• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.61 no.4
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• pp.345-387
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• 2023

Paleoparasitology is a discipline that applies existing conventional and molecular techniques to study parasites found in ancient ruins. This review focuses on the history of the discovery of parasites (mostly helminth eggs and larvae) in archaeological soil samples and mummies in Korea from the Three Kingdoms Period to the Joseon Dynasty (100 BCE-1910 CE). We also briefly review important milestones in global paleoparasitology. The helminth species reported so far in Korea included Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, Strongyloides stercoralis (larva), Trichostrongylus sp. (larva), Paracapillaria philippinensis (syn. Capillaria philippinensis), Enterobius vermicularis, Fasciola hepatica, dicrocoeliids, Paragonimus westermani, Clonorchis sinensis, Metagonimus yokogawai, Pygidiopsis summa, Gymnophalloides seoi, Isthmiophora hortensis, Dibothriocephalus nihonkaiensis (syn. Diphyllobothrium nihonkaiense), and Taenia spp. tapeworms. The findings obtained by Korean paleoparasitologists/archaeologists have brought about deep insight into the status of helminthic infections in Korea's past populations. Continued paleoparasitological research is essential for further understanding of ancient parasites and parasitic diseases in Korea.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.49-55
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• 1990

Zoonoses are those diseases and infections that are naturally transmitted between vertebrate animals and man. At present, approximately 175 diseases caused by virus, rickettsia, bacteria, protozoa and helminthes as well as some of arthropods and the number is continually increasing. Although zoonoses are generally recognized as significant health problems, the actual prevalence and incidence of zoonotic infections is difficult to determine. Medical services in a rural area are scarce and ill persons may have little chance to see a physician. Furthermore, a lack of physician awareness and of appropriate diagnostic support is made often misdiagnosis. In rural Korea, parasitic disease is still important subject in the field of zoonotic infections considering its number and morbidity. Recently there was conspicuous reduction of soil-transmitted parasitic diseases (i.e. ascariasis. hookworms, trichuriasis), but clonorchiasis. intestinal trematodiases and taeniasis are a considerable problem. This is often significantly related to human behavioral patterns based on socio-economic and cultural conditions and linked with the local biologic and physical environment. The most of all parasitic zoonoses to man and animals are the food-transmitted parasitic diseases, and domestic animals such as dog, cat, pig, as well as fat and some mammals, ruminants and birds are act as reservoir hosts. In the present topics, current problems of parasitic zoonoses caused by protozoan infections (i. e. toxoplasmosis, pneumocystosis and cryptosporidiosis) which are the most common opportunistic in AIDS or immunocompromised persons, trematode infections (i.e. clonorchiasis, paragonimiasis and some intestinal tremadodiases). cestode infections such as cysticercosis and sparganosis, and some nematode infections of anisakiasis, thelaziasis and strongyloidiasis, are discussed here those on the occurrence in man and animals and the source of transmission as well as prevention and control measures in Korea.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.57 no.6
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• pp.607-612
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• 2019

The aim of this parasitological study is examining contemporary (the late 20th century) specimens of the arctic or subarctic areas in Western Siberia and comparing them with the information acquired from archaeological samples from the same area. In the contemporary specimens, we observed the parasite eggs of 3 different species: Opisthochis felineus, Ascaris lumbricoides, and Enterobius vermicularis. Meanwhile, in archaeoparasitological results of Vesakoyakha, Kikki-Akki, and Nyamboyto I burial grounds, the eggs of Diphyllobothrium and Taenia spp. were found while no nematode (soil-transmitted) eggs were observed in the same samples. In this study, we concluded helminth infection pattern among the arctic and subarctic peoples of Western Siberia throughout history as follows: the raw fish-eating tradition did not undergo radical change in the area at least since the 18th century; and A. lumbricoides or E. vermicularis did not infect the inhabitants of this area before 20th century. With respect to the Western Siberia, we caught glimpse of the parasite infection pattern prevalent therein via investigations on contemporary and archaeoparasitological specimens.