• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• 제60권3호
• /
• pp.181-185
• /
• 2022

Strongyloides stercoralis infection is not endemic in the Republic of Korea (Korea) with a positivity rate of <1% in stool examination. However, there is a risk of hyperinfection in immunosuppressed individuals. It is necessary to determine the seropositivity of S. stercoralis antibodies in Korea. This study investigated the seropositivity of S. stercoralis antibodies in the southeastern area of Korea. From January 2019 to June 2021, serum samples were collected from participants who visited the study center in the southeastern region of Korea for routine health check-ups. We determined serum levels of specific anti-Strongyloides IgG antibodies in 834 samples by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We observed that 92 samples (11.0%) tested showed a positive response. The age of the participants was 51±10.7 years, and 43.4% of them were men. The antibody positivity rate based on the location of the participants' residence were 12.3% (Gyoungsangnam-do), 10.2% (Busan), and 10.1% (Ulsan), respectively. Total eosinophil count was associated with positive test results (154.8±152.0 per mm³ versus 202.1±178.9 per mm³, P=0.006). Logistic regression analysis revealed that blood eosinophil count, age above 50 years, and residence in Sacheon were factors associated with the positive status of S. stercoralis antibody. Our finding suggests that it is necessary to test for S. stercoralis in actual clinical settings in Korea.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• 제51권6호
• /
• pp.689-694
• /
• 2013

Opisthorchis viverrini and Clonorchis sinensis are parasites known to be carcinogenic and causative agents of cholangiocarcinoma in Asia. The standard method for diagnosis for those parasite infections is stool examination to detect parasite eggs. However, the method has low sensitivity, and eggs of O. viverrini and C. sinensis are difficult to distinguish from each other and from those of some other trematodes. Here, we report a multiplex real-time PCR coupled with high resolution melting (HRM) analysis for the differentiation of O. viverrini and C. sinensis eggs in fecal samples. Using 2 pairs of species-specific primers, DNA sequences from a portion of the mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 (nad 2) gene, were amplified to generate 209 and 165 bp products for O. viverrini and C. sinensis, respectively. The distinct characteristics of HRM patterns were analyzed, and the melting temperatures peaked at $82.4{\pm}0.09^{\circ}C$ and $85.9{\pm}0.08^{\circ}C$ for O. viverrini and C. sinensis, respectively. This technique was able to detect as few as 1 egg of O. viverrini and 2 eggs of C. sinensis in a 150 mg fecal sample, which is equivalent to 7 and 14 eggs per gram of feces, respectively. The method is species-specific, rapid, simple, and does not require fluorescent probes or post-PCR processing for discrimination of eggs of the 2 species. It offers a new tool for differentiation and detection of Asian liver fluke infections in stool specimens.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
• /
• 제9권2호
• /
• pp.183-192
• /
• 2006

목 적: HS 자반증 환아에서 선행 질환, 위장관 증상 유무, 그리고 검사 소견의 차이에 따른 임상 경과의 차이가 있는지를 알아보고자 본 연구를 시행하였다. 방 법: 1996년 1월부터 2006년 4월까지 한양대학교병원 소아과에 입원하였던 HS 자반증 환아 중 피부 증상 외 다른 증상 없이 위장관 증상을 호소하는 환아와 위장관 증상을 호소하지 않은 환아 104명을 대상으로 급성 감염 병력, 입원 기간, 치료, 재발 여부를 조사하였고, 말초 혈액 검사, 대변 잠혈 반응 검사, 복부 초음파 검사, 위장관 내시경 검사를 시행하여 그 결과를 비교 관찰하였다. 결 과: HS 자반증 환아 104명 중 위장관 증상이 있는 환아는 66명(63.5%)이었고, 위장관 증상이 없는 환아는 38명(36.5%)이었다. 위장관 증상 유무에 관계없이 6~10세 연령군이 가장 많았고, 위장관 증상이 있는 군에서는 남아가 더 많았으나 위장관 증상이 없는 군에서는 성별 차이가 없었다. 위장관 증상으로는 복통 57명(54.8%), 구토 21명(20.2%), 혈변 5명(4.8%), 설사 3명(2.9%), 오심 3명(2.9%)으로 복통이 가장 많았다. 또한 위장관 증상이 하나인 경우가 46명(44.2%)이었고, 2개 이상을 동반하는 경우가 20명(19.2%)이었다. 위장관 증상이 많은 환아와 위장관 내시경 검사를 시행한 군에서 입원 기간이 길었으며, 스테로이드 치료 시행 예와 질병의 재발이 더 많았고, 대변 잠혈 반응 검사에서 통계학적으로 의의가 있었다(p<0.05). 재발 환자와 재발하지 않은 환자와의 비교에서는 통계학적 의의가 관찰되지 않았다. 87명에서 복부 초음파 검사를 시행하였고, 6명(6.9%)에서 소장벽이 두꺼워진 소견이 관찰되었다. 위장관 내시경 검사상 병변의 양상에 따른 빈도는 급성 출혈성 위염과 급성 출혈성 십이지장염 6명(40.0%), 십이지장 궤양 3명(20.0%), 급성 출혈성 위염과 십이지장 궤양 3명(20.0%), 십이지장염과 출혈성 대장염 2명(13.3%), 출혈성 대장염 1명(6.7%) 순으로 관찰되었고, 급성 출혈성 위염과 급성 출혈성 십이지장염이 동반된 경우가 가장 많았다. 치료는 30명(28.8%)에서 시행되었고, 재발은 6명(5.7%)에서 관찰되었으나 모두 1회였고, 추적 관찰이 되지 않은 3명을 제외하고는 치료한 환아와 치료하지 않은 환아 모두 증상이 호전됨을 알 수 있었다. 결 론: HS 자반증 환아에서 적극적인 위장관 점막병변에 대한 검토가 잘 이루어질 경우 환아의 진단과 치료에 도움이 될 것이라 생각된다.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• 제28권1호
• /
• pp.63-67
• /
• 1990

