• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.60 no.3
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• pp.201-205
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• 2022

Babesia microti is one of the most common causative agents of babesiosis. A sensitive and rapid detection is necessary for screening potentially infected individuals. In this study, B. microti cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (cox1) was selected as the target gene, multiple primers were designed, and optimized by a recombinase-aided amplification (RAA) assay. The optimal primers and probe were labeled with fluorescein. The sensitivity of fluorescent RAA (fRAA) was evaluated using gradient diluents of the cox1 recombinant plasmid and genomic DNA extracted from whole blood of B. microti infected mice. The specificity of fRAA was assessed by other transfusion transmitted parasites. The analytical sensitivity of the fRAA assay was 10 copies of recombinant plasmid per reaction and 10 fg/µl B. microti genomic DNA. No cross-reaction with any other blood-transmitted parasites was observed. Our results demonstrated that the fRAA assay would be rapid, sensitive, and specific for the detection of B. microti.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.151-157
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• 2019

An acoustofluidic device using conductive liquid-based electrodes was developed for malaria parasite separation from white blood cells. In this device, the electrode channels filled with a conductive liquid were used to generate standing surface acoustic waves (SSAWs) in a fluidic channel, which can overcome the limitation of conventional patterned metal electrodes. Separation performance of the device was evaluated using fluorescent polystyrene particles with two different sizes (2 and $10{\mu}m$ diameters), which were successfully separated. In addition, a mixture of malaria parasites and white blood cells were also efficiently separated with high purity of ~98% in the CL-SSAW device at the flow rate of $12{\mu}l/min$.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.62 no.1
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• pp.53-63
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• 2024

The intracellular parasite Babesia microti is among the most significant species causing human babesiosis and is an emerging threat to human health worldwide. Unravelling the pathogenic molecular mechanisms of babesiosis is crucial in developing new diagnostic and preventive methods. This study assessed how priming with B. microti surface antigen 1 (BHSA 1) and seroreactive antigen 5-1-1 (BHSA 5-1-1) mediate protection against B. microti infection. The results showed that 500 ㎍/ml rBMSA1 and rBMSA5-1-1 partially inhibited the invasion of B. microti in vitro by 42.0±3.0%, and 48.0±2.1%, respectively. Blood smears revealed that peak infection at 7 days post-infection (dpi) was 19.6%, 24.7%, and 46.7% in the rBMSA1, rBmSA5-1-1, compared to the control groups (healthy mice infected with B. microti only), respectively. Routine blood tests showed higher white blood cell, red blood cell counts, and haemoglobin levels in the 2 groups (BMSA1 and BMSA5 5-1-1) than in the infection control group at 0-28 dpi. Moreover, the 2 groups had higher serum interferon-γ, tumor necrosis factor-α and Interleukin-17A levels, and lower IL-10 levels than the infection control group throughout the study. These 2 potential vaccine candidate proteins partially inhibit in vitro and in vivo B. microti infection and enhance host immunological response against B. microti infection.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.359-365
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• 1998

This study was conducted to isolate the protozoan parasite Babesia gibsoni by intraerythrocytic culture method of micoraerophilous stationary phase(MASP) and evaluate the possibility of application for the detection of B gibsoni in canine babesiosis. Also, indirect fluorescent antibody test(IFAT) and thick blood smear(giemsa stain), direct light microscopy (DLM), as control diagnostic tests, were conducted to compare diagnostic effects between MASP, IFAT and DLM. The results obtained from this study were summarized as follows. The protozoan parasite B gibsoni multiplied in 24-well polystyrene plate containing 1.2ml of canine red blood cell suspension in RPMI 1640 medium(pH 7.0) which is contained 20~40% normal canine serum(NCS) under the MASP condition of 5% $CO_2$ and 95% air at $37^{\circ}C$ incubator. Under the above MASP culturing system the percentage of parasitized erythrocytes(PPE) after incubation for 9 days reached the peak. The levels of PPE in MASP culture were shown more higher by exchanging the medium at 24 hour intervals. The parasite were purely isolated from MASP culture of canine red blood cells collected from dogs(pit bullterrier) infected with B gibsoni naturally. Among the total of 83 heads of pit bullterrier blood samples the positive rate was 32 heads(38.5%) in DLM, 45 heads(54.2%) in IFAT and 42 heads(50.6) in MASP culture. In negative cases of IFAT and DLM the isolation rates of B gibsoni by MASP culture were 16 heads(42.1%) of 38 heads and 16 heads(28.6%)% of 56 heads, respectively. From this study it was suggested that MASP culture method by RPMI 1640 medium was a reliable and useful diagnostic test for the diagnosis of B gibsoni infections in canine babesiosis.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.79-83
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• 2001

Dirofilaria immitis parasitizes mainly in the pulmonary arteries and in the heart of dogs and cats. The parasite is also of public health importance, because it often elicits nodules in the pulmonary parenchyma and in the subcutaneous tissues, or sometimes parasitize itself in the eyes of human. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of heartworm infection among 165 dogs on three breeding farms in the vicinity of Seoul, Korea. Of 165 dogs, 83 dogs (50.3%) were infected with the parasite, as revealed by an antigen-detecting test using the peripheral blood. Of these, 23 dogs (20.2%) contained microfilaria using the peripheral blood, which are potential source of transmission to uninfected animals and to humans in the endemic area. None of infected dogs showed any clinical signs associated with the disease. Since the three farms were located in the vicinity of Seoul, the unexpectedly high infection rate could imply that the possibility of exposure of both animals and humans living in the metropolitan Seoul area to the parasite is higher than in the other area of Korea.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.33-40
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• 2002

Attempts were made to isolate and identify Korean bovine Babesia parasite. Blood samples were collected from Holstein cows in Korea. and Babesia parasites were propagated in SCID mice with circulating bovine red 1)food cells for isolation. The isolate was then antigenically and genotypically compared with several Japanese isolates. The Korean parasite was found to be nearly identical to the Oshima strain isolated from Japanese cattle, which was recently designated as Babesia ovata oshimensis n. var. Haemaphusalis longicornis was the most probable tick species that transmitted the parasite .

