• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.61 no.2
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• pp.194-197
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• 2023

Ascaris lumbricoides causes one of the most common soil-transmitted helminthiases globally. The worms mostly infect the human small intestine and elicit negligible or nonspecific symptoms, but there are reports of extraintestinal ectopic ascariasis. We describe a rare case of biliary ascariasis mistaken for biliary stent in a 72-year-old female patient with a history of liver resection. She visited our outpatient clinic complaining of right upper quadrant pain and fever for the past week. She had previously undergone left lateral sectionectomy for recurrent biliary and intrahepatic duct stones 2 years ago. Besides mildly elevated gamma-glutamyl transferase levels, her liver function tests were normal. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography revealed a linear filling defect closely resembling an internal stent from the common bile duct to the right intrahepatic bile duct. A live female A. lumbricoides adult worm was removed by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Despite a significant decrease of the ascariasis prevalence in Korea, cases of biliary ascariasis are still occasionally reported. In this study, a additional case of biliary ascariasis, which was radiologically misdiagnosed as the biliary stent, was described in a hepatic resection patient by the worm recovery with ERCP in Korea.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.241-247
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• 1995

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of internal parasites on growth rates of Thai Native (TN) and crossbred (75% TN $\times$ 25% Anglo-Nubian, AN and 50% TN $\times$ 50% AN) goats (undrenched, drenched every 3 weeks or at 9 weeks) in village environments in southern Thailand in a humid tropical climate. There was no significant (p > 0.05) difference in growth rate ($g/kg^{0.75}/d$) between the genotypes during unsupplemented grazing (0-64 days of the experimental period). However, during supplementary feeding (64-127 days) and throughout the period (0-127 days) TN goats had significantly (p < 0.01) lower growth rates compared with 75% TN $\times$ 25% AN and 50% TN $\times$ 50% AN goats. There was no (p > 0.05) significant difference in growth rates between 75% TN $\times$ 25% AN and 50% TN $\times$ 50 % AN goats. The growth rates of goats drenched every 3 weeks were significantly (p < 0.01) higher than those undrenched or drenched at 9 weeks. The results of this study also indicate that drenching alone did not result in increased weight gain except when the nutritional status was also improved. Parasitic infection affected some blood constituents, such as pack cell volume, haemoglobin, total protein and albumin. This resulted in lower growth rates for control groups and goats drenched at 9 weeks compared to those of goats drenched every 3 weeks.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.509-518
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• 2016

Parasites are recorded from the red squirrel, Sciurus vulgaris, from Cheongju, the Republic of Korea. A total of 5 road-killed squirrels were thoroughly examined for internal and external parasites from November 2011 to May 2014. Total 4 parasite species, including 1 tapeworm and 3 ectoparasite species were recovered. They were morphologically identified as Catenotaenia dendritica (Cestoda: Catenotaeniidae), Hirstionyssus sciurinus, Leptotrombidium pallidum, and Ceratophyllus (Monopsyllus) indages. Among them, C. dendritica and H. sciurinus are recorded for the first time in the Korean parasite fauna. In addition, the possibility that the red squirrel could act as a reservoir host for a zoonotic disease like tsutsugamushi disease with L. pallidum as its vector has been raised.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.525-530
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• 2013

The ascarids, Toxocara canis and Toxascaris leonina, are probably the most common gastrointestinal helminths encountered in dogs. In order to understand biological differences of 2 ascarids, we analyzed gene expression profiles of female adults of T. canis and T. leonina using CLC Genomics Workbench, and the results were compared with those of free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. A total of 2,880 and 7,949 ESTs were collected from T. leonina and T. canis, respectively. The length of ESTs ranged from 106 to 4,637 bp with an average insert size of 820 bp. Overall, our results showed that most functional gene annotations of 2 ascarids were quite similar to each other in 3 major categories, i.e., cellular component, biological process, and molecular function. Although some different transcript expression categories were found, the distance was short and it was not enough to explain their different lifestyles. However, we found distinguished transcript differences between ascarid parasites and free-living nematodes. Understanding evolutionary genetic changes might be helpful for studies of the lifestyle and evolution of parasites.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.9-19
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• 2014

Anisakis spp. (Nematoda: Anisakidae) parasitize a wide range of marine animals, mammals serving as the definitive host and different fish species as intermediate or paratenic hosts. In this study, 18 fish species were investigated for Anisakis infection. Katsuwonus pelamis, Euthynnus affinis, Caranx sp., and Auxis thazard were infected with high prevalence of Anisakis type I, while Cephalopholis cyanostigma and Rastrelliger kanagurta revealed low prevalence. The mean intensity of Anisakis larvae in K. pelamis and A. thazard was 49.7 and 5.6, respectively. A total of 73 Anisakis type I larvae collected from K. pelamis and A. thazard were all identified as Anisakis typica by PCR-RFLP analysis. Five specimens of Anisakis from K. pelamis and 15 specimens from A. thazard were sequenced using ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region and 6 specimens from A. thazard and 4 specimens from K. pelamis were sequenced in mtDNA cox2 region. Alignments of the samples in the ITS region showed 2 patterns of nucleotides. The first pattern (genotype) of Anisakis from A. thazard had 100% similarity with adult A. typica from dolphins from USA, whereas the second genotype from A. thazard and K. pelamis had 4 base pairs different in ITS1 region with adult A. typica from USA. In the mtDNA cox2 regions, Anisakis type I specimens from A. thazard and K. pelamis showed similarity range from 94% to 99% with A. typica AB517571/DQ116427. The difference of 4 bp nucleotides in ITS1 regions and divergence into 2 subgroups in mtDNA cox2 indicating the existence of A. typica sibling species in the Makassar Strait.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.109-113
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• 2002

