• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.289-296
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• 1995

The surface ultrastructure of metacercariae and adults of Gymnophallokles seoi, the only known gymnophallid infecting humans, was observed by scanning electron microscopy. Metacercariae were ovoid or pyriform in shape and slightly concave ventrally. The oral sucker had two sizes of type I papillae, small and large, encircling its lip. Type I papillae were arranged in a row on both side oi the body. The ventral pit had several type I papillae on its inner surface. The ventral sucker was covered with cobble-stone like cytoplasmic processes and had 6 type I papillae on its lip. The surface of the body was covered with the tegumental spines except for the ventromedian area between the two suckers. The spines at anterior body were digitated into 3-5 points, and their size decreased at posterior one third or the body. Adult worms were rhomboid or ellipsoid in shape and covered with tegumental spines except for the ventromedian area. The shape and distribution of the tegumental spines and sensory papillae were similar to those of metacercariae. However, sensory papillae arranged in a row on the ventral surface of metacercariae were not observed in adults. The ventral pit became larger and more prominent as the fluke grew. It is suggested that the ventral pit function as an additional adhesive organ to the host tissue.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.165-172
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• 1995

A transmission electron microscopic study was performed on the ultrastructure of the tegumental layer of GymophoLloines seoi (Digenea: Gymnophallidae) metacercarlae and adults. The metacercariae were obtained from naturally infected oysters, Crcssosoea gigas, and the adults from experimentally infected C3H mice. The tegumental layer generally revealed a small number of foldings, numerous small vacuoles, sines, and muscle bundles. Beneath the muscle layer, nuclei of the tegumental cells were located. There was little difference in the structure of the tegument between the metacercariae and adults. The oral sucker, having well-developed muscle layers, showed a similar structure to the ventral sucker except numerous foldlngs in the ventral sucker. The ventral pit was surrounded by a thin spcpiu layer, where a number of microtubules and mitochondria were seen. Around the ventral pit located well-developed circular and longitudinal muscles. The results showed that the ultrastructure of the tegumental layer of G. seoi metacercariae and adults revealed little difference from other trematodes in general. The ventral pit, a peculiar structure of this trematode, seems to function as a sphincter or an accessory adhesive organ.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.45 no.2 s.142
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• pp.115-120
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• 2007

Parvatrema chaii n. sp. (Digenea: Gymnophallidae) is described using the worms recovered from experimentally infected mice in Korea. The metacercariae were collected from surf-clams, Mactra veneriformis, from a tidal flat in Sochon-gun, Chungchongnam-do. The metacercariae were elliptical ($0.262{\times}0.132 mm$), and the genital pore had an anterior arch of 16-17 sensory papillae in scanning electron microscopic view, Adult worms were ovoid to foliate (0.275-0.303 by 0.140-0.150 mm), and their characteristic features included the presence of lateral lips, short esophagus, genital pore located some distance anterior to the ventral sucker, club-shaped seminal vesicle, a compact to slightly lobed vitellarium, elliptical eggs (0.018-0.020 by 0.010-0.013 mm), and absence of the ventral pit. This gymnophallid is classified as a member of the genus Parvatrema because of the location of the wide genital pore some distance from the ventral sucker, and the absence of the ventral pit. It differs from previously reported Parvatrema species, including the type species, P. borinquenae. In particular, the morphologies of the vitellarium and the genital pore with an anterior arch of 16-17 sensory papillae are unique features. Therefore, we propose it as a new species, Parvatrema chaii n. sp. (Digenea: Gymnophallidae).

