• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.565-572
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• 2016

Whilst archaeological evidence for many aspects of life in ancient China is well studied, there has been much less interest in ancient infectious diseases, such as intestinal parasites in past Chinese populations. Here, we bring together evidence from mummies, ancient latrines, and pelvic soil from burials, dating from the Neolithic Period to the Qing Dynasty, in order to better understand the health of the past inhabitants of China and the diseases endemic in the region. Seven species of intestinal parasite have been identified, namely roundworm, whipworm, Chinese liver fluke, oriental schistosome, pinworm, Taenia sp. tapeworm, and the intestinal fluke Fasciolopsis buski. It was found that in the past, roundworm, whipworm, and Chinese liver fluke appear to have been much more common than the other species. While roundworm and whipworm remained common into the late 20th century, Chinese liver fluke seems to have undergone a marked decline in its prevalence over time. The iconic transport route known as the Silk Road has been shown to have acted as a vector for the transmission of ancient diseases, highlighted by the discovery of Chinese liver fluke in a 2,000 year-old relay station in northwest China, 1,500 km outside its endemic range.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.57 no.6
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• pp.575-580
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• 2019

The aim of this study is to determine the species of parasites that affected the inhabitants of the city of Acre on the coast of the eastern Mediterranean during the Ottoman Period. This is the first archaeological study of parasites in the Ottoman Empire. We analysed sediment from a latrine dating to the early 1800s for the presence of helminth eggs and protozoan parasites which caused dysentery. The samples were examined using light microscopy and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. We found evidence for roundworm (Ascaris lumbricoides), whipworm (Trichuris trichiura), fish tapeworm (Dibothriocephalus sp.), Taenia tapeworm (Taenia sp.), lancet liver fluke (Dicrocoelium dendriticum), and the protozoa Giardia duodenalis and Entamoeba histolytica. The parasite taxa recovered demonstrate the breadth of species present in this coastal city. We consider the effect of Ottoman Period diet, culture, trade and sanitation upon risk of parasitism in this community living 200 years ago.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.177-185
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• 2006

Soil-transmitted helminths (STH), namely Ascaris, Trichuris and hookworms (Ancylostoma and Necator), present a global health problem to about a half of the earth's population. In the Republic of Korea, STH were highly prevalent and were considered a high priority target for national control. To promote the control, a non-governmental organization named Korea Association for Parasite Eradication (currently Korea Association of Health Promotion) was founded in 1964, and mass fecal examination followed by selective mass chemotherapy with anthelmintics was performed twice a year from 1969 to 1995 targeting whole nationwide schoolchildren. Meanwhile, decreasing patterns of national STH infections have been monitored by 7 times' quinquennial national surveys targeting general population. In 1971, the overall intestinal helminth egg positive rate was 84.3% (Ascaris 58.2%, Trichuris 65.4%, and hookworms 10.7%), which became 63.2% in 1976, 41.1% in 1981, 12.9% in 1986, 3.8% in 1992, 2.4% in 1997, and 4.3% (Ascaris 0.03%, Trichuris 0.02%, and hookworms 0%) in 2004. During the control period, national economy rapidly developed, and living standards including environment, sanitation, and agricultural technology greatly improved, which undoubtedly boosted the STH control effects. Our experience indicates that social driving force to establish an eligible national control system to conduct repeated mass chemotherapy, together with improvement of environment and sanitation, is important for initiating and achieving STH control in a developing community.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.187-190
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• 2011

Fecal examinations using the Kato Katz technique were performed on a total of 1,287 villagers (945 students and 342 general inhabitants) of Oddar Meanchey Province, Cambodia in May 2007 and November 2009. The overall intestinal helminth egg positive rate was 23.9%, and the most prevalent helminth species was hookworms (21.6%). Other helminth eggs detected included echinostomes (1.0%), Enterobius vermicularis (0.8%), small trematode eggs (0.7%), which may include Opisthorchis viverrini and Haplorchis spp., and Hymenolepis nana (0.4%). In order to recover adult echinostomes, we treated 2 patients with 10-15 mg/kg praziquantel and purged. Total 14 adult echinostomes, 1 and 13 worms from each patient, were collected. The echinostomes characteristically had 49-51 collar spines and 2 round or slightly lobated testes. They were identified as Echinostoma ilocanum (Garrison, 1908) Odhner, 1911. So far as literature are concerned, this is the first record on the discovery of human E. ilocanum infection in Cambodia.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.107-111
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• 1990

A survey was undertaken to evaluate the present status of intestinal infection in army soldiers. Stool specimen of 417 soldiers fixed by SAF solution were collected from a camp located in area of Nakdong river during the period from August to October of 1990. And these stool samples were examined by formalin-ether sedimentation technique once for helminths and protozoan cysts stained with Lugol's iodine solution. The results obtained in this survey were summarized as follows : l) The overall positive rate of intestinal parasite was 18.0%. 2) The egg positive rate of intestinal helminth was 15.1%, : and 11.5% for Clonorchis sinensis. 5.0% for Metagonimus vokogawai, 1.2% for Ascaris lumbricoides 1.7% for Trichiuris trichiura. 0.2% for Taenia sp. 3) The cyst positive rate of intestinal protozoa was 4.1% ; and 1.4% for Entamoeba coli, 1.9% for Giardia lamblia 0.7% for Entamoeba histolytica, 0.5% for Endolimax nana. 4) Most of samples were positive(85.3%) by single species. 10.7% by two species, 2.7% by three species and 1.3% by four species. 5) Infection rate of intestinal parasites among army soldiers decreased distinctly compared with previous data but it is revealed that the infection rate of Clonorchis sinensis among army soldiers in area of Nakdong river is still high in comparison with ever-reported data. 6) SAF fixatives used in this field survey during summertime was useful to conserve protozoan cyst and helminths ova. Also we could examine stool samples directly by formalin-ether sedimentation technique.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.135-144
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• 2019

