• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.47 no.3
• /
• pp.281-285
• /
• 2009

Paragonimiasis typically results from the consumption of raw or improperly cooked crustacea, especially crabs and crayfish. Although previously endemic in Korea, the prevalence of this disease decreased in the early 1970s because of educational campaigns and fewer intermediate hosts as a result of ecological changes. Recently, we were presented with a family where all members were infected with Paragonimus after ingestion of Kejang (= drunken crab). The mother was hospitalized for general myalgia and weakness first, followed by the father, who was hospitalized for dyspnea 2 month later. After the parents were diagnosed with paragonimiasis, we recommended their daughter to visit our hospital for a checkup, because they all had eaten freshwater crabs soaked in soybean sauce. She complained of generalized myalgia, fever, and pleuritic pain, and was also diagnosed with paragonimiasis. Peripheral blood of the 3 patients revealed hypereosinophilia, and computed tomography (CT) scans of their chests showed pleural effusion. The results of antibody tests by ELISA were positive for paragonimiasis. We report here the case series of familial paragonimiasis in a modern urban city, rather than in a typical endemic area.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.49 no.4
• /
• pp.409-412
• /
• 2011

In Korea. many people enjoy eating raw or underkooked freshwater crayfish and crabs which unfortunately may cause paragonimiasis. Here, we describe a case of pulmonary and abdominal paragonimiasis in a 9-year-old girl, who presented with a 1-month history of abdominal pain, especially in the right flank and the right inguinal area, with anorexia. A chest radiograph revealed pleural effusion in both lungs, and her abdominal sonography indicated an inflammatory lesion in the right psoas muscle. Peripheral blood analysis of the patient showed hypereosinophilia (66.0%) and an elevated total serum lgE level (>2,500 IU/ml). The pleural effusion tested by ELISA were also positive for antibodies against paragonimiasis. Her dietary history stated that she had ingested raw freshwater crab, 4 months previously. The diagnosis was pulmonary paragonimiasis accompanied by abdominal muscle involvement. She was improved after 5 cycles of praziquantel treatment and 2 times of pleural effusion drainage. In conclusion, herein, we report a case of pulmonary and abdominal paragonimiasis in a girl who presented with abdominal pain and tenderness in the inguinal area.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.63 no.5
• /
• pp.440-443
• /
• 2007

Paragonimiasis mainly occurs by ingestion of raw or undercooked freshwater crabs or crayfish. In our country, the prevalence of paragonimiasis was high until late 1960s due to eating habits, but after the 1970s the prevalence of the disease has markedly decreased and now the disease is rarely seen. As the clinical and radiological features as well as the laboratory findings are similar to that of pulmonary tuberculosis, the differential diagnosis of pulmonary paragonimiasis is very difficult. We experienced a case of a patient with pulmonary paragonimiasis who was treated as having pulmonary tuberculosis.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.52 no.4
• /
• pp.333-339
• /
• 2019

The Red swamp crawfish Procambarus clarkii is native to the southern United States and inhibits all over the world including the United States, Asia, Africa and Europe. In Europe, it is known to disrupt ecosystems such as competition with native crayfish. In this study, habitats of red swamp crawfish were identified in Jiseok stream (15.5 km section) and Daecho stream (6.1 km section) of Youngsan river. A total 33 red swamp crawfish were captured. A female captured in Jiseok stream carried 215 newly hatched red swamp crawfish in her the burrow. As a result of the analysis of the habitat environment, the water temperature was ranged of 2.4~32.8℃, conductivity was 53.4~502.3 μS cm^-1 and DO was 0.74~22.64 mg L^-1. As a result of measuring HOBO, the temperature ranged from -9~48.1℃, showing a change of 57.1℃ throughout the year. The variation of the water temperature throughout the year from 2.9~33.9℃ was found to be 31℃. Red swamp crawfish have a high adaptability and a wide range of environmental resistance, and report a sharp increase in newly invaded areas, negatively affecting indigenous organisms. In addition, it can be used as a medium for the spread of diseases and parasites, so prompt investigation and research should be carried out.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.91-100
• /
• 1990

