• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.51-60
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• 1984

Two cases of natural human infection by Heterophyopsis continua (Heterophyidae) were identified by collection of adult worms in 1983 in Korea. And in order to know the source of infection a study on fish intermediate hosts was performed along the southwestern coastal areas. The cases were 21 and 50 year old males residing in southern coastal areas. They had the clinical complaints of non-specific gastrointestinal symptoms such as epigastric pain and one of them also complained the discharge of tapeworm segments. Praziquantel in single dose of 10~15mg/kg was given followed by purgation with magnesium salt and 2 and 46 specimens of H. continua were collected from the diarrheal stools. They said to have eaten raw ilesh of several kinds of brackish water fishes. The results of fish examination for metacercarial infection were as follows: I. Seventeen (663.0%) out of 27 perches (Lateolabrax japonicus) and 10 (29.4%) out of 34 gobies (Acantkogobius flavimanus) harboured the metacercariae but none of 42 mullets (Mugil cepkalus) were found to harbour them. 2. The average metacercarial density in perches was 55.1 and 18.7 per fish respectively. And the majority of the metacercariae were collected from the muscle of body portions in these fishes. 3. After the metaeercariae were experimentally fed to two rats and one young dog. two adult worms were recovered from the dog while none from the rats. These worms were also identified as H. continua. From the results it was concluded that the brackish water flshes which the human cases said to have eaten were the source of infection.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.385-398
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• 2011

A large-scale survey was conducted to investigate the infection status of fresh water fishes with Clonorchis sinensis metacercariae (CsMc) in 3 wide regions, which were tentatively divided by latitudinal levels of the Korean peninsula. A total of 4,071 freshwater fishes were collected from 3 regions, i.e., northern (Gangwon-do: 1,543 fish), middle (Chungcheongbuk-do and Gyeongsangbuk-do: 1,167 fish), and southern areas (Jeollanam-do, Ulsan-si, and Gyeongsangnamdo: 1,361 fish). Each fish was examined by the artificial digestion method from 2003 to 2010. In northern areas, only 11 (0.7%) fish of 2 species, Pungtungia herzi and Squalidus japonicus coreanus from Hantan-gang, Cheolwon-gun, Gangwon-do were infected with av. 2.6 CsMc. In middle areas, 149 (12.8%) fish were infected with av. 164 CsMc. In southern areas, 538 (39.5%) fish were infected with av. 159 CsMc. In the analysis of endemicity in 3 regions with an index fish, P. herzi, 9 (6.2%) of 146 P. herzi from northern areas were infected with av. 2.8 CsMc. In middle areas, 34 (31.8%) of 107 P. herzi were infected with av. 215 CsMc, and in southern areas, 158 (92.9%) of 170 P. herzi were infected with av. 409 CsMc. From these results, it has been confirmed that the infection status of fish with CsMc is obviously different among the 3 latitudinal regions of the Korean peninsula with higher prevalence and burden in southern regions.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.341-349
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• 2018

The infection status of Centrocestus armatus metacercariae (CaMc) was broadly surveyed in freshwater fishes from major river systems in the Republic of Korea (Korea) during 2008-2017. A total of 14,977 fishes was caught and examined by the artificial digestion method. CaMc were detected in 3,818 (97.1%) (2,114 Z. platypus: 96.1% and 1,704 Z. temminckii: 98.4%) out of 3,932 Zacco spp. examined and their density was 1,867 (2,109 in Z. platypus and 1,567 in Z. temminckii) per fish infected. The prevalences with CaMc were high, 93.7-100%, in Zacco spp. from all surveyed areas. However, their densities were more or less different by the surveyed areas and fish species. They were most high in Nakdong-gang in Gyeongsangnam-do (4,201 in average), and followed by Geum-gang (2,343), Nakdong-gang in Gyeongsangbuk-do (1,623), Han-gang (1,564), Tamjin-gang and Yeongsan-gang (1,540), streams in the east coast (1,028), Seomjin-gang (488) and Mangyeong-gang (170). In another species of rasborinid fish, Opsariichthys uncirostris amurensis, CaMc were detected in 222 (74.8%) out of 297 ones examined and their density was 278 (1-4,480) per fish infected. CaMc were also detected in total 41 fish species except for the rasborinid fish, Z. platypus, Z. temminckii and O. uncirostris amurensis. Conclusively, it was confirmed that among the 3 species of rasborinid fish, Z. platypus and Z. temminckii are highly prevalent and O. uncirostris amurensis is moderately prevalent with CaMc. Additionally, we could know that variety of fish species act as the second intermediate hosts of C. armatus in Korea.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.351-358
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• 2018