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.44 no.1 s.137
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• pp.87-89
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• 2006

A 55-year old Korean man, living in Mokpo-city, Jeollanam-do, Republic of Korea, visited a local clinic complaining of right upper quadrant pain and indigestion. At colonoscopy, he was diagnosed as having a carcinoma of the ascending colon, and thus, a palliative right hemicolectomy was performed. Subsequently, an adult fluke of Gymnophalloides seoi was incidentally found in a surgical pathology specimen of the lymph node around the colon. The worm was found to have invaded gut lymphoid tissue, with characteristic morphologies of a large oral sucker, a small ventral sucker, and a ventral pit surrounded by strong muscle fibers. This is the first reported case of mucosal tissue invasion by G. seoi in the human intestinal tract.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.58 no.1
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• pp.87-91
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• 2020

Gymnophallid metacercariae found in the Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum ('Banjirak' in Korean) from Gochang-gun, Jeollabuk-do, Korea were morphologically and molecularly confirmed to be Parvatrema duboisi (Dollfus, 1923) Bartoli, 1974. The metacercariae were morphologically characterized by having a large oral sucker, small ventral sucker, genital pore some distance anterior to the ventral sucker, no ventral pit, and 1 compact or slightly lobed vitellarium, which were all compatible with P. duboisi. Some of the metacercariae were experimentally fed to mice, and adult flukes were recovered at day 7 post-infection. The morphology of the adult flukes was basically the same as that of the metacercariae except for the presence of uterine eggs; the uterus was filled with up to 40 eggs. The nucleotide sequences (1,193 bp) from ITS regions (ITS1, 5.8S rDNA, and ITS2) of the metacercariae showed 99.7% identity with P. duboisi and 75.7% identity with Gymnophalloides seoi deposited in GenBank. These results confirmed the presence of P. duboisi metacercariae in the Manila clam R. philippinarum in an estuary region of Gochang-gun, Korea.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 1995

Gymnophalkides seoi has drawn medical attentions since the discovery of the first human case and a highly endemic area on a southwestern coastal island of Shinan- gun, Korea. Marine bivalves especially oysters were strongly suspected as the source of infection. In this study the oysters, Crassostrea girns, naturally produced (rom the endemic area were examined whether they contain gymnophallid metacercariae. All of 50 oysters examined were infected with the metacercaviae of a gymnophallid, with the metacercarial density per oyster of 610 on average (2-4,792 in range). Later they were identified as G. seoi by obtaining adult worms from experimental mice. The metacercariae were unencysted, and firmly attached on the mantle surface of the oysters with their oral sucker. In sectioned specimens they were equipped with the ventral pit, a peculiar organ of the genus Gymophalloides, and non-muscular genital pore which was connected dorsally to the seminal vesicle. The seminal vesicle was in a great majority mono-sac. By this study, it has been confirmed that the oyster is a 2nd intermediate host of G. seoi as well as the major source of human infection with this fluke.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.56-66
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• 2020

Purpose: A stability-measuring device that utilizes damping capacity analysis (DCA) has recently been introduced in the field of dental implantology. This study aimed to evaluate the sensitivity and reliability of this device by measuring the implant stability of ex vivo samples in comparison with a resonance frequency analysis (RFA) device. Methods: Six implant beds were prepared in porcine ribs using 3 different drilling protocols to simulate various implant stability conditions. Thirty-six pork ribs and 216 bone-level implants measuring 10 mm in height were used. The implant beds were prepared using 1 of the following 3 drilling protocols: 10-mm drilling depth with a 3.5-mm-diameter twist drill, 5-mm drilling depth with a 4.0-mm-diameter twist drill, and 10-mm drilling depth with a 4.0-mm-diameter twist drill. The first 108 implants were external-connection implants 4.0 mm in diameter, while the other 108 implants were internal-connection implants 4.3 mm in diameter. The peak insertion torque (PIT) during implant placement, the stability values obtained with DCA and RFA devices after implant placement, and the peak removal torque (PRT) during implant removal were measured. Results: The intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) of the implant stability quotient (ISQ) results obtained using the RFA device at the medial, distal, ventral, and dorsal points were 0.997, 0.994, 0.994, and 0.998, respectively. The ICCs of the implant stability test (IST) results obtained using the DCA device at the corresponding locations were 0.972, 0.975, 0.974, and 0.976, respectively. Logarithmic relationships between PIT and IST, PIT and ISQ, PRT and IST, and PRT and ISQ were observed. The mean absolute difference between the ISQ and IST values on a Bland-Altman plot was -6.76 (-25.05 to 11.53, P<0.05). Conclusions: Within the limits of ex vivo studies, measurements made using the RFA and DCA devices were found to be correlated under a variety of stability conditions.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.59 no.1
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• pp.83-88
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• 2021