우리 나라 도서 지역의 장내 기생충 감염 현황을 파악하기 위한 조사 연구의 일환으로 1989년 8월과 9월에 경남 통영군 산양면 및 욕지면 도서주민 189명의 대변을 수집하여 셀로판 후층 도말법과 formalin-ether 원심침전법으로 각각 1매 씩의 도말 표본을 만들어 검사하였다. 전체적인 윤충류 충란 양성률은 30.2%이었으며 윤충류 종별 양성률은 펀충 24.3%, 회충 2.1%, 구충 2.1%, 동양모양선충 0.5%, 간흡충 1.1%, 이형흡충류 1.6%, 유·무구조충 2.6%이었으며 원충류 종별 양성률은 람블껄모충 1.6%, 대장아메바 0.5%이었다. 편충란 양성률은 남자(17.1%) 보 다 여자에서 (29.9%) 다소 높았고 연령별로 10∼19세 군에서 가장 높았으며 E.P.G.는 평균 303이었다. 이 조사로 아직도 도서 지역의 장내 윤충류 감염률은 도시나 농촌지역에서 보고된 것보다 비교적 높다는 것을 알 수 있었다.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• 제55권4호
• /
• pp.425-428
• /
• 2017

Human diphyllobothriasis is a parasitic disease caused by ingestion of larvae (plerocercoids) in raw or undercooked fish and commonly found in temperate areas. Rare cases were reported in tropical or subtropical areas especially in children. The first documented case of pediatric diphyllobothriasis in Taiwan had been reported 11 years ago. Here, we report another 8-year-old girl case who presented with a live noodle-like worm hanging down from her anus, with no other detectable symptoms. We pulled the worm out and found the strobila being 260 cm in length. Examination of gravid proglottids showed that they were wider than their lengths, containing an ovoid cirrus sac in the anterior side and the rosette-shaped uterus. Eggs extracted from the uterus were ovoid and operculated. Diphyllobothrium latum was confirmed by molecular analysis of the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene. The girl was treated with a single oral dose of praziquantel, and no eggs or proglottids were observed from her stool in the subsequent 3 months. The reemergence of human diphyllobothriasis in non-endemic countries is probably due to prevalent habit of eating imported raw fish from endemic areas. This pediatric case raised our concern that human diphyllobothriasis is likely underestimated because of unremarkable symptoms.

• 동의생리병리학회지
• /
• 제22권6호
• /
• pp.1410-1415
• /
• 2008

Acupuncture and herbal treatment are based on diagnosis of cold and heat pattern in Traditional Korean Medicine. This diagnosis is accomplished through pulse, tongue and question examination, which are not objective. Quantification and objectification of this diagnosis process are required for efficacious treatment and traditional medicine development. In this study, we developed the cold-heat pattern questionnaire for this purpose. Seventy nine patients who visited oriental medical hospital were included in this study. The cold-heat pattern questionnaire was composed of many questions about patient's physical condition, which were derived from The Traditional Oriental Medical Literature with Delphi Technique. Patients filled out the cold-heat pattern questionnaire by themselves. Diagnosis of cold and heat pattern are conducted separately by oriental medical doctors with more than 5 years' clinical experience. Various physical condition factors were derived for the cold-heat pattern questionnaire. (Preference temperature, Body temperature, Pain type, Face color, Urine, Stool and secretion features) Each cold and heat symptoms group acquired internal consistency. (Cronbach's ${\alpha}$ : Cold - 0.605, Heat - 0.722) There were significant associations between doctor's diagnosis and cold symptoms in 'Aversion to cold', 'Desire for heat', 'Pale face', 'Loose stools'. (p-value < 0.05) There were significant associations between doctor's diagnosis and heat symptoms in 'Desire for cold', 'Body feverishness', 'Thirst'. (p-value < 0.05) The internal consistency results suggest that the cold-heat pattern questionnaire assured reliability. Besides, these results showed that cold-heat symptoms are apt to appear together with, and this can be indirect evidence that diagnosis of cold-heat pattern is valuable for comprehension about disease pattern. Moreover, respective symptoms of cold-heat pattern showed different significance with doctor's diagnosis. Consequently these significant symptoms can be more considered for comprehension of cold-heat pattern.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• 제32권1호
• /
• pp.49-52
• /
• 1994