This is the first case report of Stephanurus dentatus infection of a feral pig in Korea. In late April, 2000, a weakened feral pig was caught by blow gun from a very low level mountain near the Gyeongsang National University. We autopsied the feral pig in the laboratory of veterinary anatomy at the College of Veterinary Medicine. A total of 27 adult parasites, 11 females and 16 males, and numerous eggs were observed from the cysts formed in the perirenal tissues and ureters. The average size of males was $25.1{\pm}3.2mm$ long and of the females was $34.2{\pm}2.9mm$. The worms were stout, the females being about 2mm broad, and the internal organs were partly visible through the cuticle. The shape of thin-shelled eggs found in the cysts of perirenal tissues and ureter was ellisoidal and oval, and measured $40{\sim}65{\times}90{\sim}115{\mu}m$. The adult parasites were found in cysts which varied from 0.6 to 4cm in diameter, each cyst usually containing a pair of adult worms embedded in green pus. The ureter was thickened and almost occluded, with consequent hydronephrosis.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.193-196
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• 2014

Fascioliasis is a zoonotic infection caused by Fasciola hepatica or Fasciola gigantica. We report an 87-year-old Korean male patient with postprandial abdominal pain and discomfort due to F. hepatica infection who was diagnosed and managed by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with extraction of 2 worms. At his first visit to the hospital, a gallbladder stone was suspected. CT and magnetic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) showed an intraductal mass in the common bile duct (CBD) without proximal duct dilatation. Based on radiological findings, the presumed diagnosis was intraductal cholangiocarcinoma. However, in ERCP which was performed for biliary decompression and tissue diagnosis, movable materials were detected in the CBD. Using a basket, 2 living leaf-like parasites were removed. The worms were morphologically compatible with F. hepatica. To rule out the possibility of the worms to be another morphologically close species, in particular F. gigantica, 1 specimen was processed for genetic analysis of its ITS-1 region. The results showed that the present worms were genetically identical (100%) with F. hepatica but different from F. gigantica.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.32-44
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• 2000

The Korean native goat has been extensively used in the experimental work. Compared to those experimental work employing the goat, reports on their diseases have been scarcely documented. In the present communication, authors reviewed the literatures pertaining to the diseases of the Korean native goat. Diseases of the respiratory system, the alimentary tract, the liver, the musculoskeletal system, the skin, the urogenital system, the nervous system, the eye, and the heart were reviewed. And then metabolic, toxic, and parasitic diseases were reviewed. Of those diseases reviewed, diseases of the heart and kidney, and metabolic and toxic diseases were wholly artificially-induced. Except the parasitic diseases, a considerable number of diseases of other organ systems were also artificially-induced. And the parasitic diseases reported were confined to the internal parasites. Authors feel that the known occurrence of diseases would help diagnose new disease in the goat.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.85-87
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• 2014

We encountered a patient with heavy Hymenolepis nana infection. The patient was a 44-year-old Korean man who had suffered from chronic hepatitis (type B) for 15 years. A large number of H. nana adult worms were found during colonoscopy that was performed as a part of routine health screening. The parasites were scattered throughout the colon, as well as in the terminal ileum, although the patient was immunocompetent. Based on this study, colonoscopy may be helpful for diagnosis of asymptomatic H. nana infections.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.523-532
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• 2017

A field survey studying intestinal parasites in humans and microbial pathogen contamination at environment was performed in a Laotian rural village to identify potential risks for disease outbreaks. A parasitological investigation was conducted in Ban Lak Sip village, Luang Prabang, Lao PDR involving fecal samples from 305 inhabitants as well as water samples taken from 3 sites of the local stream. Water analysis indicated the presence of several enteric pathogens, i.e., Aeromonas spp., Vibrio spp., E. coli H7, E. coli O157: H7, verocytotoxin-producing E. coli (VTEC), Shigella spp., and enteric adenovirus. The level of microbial pathogens contamination was associated with human activity, with greater levels of contamination found at the downstream site compared to the site at the village and upstream, respectively. Regarding intestinal parasites, the prevalence of helminth and protozoan infections were 68.9% and 27.2%, respectively. Eight helminth taxa were identified in fecal samples, i.e., 2 tapeworm species (Taenia sp. and Hymenolepis diminuta), 1 trematode (Opisthorchis sp.), and 5 nematodes (Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, Strongyloides stercoralis, trichostrongylids, and hookworms). Six species of intestinal protists were identified, i.e., Blastocystis hominis, Cyclospora spp., Endolimax nana, Entamoeba histolytica/E. dispar, Entamoeba coli, and Giardia lamblia. Questionnaires and interviews were also conducted to determine risk factors of infection. These analyses together with a prevailing infection level suggested that most of villagers were exposed to parasites in a similar degree due to limited socio-economic differences and sharing of similar practices. Limited access to effective public health facilities is also a significant contributing factor.