Life cycle stages, including daughter sporocysts, cercariae, and metacercariae, of Parvatrema duboisi (Dollfus, 1923) Bartoli, 1974 (Digenea: Gymnophallidae) have been found in the Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum from Aphae-do (Island), Shinan-gun, Jeollanam-do, Korea. The daughter sporocysts were elongated sac-like and 307-570 (av. 395) ㎛ long and 101-213 (av. 157) ㎛ wide. Most of the daughter sporocysts contained 15-20 furcocercous cercariae each. The cercariae measured 112-146 (av. 134) ㎛ in total length and 35-46 (av. 40) ㎛ in width, with 69-92 (av. 85) ㎛ long body and 39-54 (av. 49) ㎛ long tail. The metacercariae were 210-250 (av. 231) ㎛ in length and 170-195 (av. 185) ㎛ in width, and characterized by having a large oral sucker, genital pore some distance anterior to the ventral sucker, no ventral pit, and 1 compact or slightly lobed vitellarium, strongly suggesting P. duboisi. The metacercariae were experimentally infected to ICR mice, and adults were recovered at day 7 post-infection. The adult flukes were morphologically similar to the metacercariae except in the presence of up to 20 eggs in the uterus. The daughter sporocysts and metacercariae were molecularly (ITS1-5.8S rDNA-ITS2) analyzed to confirm the species, and the results showed 99.8-99.9% identity with P. duboisi reported from Kyushu, Japan and Gochang, Korea. These results confirmed the presence of various life cycle stages of P. duboisi in the Manila clam, R. philippinarum, playing the role of the first as well as the second intermediate host, on Aphae-do (Island), Shinan-gun, Korea.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.85-118
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• 2001

Studies on Gymnophalloides seoi (Digenea: Gymnophallidae) and human infections are briefly reviewed. This minute intestinal fluke was first discovered from a Korean woman suffering from acute pancreatitis and gastrointestinal troubles. It was described as a new species by Lee, Chai and Hong in 1993. The southwestern coastal village where the patient resided was found to be a highly endemic area, and additional endemic areas have been identified. The parasite is very small, 0.33-0.50 mm long and 0.23-0.33 mm wide. and characterized by the presence of a ventral pit. The first intermediate host remains unknown, but the second intermediate host has been found to be the oyster Crassostrea gigas. Man and the Palearctic oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus have been shown to be natural definitive hosts , and wading birds including the Dentish plover Charadrius alexandrinus are highly susceptible to experimental infection. Gerbils, hamsters, cats, and several strains of mice were also susceptible laboratory hosts. In experimentally infected mice, the parasites inhabit the small intestine, pinching and sucking the root of villi with their large oral suckers, but they did not invade beyond the mucosa in immunocompetent mice. However, they were found to invade the submucosa in immunosuppressed mice. Human G. seoi infections have been found in at least 25 localities; 23 islands on the Yellow Sea or the South Sea, and 2 western coastal villages. The highest Prevalence was found in a village on Aphaedo. Shinan-fun (49% e99 Positive rate) : other areas showed 0.8-25.3% prevalence. Infected people complained of variable degrees of gastrointestinal troubles and indigestion. The infection can be diagnosed by recovery of eggs in the feces; however, an expert is needed to identify the eggs. Praziquantel, 10mg/kg in single dose, is effective for treatment of human infections. Eating raw oysters in endemic areas should be avoided.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 1993

Metaceriae of Parvatrema timondavidi (Digenea; Grmnophallidae) were found from Tapes phillippinarum, one of the most common marine clams in Korean. T. were philippinarum was collected from a fishery market in seoul, and all of the clams eximined were found to contain many gymnophyallid metacercariae. To get adult worms, 10 ICR mice were fed with 100 metacercariae each and sacrificed by cervical dislocation at 7, 10 and 14 mice were morphologically characterized by oval body shape, lage oral sucker with lateral located genital pore from the venttral sucker. Based on these characters they identified as P.timondawvidi Bartoli, 1964. this study first confirms the presence of P. timondawcidi metacercartae in T.philippinarum in Korea.