung were observed. Focal necrosis of hepatocytes, the neutrophil and basophil in the renal tubular epithelium were observed. 7. By immunohistochemical staining using Vectorstain ABC kit, the positive cells were recognized in the lung and the liver. 8. By indirect fluorescent antibody test, the Toxoplasma antibodies in the infected dogs were detected on the 15th day of postinoculation.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.275-279
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• 2009

Toxoplasma gondii is one of the most common protozoa parasites of human and other warm-blooded animals. Cats and wild felidae play crucial roles in the epidemiology of toxoplasmosis. This study was performed to survey the prevalence of T. gondii infection among stray cats in the Seoul. A total of 422 stray cat blood samples were collected from Seoul area. Positive sera for T. gondii were identified in 56 samples (13.3%) exclusively via the latex agglutination test and the detection no antigen particles among seropositive samples by PCR. The overall infection rate of male stray cats (14.4%) presented as higher than that of female cats (10.7%). This study suggested that T. gondii is widespread in stray cats of Seoul area. It is needed to control urban stray cat population and to reduced the risk of zoonotic transmission of toxolasmosis to other animals and humans.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.27-32
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• 1999

A total of 542 children under 10 years of age, admitted to the Seoul National University Children's Hospital, was examined for antibody titers of Toxoplasma gondii using indirect latex agglutination (ILA) test. Among them, 7.7% showed positive titers higher than 1:32, without significant difference between males (7.3%) and females (8.5%). The seropositive rate increased with age although the statistical significance was negligible (0.05

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.89-98
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• 2001

This study was conducted to detect the toxoplasma specific-DNA in circulating blood and organs collected from slaughtered pigs at slaughtering house and experimentally infected pigs with Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites by polymerase chain reaction(PCR), and also PCR was applied to diagnose for acute phase of swine toxoplasmosis as a newly developed diagnostic test. The sensitivity of oligonucleotide primer, T-1 & T-2, designed from toxoplasma B1 gene amplification method was compared with Tp parasite detection by mouse inoculation(MI). On the other hand, latex agglutination test(LAT) was conducted to detect the serum antibodies comparing with the detection of toxoplasma by PCR and MI. The results obtained were summarized as follows. PCR was able to determine at the lowest level of $10^0/ml$ T. gondii in blood samples which were blended with a serial diluted T gondii in vitro. On the other hand, $10^2/5g$ of T gondii could detect from a variety of tissues including lung, diaphragm, liver, heart, spleen and brain in vitro. The primer was proved to specifically determine T gondii in blood and tissues in vitro but it did not detect Neospora caninum used as a negative control. DNA of T. gondii was effectively extracted by freezing, thawing and grinding twice both tissues mixed with T gondii in vitro and in experimentally infected pig's tissues. PCR detected specific DNA in the blood of experimentally infected pigs at 108 hrs and 120 hrs post-infection, it was the same time that the pigs showed fever and parasitaemia. In case of tissue, specific DNA was, however, detected only lung from experimentally infected pigs. Even though the duration of acute phase was from 3 to 7 days post-infection, but the latex agglutination test (LAT) results appeared from 8 days post-infection. A comparison of sensitivity in determining T gondii in blood samples between PCR and MI, PCR positive rate ranged from 25 to 33.3%, but that of MI covered from 75 to 100%.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.199-201
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• 2008

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular zoonotic protozoan with a worldwide distribution. It infects humans as well as a broad spectrum of vertebrate hosts. Cats and wild felidae play crucial roles in the epidemiology of toxoplasmosis. This study was performed to survey the prevalence of T. gondii infection among stray cats in the Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea. A total of 174 stray cat blood samples were collected from Gwacheon-si (n = 20), Bucheon-si (82), and Yangju-si (72). Positive sera for T. gondii were identified in 14 samples (8.1%) exclusively via the latex agglutination test, 28 (16.1%) via ELISA, and 23 (13.2%) via PCR analysis. The overall infection rate of female stray cats (29.2%) presented as higher than that of male cats (24.0%). This study suggests that T. gondii is widespread in the stray cat population of Gyeonggi-do, Korea. It is urgently needed to control urban stray cat population and to reduce the risk of zoonotic transmission of toxoplasmosis to other animal hosts and humans.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.138-143
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• 1998