1990년 4월부터 1992년 2월까지 인제대 부속 서울 백병원과 상계 백병원에 내원한 환자 중 대변에서 분선충(Strongwloides stercoralis)의 rhabditoid 유충 또는 기생세대 자충이 검출된 분선충 감염증 9례를 보고하고자 한다. 환자들은 50대와 70대 사이의 남자 7명 및 여자 2명으로 퇴행성 관절염으로 스테로이드계 약물을 장기 복용하였거나 소화기 장애, 고혈압, 간질환 정신장애 등 다양한 질환을 동반하고 있었다. 관절염, 소화기 장애 등으로 입원한 57세 여자 환자 1례에서는 albendazole 및 mebendazole 투여 4-5일 째의 설사변에서 분선충의 기생세대 자충 (parasitic females) 220마리가 회수되었다. 이 환자는 관절염에 대한 스테로이드 장기 복용으로 면역기능이 저하된 상태에서 자가감염된 중감염(hyperinfection) 예로서 우리 나라에서 기생세대 자충이 확인된 세 번째 증례이기도 하다.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• 제48권2호
• /
• pp.157-160
• /
• 2010

We report here a human case probably mixed-infected with Clonorchis sinensis and Fasciola sp. who was diagnosed by computed tomography (Cn scan, serological findings, and/or fecal examination. The patient was a 43-year-old Korean female and was admitted to Kyung Hee University Hospital with the complaints of fever and abdominal pain. On admission, marked eosinophilia was noted in her peripheral blood. CT scan showed specific lesions for clonorchiasis and fascioliasis in the liver, along with lesions suggestive of amebic abscess. Micro-ELISA revealed positive results for the 2 helminthic infections. Eggs of C. sinensis and trophozoites of Entamoeba histo/ytica were observed in the stool. Treatment with praziquantel followed by metronidazole and tinidazole reduced abnormalities in the liver and eosinophilia. This is the first case report of a possible co-infection with 2 kinds of liver flukes in the Republic of Korea.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• 제25권3호
• /
• pp.132-139
• /
• 2009

The toxicity test of ammonium persulfate was conducted to ensure of its potential toxic effects according to the single-dose acute oral toxicity study (OECD Guideline 423) and 90-day repeated dose sub-chronic oral toxicity study guideline (OECD Guideline 408) for establishing national chemical management system, and matching in the Globally Harmonized Classification System (GHS) category. In acute oral toxicity study, pasty stool, perineal contamination and temporary body weight decrease were observed after dosing 1st and 2nd challenge (300 mg/kg body weight). All test animals were dead within 6 hours after dosing at 3rd challenge (2000 mg/kg body weight). Therefore, the GHS class of test substance is considered class 4. In sub-chronic toxicity study, body weight changes, food consumptions, hematological, biochemical and pathological examination did not show any noticeable and significant differences between the administered (5, 20, 80 mg/kg body weight) and control (vehicle only) group animals. Based on these results, the no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) is considered above 80 mg/kg body weight.

• 한국농촌간호학회지
• /
• 제4권2호
• /
• pp.79-86
• /
• 2009

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of Clonorchiasis and factors related to it among inhabitants of the area near the Sumjin River. Method: The data were collected from December 16, 2008 to January 10, 2009. Participants were 511 people who responded to a questionnaire. The formalinesther sedimentation technique was used to detect Clonorchiasis. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, $x^2$-test with the SPSS WIN 14.0 program. Results: The prevalence of Clonorchiasis by stool examination was 21.3%. There were statistically significant differences in prevalence of Clonorchiasis by gender ($x^2$=5.71, p=0.017), habit of eating raw fish ($x^2$=13.26, p<0.001), and alcohol consumption ($x^2$=10.54, p=0.032). The mean score for knowledge on Clonorchiasis was 10.68 (range 0-17) and there was no significant difference between the Clonorchiasis positive group and Clonorchiasis negative group. There were statistically significant differences in intention to change their habits of eating raw fish between Clonorchiasis positive group and Clonorchiasis negative group ($x^2$=26.10, p<0.001). Clonorchiasis positive group's intention was lower than the others. Conclusion: These results suggest that the prevalence of Clonorchiasis still high among the inhabitants in near the Sumjim River. Therefore, an effective management program for Clonorchiasis should be developed and administered.