Paragonimus westermani is a tissue migrating parasite in the early stage until arriving at lung, and most of the parasites spend their life spans there. Considerable immune responses including activation of macrophages are taken place during the residence of parasites in the host. However, concerning the immunologic defense mechanisms of the host against this parasite, only a few document is available so far. In this study, the cytotoxic effect of peritoneal macrophages under the presence of antibody and/or complement against metacercariae of F. westermani was investigated in vitro. Metacercarlae were collected from the crayfish, Cambaroides similis and hatched out in Tyrode solution (pH 7.4). Plastic adherent cells from normal or infected rat (Wistar) peritoneal exudates were used as experimental macrophages. Polyclonal antibodies were obtained from infected rats and a cat. Cat IgG was fractioned with ion exchange chromatography. Fresh rabbit complement was used according to experimental scheme. Various combinations of peritoneal macrophages, normal or infected rat serum, complement and cat IgG were incubated at $36^{\circ}C$ in 5% $CO_2$ incubator for 6, 14, 24 and 48 hours. The results obtained were as follows: 1. P. westermani infection activated peritoneal macrophages non-specifically and this activation induced increases of cell adherence and cytotoxicity on metacercariae. 2. In the presence of infected rat serum the antibody.dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity of peritoneal macrophages on metacercariae was significantly increased and showed a peak at 6-hour incubation. But the cytotoxic effect was markedly reduced after inactivation of complement and heat.labile IgE antibody by the heating of infected serum at 56$^{\circ}C$ for 30 minutes. 3. The highest cytotoxic effect (100%) of concomitant incubation with IgG and complement showed 24 hours after incubation, although cell adherence was relatively low at 6-hour incubation and 0% at 24-hour incubation. 4. Coordinative functions of complement with serum and IgG were effective in cell adherence and in cytotoxicity, but it is not clear the independent role of complement on the macrophage- mediated cytotoxicity in this study- With these results it is assumed that P. westermani infection can induce the non-specific activation of peritoneal macrophages, and strum antibodies including IgE antibody might enhance the cytotoxicity by macrophages,

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.51 no.7
• /
• pp.760-765
• /
• 2008

Paragonimiasis is a parasitic infection that occurs following the ingestion of infectious Paragonimus metacercariae from crabs or crayfish. Pulmonary paragonimiasis is the most common clinical manifestation of this infection, but several ectopic paragonimiasis cases have also been reported. Among them, cases of subcutaneous paragonimiasis are rare, especially in children. We report a case of subcutaneous paragonimiasis of the right abdominal wall with pleural effusion with hepatic involvement and without abnormal pulmonary infiltration in a boy aged 2 years and 5 months. He had eaten soybean sauce-soaked freshwater crabs (kejang) 6 months prior to complaining of right abdominal wall distension. On evaluation, right pleural effusion without abnormal pulmonary infiltration was detected, as well as blood eosinophilia, an elevated serum IgE level, pleural fluid eosinophilia and a positive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay that detected P. westermani antibody in the serum. Thoracentesis, praziquantel administration, and excision of subcutaneous lesions were performed. After treatment, the eosinophil count and serum IgE level were decreased, and the subcutaneous lesions did not recur. The frequency of paragonimiasis has decreased recently, but it is still prevalent in Korea. Paragonimiasis should be suspected if pleural fluid eosinophilia is associated with blood hypereosinophilia and a high level of serum IgE; however clinicians should obtain a thorough history of travel and food habits.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
• /
• v.15 no.3
• /
• pp.80-89
• /
• 2007

Two endogenous endo-${\beta}$-1,4-D-glucanase (EGase, EC 3.2.1.4) cDNAs were cloned from the midgut of the earthworm Eisenia anderi, and named EaEG2 and EaEG3, respectively. A sequence of 1,368 bp was determined and the coding region is composed of 456 amino acid residues including the initiation methionine. The N-terminal region of 20 residues in the deduced sequence was regarded as the signal peptide. These EGases belong to glycosyl hydrolase family 9 (GHF9) and showed high levels of identity(51-55%) with selected termite, cockroache, crayfish and mollusc EGases. The EGases of earthworm consist of three consensus catalytic domains found in most microbial cellulases. A phylogenetic tree was constructed using the deduced amino acid sequence data matched through the BLASTX program and showed that GHF9 families could be divided into five groups of arthropoda, bacteria, plant, annelida and mollusc.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.66-73
• /
• 1982