There have been some reports on schistosomiasis of school children in Sudan's Nile River basin area; however, information about the infection status of Schistosoma species and intestinal helminths among village residents of this area is very limited. Urine and stool samples were collected from the 1,138 residents of the Al Hidaib and Khour Ajwal villages of White Nile State, Sudan in 2014. The prevalence of overall schistosomiasis and intestinal helminthiasis was 36.3% and 7.7%, respectively. Egg positive rates were 35.6% for Schistosoma haematobium, 2.6% for S. mansoni, and 1.4% were mixed. The prevalence of schistosomiasis was significantly higher in men (45.6%) than in women (32.0%), in Khou Ajwal villagers (39.4%) than in Al Hidaib villagers (19.2%), and for age groups ${\leq}15$ years old (51.5%) than for age groups >15 years old (13.2%). The average number of eggs per 10 ml urine (EP10) of S. haematobium infections was 18.9, with 22.2 eggs in men vs 17.0 in women and 20.4 in Khou Ajwal villagers vs 8.1 in Al Hidaib villagers. In addition to S. mansoni eggs, 4 different species of intestinal helminths were found in the stool, including Hymenolepis nana (6.6%) and H. diminuta (1.0%). Collectively, urinary schistosomiasis is still prevalent among village residents in Sudan's White Nile River basin and was especially high in men, children ${\leq}15$ years, and in the village without a clean water system. H. nana was the most frequently detected intestinal helminths in the 2 villages.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.267-274
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• 1996

This study was performed to observe the present status of intestinal parasitic infections among the children in Iksan, Jeonbuk, Korea. During the period from February to June 1996, total 510 fecal samples(male 276, female 234) were collected and examined by formalin-ether sedimentation technique and trichrome stain for intestinal helminths and protozoan cysts. Of 510 samples examined, 62(12.2%) were positive for intestinal parasites. Helminth egg positives were 3(0.6%), and protozoan cyst positives were 59(11.6%). The female group showed higher positive rate(13.2%) than males(11.2%), and the highest positive rates were observed in 7 age group(17.5%), and lowest positive rates were 4 age group(9.5%). 3 species of helminths egg and 6 species of protozoan cyst were detected; Metagonimus yokogawai 0.4%, Enterobius vermicularis 0.2%, Trichuris trichiura 0.2%, Endolimax nana 4.1%, Entamoeba coli 3.9%, Ciardia lamblia 2.0%, Entamoeba histolytica 1.4%, Iodamoeba butschilii 0.8%, and Chilomastix mesnili 0.4%, respectively. In 3 helminth egg positive cases, single infection was 2(66.7%), and double infection 1(33.3%), among 59 protozoan cyst positives, single infection was 54(91.5%), and double infection was 5(8.5%). The highest positive rate of protozoan cyst was 7 age group(14.3), and lowest positive rate was 4 age group(9.5%).

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.213-218
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• 2007

The prevalence of liver and intestinal fluke infections was surveyed on residents of Savannakhet Province, Laos. Fecal specimens were collected from a total of 981 residents in 4 Mekong riverside villages and examined by the Kato-Katz thick smear technique. The results revealed that the overall helminth egg positive rate was 84.2%, and the positive rate for small trematode eggs, including Opisthorchis viverrini, heterophyids, or lecithodendriids, was 67.1 %. To obtain adult flukes, 38 small trematode egg positive cases were treated with a 20-30 mg/kg single dose of praziquantel and purged. Diarrheic stools were then collected from 29 people and searched for helminth parasites using stereomicroscopes. Mixed infections with O. viverrini and 6 kinds of intestinal flukes were found, namely, Haplorchis taichui, Haplorchis pumilio, Haplorchis yokogawai, Prosthodendrium molenkampi, Phaneropsolus bonnei, and echinostomes. The total number of flukes collected was 7,693 specimens (av. no. per treated person; 265.3). The most common species was O. viverrini, followed by H. taichui, P. molenkampi, echinostomes, H. pumilio, P. bonnei, and H. yokogawai. The results indicate that foodborne liver and intestinal fluke infections are prevalent among residents of Savannakhet Province, Laos.

• 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.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.207-214
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• 1994

The prevalence of intestinal parasites and CLonorchis sinensis infection was observed among inhabitants in the upper stream of Kumgang (River) from Junuary to October 1991. A total of 743 fecal specimens was examined by cellophane thick smear and formalin-ether concentration technique. The parasite positive rate including helminth eggs and protozoan cysts was 40.8%, the positive rates for every species were: Clonorchis sinensis 30.8%, Metqgonimur app. 14.5%, Fosciolc spry. 0.7%, Tqsnia app. 1.5%, Asccris lumbricoides 0.4%, Enterobius vermicularis 0.1%, Hookworm 0.1%, Trichuris kichiura 1.6%, Entamoeba coli 0.7%, E. histolytica 0.3%, Endolimox nana 0.3%, Giardia lamblia 0.3% and lodamoebc buetschlii 0.1%, respectively. The cumulative positive rate in Okchon-gun showed 51.1%, in the Kumsan-gun 50.8% and in the Muju-gun 28.6%. Through this survey, it was concluded that the soil transmitted intestinal parasites including helminthseggs and protozoan cysts have been decreased remarkably among the inhabitants along the upper stream of Taechong Dam, Kum-gang (River), on the other side, Clonorchis sinensis, Metogonimw app. and Tuenin sap. are still inorderate prevalent. Key words: Intestinal parasites, Clonorchis sinensis, Metogonimus app. Fasciolc sup. Kumgang (River).