Chronic diarrhea in children is a common problem with numerous causes. Although most of these causes are benign, critical illness may present as chronic diarrhea. In a patient of chronic diarrhea, gastrointestinal infections are the most common causes in children of all ages and antibiotics may cause chronic diarrhea by altering intestinal microflora, which can result in the emergence of bacterial overgrowth. Overgrowth of Clostridium difficile may cause pseudomembranous colitis. We experienced 25-month-old boy who suffered from chronic diarrhea and partially treated with antibiotics irregularly. Colonoscopic findings of this child showed multiple plaques with white to yellowish exudate which adhere to the mucosal surface of a variable length of rectum. Histollogically, each plaque comprised a pseudomembrane of mucous debris, inflammatory cells, and exudate overlying groups of partially disrupted glands. A latex agglutination test on patient's stool was positive to toxin A of Clostridium difficile. He was recovered after stopping the antibiotics he has been prescribed, and being given vancomycin for 2 weeks. We report this case with brief review of literature.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.641-647
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• 1992

This study was conducted to determine the serum antibodies against toxoplasma in the artificially infected dogs, pet and street dogs by latex agglutination (LA) and indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) test. LA test was carried out with commercial Toxo-MT kit (Eiken chemical Co.) and IFA test was carried out with rabbit-anti-dog IgG labelled with FITC (Cappel Co.) and toxo-antigen slides prepared in laboratory. The results obtained were as follows ; 1. Antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii in the artificially infected dogs were detected firstly at the Day 8 in IFA and Day 9 in LA test after inoculation. Positive antibody reactions by these tests were declined gradually afterward but maintained up to 12 weeks. 2. In LA test serum antibody titers in 310 test sera were shown as 10 cases(32%) in 1 : 32.5(1.0%) in 1 : 64, 4(1.3%) in 1 : 128 and 2(0.7%) in 1 : 256. In IFA test serum antibody titers 310 test sera were shown as 17 cases(5.5%) in 1 : 64, 8(2.6%) in 1 : 128 and 5(1.6%) in 1 : 256. 3. In the total of 310 sera from pet and street dogs toxoplasma antibody positive rates were 21 cases (6.8%) by LA and 30 cases (9.7%) by IFA test and the positive detection rates between these two groups by LA and IFA test were not significant(p<0.05). 4. In the total of 115 sera from pet dogs toxoplasma antibody positive rates were 12 cases(10.4%) by LA and 15(13.0%) by IFA test. And in the 195 street dogs the positive rates were 9 cases(4.6%) by LA and 15(7.7%) by IFA test. Also, the positive detection rates between these two groups by LA and IFA test were not significant(p<0.05). 5. Agreement of reactivity between LA and IFA test for 310 sera was 91.3% in total of 283 cases consisting of 12 cases(3.9%) of both LA and IFA positive and 271 cases(87.4%) of LA and IFA negative. 6. LA test was almostly equivalent to the IFA test in producibility and proved to be a simple tool for the screening of toxoplasma antibody in laboratory.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.281-288
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• 2004

As all other intensively farmed domestic species, most mortality in ostriches is closely to rearing conditions. While ostriches is also highly sensitive to stress, species-specific infectious disease play only a minor role. But investigation of ostrich's disease is not peformed almost in Korea. The study was performed to investigate the titers of antibody for Newcastle disease(ND), Infectious bronchitis(IB), Egg drop syndrome '76(EDS), Avian influenza(AI), salmonellosis, Mycoplasma gallisepticum infection(MG), Mycoplasma synoviae infection(MS), Infectious bursal disease(IBD), Brucellosis, Toxoplasmosis, Japanese encephalitis(JE), Porcine parvovirus infection, Encephalomyocarditis and Porcine reproductive respiratory syndrome (PRRS). The results obtained in the 62 ostrich sera slaughtered in Gyeongbuk province were summarized as follows: The average of antibody positive rates to ND, IB, EDS, AI(H9Nl), JE, Porcine parvovirus infection and Encephalomyocarditis by HI test were $75.8\%,\;100\%,\;0\%,\;0\%,\;51.6\%,\;50\%\;and\;56.5\%$ respectively. The antibody positive rates to salmonellosis, MG, MS by plate agglutination test were $12.9\%,\;25.8\%,\;and\;0\%$ respectively. Antibodies to disease agent such as IBD and AI by agar gel precipitation(AGP) test, Brucellosis by tube agglutination, toxoplasmosis by latex agglutination test and PRRS by IFA were all negative.