Paragonimus westermani is one of the most popular endemic parasitic diseases in Korea. The nation-wide prevalence survey were carried out by Gobayashi (1921) with sputum examination and by Walton and Chyu (1959) with the intradermal skin test respectively. Recent studies showed the decline of positive rate in intradermal skin test of the local inhabitants and also showed the less distribution of intermediate host. The fact seemed that caused by economic improvement of village people, decrease of intermediate host by increasing use of pesticides, becoming lower water level at streams and rivers and better irrigation and finally by better community health education etc. Gangwha area of Gyeonggi-Do was found out as an endemic area of Paragonimus westermani through some studies in the past, however, in the vicinity area of Gangwha, the study in Kyodong island (myon) was carried out in 1965 by Yun et al. Therefore author carried out the intradermal skin test for 2,380 students of primary, middle and high school in Kyodong island and Samsan island. The results showed as follows : 1) The positive rate of intradermal test for paragonimus westermani infection showed positive in 152 among 1,845 students (8.2%) in Kyodong island, and 21 among 637 students (3.3%) in Samsan island respectively. 2) According to grade levels, 49 among 973 students (5.0%) in primary school, 62 among 962 students (6.4%) in middle school and 53 among 445 students (11.9%) in high school showed positive rate. This showed the higher grade the higher positive rate. 3) Among these total 164 positive cases in the intradermal skin test, only in 3 cases eggs were found in sputum. 4) Finding out the intermediate host, only 28 crayfishes from Kyodong island and 12 from Samsan island were collected and examined for metacercaria infection, however, none of metacercaria was found. 5) As a control group, 2 primary schools from the main island were selected. In these schools from the sixth grade students showed positive rate of 4.8% in Naega primary school and 0% in Hajeom Primary school respectively. Those results showed much decrease than studies carried out in the past. 6) The survey for food habit showed that 15 among 1,274 students (1.2%) had experiences of eating raw intermediate host(crayfish) and 266 among 988 students (27.0%) ate cooked.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
• /
• v.43 no.4
• /
• pp.291-300
• /
• 2007

The crayfish-shaped artificial bait for octopus drift line is manufactured, into which is made to insert ordinary bait. The effects of the artificial bait are confirmed through the analysis of octopus' behavior in the laboratory in comparison with the existing bait of pig-fat skin, and the investigation of the octopus catch on the sea, and in addition, the examination of the water quality in relation to the bait to be inserted into the artificial bait is done together. The artificial bait is red in color, 10.5cm in the length of the body, and 29g in weight. The octopus behavior in relation to the bait in the laboratory has shown a good result in which more than 30% of the octopuses rushed to the artificial bait. In the analysis of the octopus sitting time by the bait, the octopus stayed longer with the artificial bait(63.7%) than the pig-fat skin(25.1%). The octopus sitting time at the artificial bait inserted with frozen squid(48.8％, 44.6％) is shown to be longer than that of the pig-fat skin(36.9％) or boiled fish paste(21.2％). In the analysis of sitting frequency to the bait, the case of the artificial bait(total 17 times) was more than that of the pig-fat skin(total 3 times), and the case of the artificial bait with frozen squid attracted the octopuses more frequently than that of the pig-fat skin or the boiled fish paste. In the field experiment, the fishing boat A(Manseon-ho, 1.22tons) caught the total 93 octopuses, while the fishing boat B(Ilho-ho, 0.73tons) caught the total 154 octopuses, all of which weighed less than 9.0kg. In the comparison with the total catch, the case with the artificial bait was a little higher than that of the pig-fat skin($^{**}p\;<\;0.05$). In the analysis of the water quality in relation to the baits, the COD showed the descending order of frozen squid(0.57mg/g), boiled fish paste(0.18mg/g), and pig-fat skin(0.10mg/g), and the case with frozen squid was the highest and the case of the pig-fat skin, lowest. The total phosphorus, like the COD, showed the highest in frozen squid(0.02mg/g), and in case of the total nitrogen, unlike the COD, the pig-fat skin was shown to be the highest(0.006mg/g).

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.38-58
• /
• 2001

This study aims to illustrate T. H. Huxley's life and activities as a pioneer of British school science education which have been relatively little known than other aspects of him (e.g. Darwin's Bulldog). Undoubtedly, Huxley was one of the great scientists of the Victorian era, but he was also an active reformer of scientific enterprises and school science education through his strong engagement in various governmental and non-governmental positions and through his talents of delivering speeches and of writing books. He joined as a member to various royal commissions (esp. Devonshire Commission), became a president of several important scientific societies (e.g. Royal Society, BAAS) and published many well known books (e.g. Science and Culture, Selected Essays). As a science educator, Huxley himself taught biology and physiology for thirty years and known as an excellent teacher, participated in several historical education reform activities (e.g. a member of Devonshire Commission and of London School Board), worked as a science teacher trainer and as a DSA science examiner for the improvement of the quality of science teaching, and wrote a number of textbooks (esp. Physiography, The Crayfish) for various levels of schooling including elementary and secondary, imprinted his new idea on science teaching. His great role as a pioneer of school science education followed by a more professional successor, Prof. H. E. Armstrong who was better equipped with a more theoretical framework on the activities of learning science.