• The Korean Journal of Soil Zoology
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• v.11 no.1_2
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• pp.1-6
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• 2006

The chigger is of importance to humans and animals as an irritating pest and a crucial vector of disease. We observed stylostome formation by larvae of Leptotrombidium pallidum in parasitized striped-field mouse (Apodemus agarius) pinna skin. The stylostome formations were also examined in detail by electron microscopy. The proximal and middle parts of the stylostome were formed as a rod-like structure containing a canal. The stylostome was coated with thick degenerated epidermal cells, and seemed to be formed a hyperplastic epidermis. The stylostome formation may result from an interaction between larval secretions and the host tissue. According to histological and morphological characteristics, the stylostome exhibited considerable inflammation in the epidermis and similar reactivity.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.87-92
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• 1991

In order to determine the vector species of tsutsugamushi disease in Korea chiggers were individually dissected, and internal contents were tested for Rickettsia tsutsugamushi organisms by means of indirect FA test, and each exoskeleton was mounted on slide for identification. Among 4,142 chiggers collected from 48 Apodemus agrarius at nine different localities during the period of July-November, 1989, 990 chiggers of 10 species of Trombiculidae were dissected and tested. Rickettsiae were confirmed in two Leptotrembidium pallidum larvae out of 447 tested, giving 0.4% of the infection rate. The chiggers of the other species tested were found negative.

• 건강소식
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• v.30 no.2 s.327
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• pp.6-9
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• 2006

최근 들어 알레르기 질환이 급증하고 있다. 국내 알레르기 환자 수는 6백만 명 이상이며 서구화된 생활환경, 공해, 각종 화학물질 사용의 증가로 인해 환자는 계속 증가 추세이다. 현재 추정되는 환자수 만도 전 인구의 15~20%선, 우리 나라 성인 중 약 10%, 어린이는 약 20%에서 나타나고 있는 것으로 알려져 있다. 대표적인 알레르기 질환은 꽃가루에 의한 화분증과 집먼지 진드기, 동물의 털 등이 주원인인 알레르기성 비염.결막염.천식.피부염 등이 있다. 그러나 알레르기 질환은 주위에서 흔히 접하면서도 일반인들에게 막연히 알려져 있고, 단지 완치가 힘들어 난치병 정도로만 인식되어 있다. 알레르기 질환 보통 대부분의 사람에게 있어서는 아무런 문제도 일으키지 않는 물질이 어떤 사람에게만 두드러기, 비염, 천식 등 이상과민반응을 일으키는 것을 말한다. 알레르기도 우리 몸 속에서 일어나는 면역반응의 한 종류지만 몸에 유해한 반응을 말하며 요즘 들어서는 과민성이란 의미로 사용된다.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.420-427
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• 2019

Scrub typhus is a fever-related disease that is commonly diagnosed during the autumn season. The number of patients affected by this disease continues to increase every year. However, the cause of the disease and the regional differences of its incidence are poorly understood. This study examined the epidemiological features and regional differences in the incidence of scrub typhus. The monthly incidence of cases from all reports rose to more than 90% during the fall season (October~December). Based on the analysis of the 18,851 cases in the epidemiological investigation, 14,777 (78.4%) and 4,074 (21.6%) cases occurred in high and low occurrence areas, respectively. Moreover, there were more female cases than male cases (males: 7,233 [38.4%]; females: 11,618 [61.6%]; P< 0.001). The clinical symptoms, including fever, chills, myalgia, and eschar of the body, were noted in 16,688 (89.1%), 11,533 (61.2%),11,439 (60.7%), and 6,005 (45.4%) cases, respectively. The incidence rates were higher for Gyeongnam, Jeonam, Jeonbuk, and Chungnam provinces. The areas with a high occurrence of scrub typhus were consistent with the areas experiencing a high distribution of Leptotrombidium scutellare. The incidence of scrub typhus has been rising owing to the increasing population of ticks due to global warming and increased agricultural and outdoor activities. Thus, continuous management of patients and preventive environmental measures are needed to control this disease.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.181-188
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• 1991

Epidemiological studies on host rodents of tsutsugamushi disease were carried out during the period of July∼September 1990 at nine localities of central Korea. Among total 111 wild rodents trapped by the modified Sherman live traps, 103 were Apodemus agrarius (92.8%), seven were Crocidura lasiura (6.3%) and one was Microtus fortis (0.9%) , showing 24.0% of trapping rate in winter, 11.7% in spring, 11,2% in summer and 12.0% in autumn. Out of 103 A. agrarius 84 were parasitized by chiggers, showing 81.6% of the infestation rate and 43.0 of the chigger index. The antibody positive rate of A. agrarius sera to Rickettsia tsutsugamushi was significantly variable by locality, being in the range of 0∼78.6%. The seasonal change of the antibody positive rate at Dorai 5-ri, Goyang-gun was 75.8% in average during November∼March, decreased to 30.3% in April and further decreased to 13.3% in average during May∼August. Among 33 antibody positives, 31 were Karp strain and two were Gilliam. Seven Crocidura lasiura sera showed all negative. R. tsutsugamushi organisms were isolated from three A. ngrarius out of 94 mice tested, showing 3.2% of the infection rate.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.58 no.2
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• pp.197-208
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• 2020

This study was carried out to analyze spatial and temporal incidence characteristics of scrub typhus and predict the future incidence of scrub typhus since the incidences of scrub typhus have been rapidly increased among vector-borne diseases. A maximum entropy (MaxEnt) ecological model was implemented to predict spatial distribution and incidence rate of scrub typhus using spatial data sets on environmental and social variables. Additionally, relationships between the incidence of scrub typhus and critical spatial data were analyzed. Elevation and temperature were analyzed as dominant spatial factors which influenced the growth environment of Leptotrombidium scutellare (L. scutellare) which is the primary vector of scrub typhus. A temporal number of diseases by scrub typhus was predicted by a deep neural network (DNN). The model considered the time-lagged effect of scrub typhus. The DNN-based prediction model showed that temperature, precipitation, and humidity in summer had significant influence factors on the activity of L. scutellare and the number of diseases at fall. Moreover, the DNN-based prediction model had superior performance compared to a conventional statistical prediction model. Finally, the spatial and temporal models were used under climate change scenario. The future characteristics of scrub typhus showed that the maximum incidence rate would increase by 8%, areas of the high potential of incidence rate would increase by 9%, and disease occurrence duration would expand by 2 months. The results would contribute to the disease management and prediction for the health of residents in terms of public health.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.817-823
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• 1999

Background: The prevalence of allergic disease has increased substantially over the past decades. The reasons for these trends are complex but include increased environmental allergen exposure. Environmental control measures are of particular importance in the prevention and management of allergic disease. Thus, we purposed to evaluate the changes of causative allergens in allergic patients in Chonbuk provincial area that began industralized recently. Method: To evaluate the allergens epidemiologically, we performed skin prick tests and RAST in 201 allergic patients from February, 1984 to February, 1985 and 339 patients from February, 1997 to February, 1998. Results: The Following results were obtained. 1) Total sensitization rates did not change significantly(74.2% vs 75.8%, p=0.664). 2) Positive reaction rates to pollens were similar(35.8% vs 30.1%, p=0.17). 3) Positive rates to HDM(house dust mite) were decreased(66.1% vs 56.3%, p=0.02). 4) Positive rates to fungi and animal danders were decreased significantly(p<0.001). Conclusion : Environmental allergens associated with hygine in Chonbuk provincial areas such as HDM and fungi are decreased significantly during 13 years.