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.1151-1160
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• 1999

This study was conducted to detect the toxoplasma-specific DNA in peripheral blood collected from cats experimentally infected with Toxoplasma gondii (RH strain) and from domiciled cats by B1 gene-base polymerise chain reaction(PCR). The sensitivity of oligonucleotide primer, T-1 & T-2, designed from toxoplasma B1 gene amplification method was compared with parasite detection by mouse inoculation(MI). And also, latex agglutination test(LAT) and indirect fluorescent antibody test(IFAT) were conducted to detect the fluctuation of serum antibodies compared with the detection of toxoplasma by PCR and MI. Toxoplasma B1 gene PCR was shown consistently high sensitivity and the results obtained by PCR agreed completely with those from MI. All blood samples collected before infection with T gondii gave negative results by PCR and MI. Also, toxoplasma Bl gene PCR was not cross reaction with Neospora caninum DNA and normal cat leucocyte as controls. The toxoplasma-specific DNA was detected by PCR in blood of 5 cats experimentally infected with T gondii 6 days after infection and the detection of this specific-DNA was long lasted in blood for 64 days after infection. The detection of toxoplasma-specific DNA by PCR could be identified as few as 10 tachyzoites and the isolation of T gondii by MI could be isolated as few as 1 tachyzoite from tenfold serial dilution of T gondii with normal cat blood, respectively. In healthy domiciled cats, the toxoplasma-specific DNA and the parasite were detected and isolated in blood from 3 of 56(5.3%) cats by both PCR and MI, respectively. In the results of antibody test from the total 56 heads of healthy domiciled cats, the positive rates are 15(26.7%) by LAT and 19(33.9%) by IFAT. These results suggest that PCR detection of toxoplasma can be applied as a sensitive and specific diagnostic and research tool.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.473-478
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• 1990

This survey was conducted to observe the prevalence of blood parasites in slaughtered cattle included Korean native cattle, Charolias, Hereford, Aberdeenangus and Holstein breeds in the Western area of Kyeongnam. The results obtained are summarized as follows: 1. The prevalence of T sergenti was shown 71.8% as 395 heads of a total of 550 heads examined and from Jaunary to November the monthly prevalence of T sergenti was shown the range of 61.1% to 84% except 38.5% in December. The other blood parasites included Babesia and Anaplasma were not detected from the blood samples except Setaria spp microfilariae. 2. The distribution of parasitaemia levels of T sergenti in positive cattle was shown 93.9% in the range of 1~10/1000 rbc, 4.1% in 11~20, 1.3% in 21~30 and 0.8% above the range of 31. 3. The pervalence of T sergenti by breeds of slaughtered cattle was shown 71.2% in Korean native cattle, 72.7% in Charolias, 78.3% in Hereford and 81. 8% in others (Aberdeen-angus and Holstein) respectively. Also the parasitaemia levels in these cattle were shown higher levels in imported cattle included Charolias, Hereford, Aberdeen-angus and Holstein breeds comparing with Korean native cattle. 4. The prevalence of Setaria spp microfilariae in slaughtered cattle was shown 6.9% and by monthly prevalence of the parasite was shown higher in March, April and May compared with June, July, August and October. But in the winter season included January, February, November and December the parasite was not detected from the blood samples. 5. The distribution of parasitaemia levels of Setaria spp microfilariae per ml of blood was shown 65.8% in the range of 1~50, 13.2% in 51~100 and 10.5% in 101~200 and above the range of 201, respectively.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.357-361
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• 2013

Several epidemiological surveys have reported the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in stray cats in Korea, but little information is available on T. gondii infection in household cats. The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence and risk factors of T. gondii infection among household cats reared in Seoul, Korea. A total of 474 blood samples were collected from clinically healthy household cats. All samples were tested using ELISA and PCR. The risk factor analysis was based on a questionnaire filled out by the owners. The overall positive rate for ELISA and PCR assays was 2.2% (10/437) and 2.1% (10/474), respectively. With regard to the origin of cats, the positive rates among cats adopted from the animal shelter and veterinary clinic for stray cats were significantly different (P<0.05). Our study demonstrated that the positive rate of T. gondii infection in household cats was low and that this low prevalence was assumed to be associated with keeping the cats indoors and restriction of eating raw food and uncooked meat. Therefore, we suggest that the owners check the origin of the cats prior to adoption to prevent infection of other animals, including humans.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.547-554
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• 1994

This paper presents the effects of supplementary feeding and internal parasites on the growth rates of female weaner goats raised under improved management. A completely randomized $3{\times}3{\times}2$ factorial design was used. Factors were genotype (Thai native: TN, 75% TN $\times$ 25% Anglo-Nubian: An and 50% TN $\times$ 50% AN), feeding grazing only, low (1.0% BW/d) and high (1.5% BW/d) supplementation and parasite control (undrenched and drenched). It was shown that native goats had significantly (p<0.05) higher growth rates than did the cross-bred goats from 12-24 weeks of the trial. The growth rate of goats grazing improved pasture depended on the amount of concentrate offered as a supplement. There was no significant difference in growth rates between undrenched and drenched goats. There was no interaction effect on growth rates between the treatments. Drenched goats had significantly (p<0.01) lower egg counts per gram of gastro-intestinal nematode than did undrenched goats. There was no significant difference between the treatments for blood constituents (total protein, haemoglobin, packed cell volume, eosinophils, lymphocytes, monocytes and basophils).