To grasp the infection status of Metagonimus spp. metacercariae (MsMc), the freshwater fishes were surveyed from Seomjin-gang (river) and Tamjin-gang in the Republic of Korea. Total 1,604 fishes from 7 local sites of Seomjin-gang and 1,649 fishes from 2 sites of Tamjin-gang were examined for 6 years (2012-2017) by the artificial digestion method. MsMc were detected in fishes from 7 sites, i.e., Osucheon in Imsil-gun (36.3% fish in 6 spp.), Seomjin-gang in Sunchanggun (49.8% in 18 spp.), Songdaecheon in Namwon-si (64.5% in 8 spp.), Seomjin-gang in Gokseong-gun (72.4% in 14 spp.) and in Gurye-gun (78.8% in 17 spp.), Hoengcheon (75.9% in 11 spp.) and Namsancheon (58.9% in 7 spp.) in Hadong-gun. Their average densities were 4.2, 86.8, 39.9, 43.1, 246.5, 173.6 and 67.5 per fish infected respectively. Prevalence with MsMc in rasborinid fish from Seomjin-gang was 89.2% and their intensity was 73.6 per fish infected. Endemicities of MsMc in rasborinid fish from Seomjin-gang were significantly higher in fishes from the lower reaches (prevalence: 98.7%; density: 137) rather than in fishes from the middle (93.5%; 38) and upper (72.4%; 13) reaches. MsMc were also detected in 56.1% and 66.4% fishes from 2 surveyed areas, i.e., the middle reaches in Jangheung-gun and the lower reaches in Gangjin-gun, of Tamjin-gang, and their densities were 147 and 121 per fish infected. In susceptible fishes from Tamjin-gang, the prevalence was 84.1% and density was 227 per fish infected. By the present study, it was confirmed that MsMc is highly prevalent in the fishes from Seomjin-gang and Tamjin-gang in Korea.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.179-188
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• 1988

The life cycle of Fibricola seoulensis was studied in the laboratory and in the field, with special interests in the larval developments within the eggs and in the intermediate hosts. The first emergence of miracidia after incubation of eggs in 26C water began on the ninth day. The miracidia, elongate and cylindrical shape, had epidermal plates in the formula of 6, 9, 4 and 3, with two pairs of flame cells and lateral processes. A kind of fresh water snail, Hippeutis (H.) cantori, was found to shed furcocercous cercariae from the 13th day after experimental challenge with miracidia while Physa acute failed to shed. The same kind of snail collected from the field also shed the same cercariae. The cercariae were equipped with 2 pairs of penetration glands and 5 pairs of fame cells. The tadpoles of Rana nigromaculata were found susceptible to experimental infection with the cercariae. The same kind of tadpoles collected from various areas were also found naturally infected. The metacercariae in the tadpoles which were infected experimentally became infective to the definitive host in 21 days. The metacercariae were located free in the body cavity of tadpoles, and attained sexual maturity in rats in 7 days. The present study successfully followed the complete life cycle of F. seoulensis and found that it is possible to maintain the life cycle in the laboratory.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.47-56
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• 1989

Some biological characteristics of Centrecestus armatui were studied using albino rats as its experimental host. The metacercariae were collected from Zacco Platypus by artificial digestion method. Laboratory rats(Wistar) were fed each 100 or 200 metacercariae and sacrificed on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 14 and 28 days after infection to recover worms of various ages. The average recovery rate was 10.7% from 82 rats. The rate decreased rather slowly for the first 8 days but showed a steep decrease thereafter. Of the worms, 35.5% were recovered from the duodenum and 62.5% from the jejunum. At metacercarial stage, body length was $293{\mu\textrm{m}}$ and body width $144{\mu\textrm{m}}$. At adult stage, the length and width reached $382{\mu\textrm{m}}$ and $214{\mu\textrm{m}}$ respectively at 14 days after infection. The testes and Mehlis' gland were recognized at metacercarial stage, whereas the ovarian anlage appeared on the 1st day of infection, seminal vesicle and vitellaria on the 2nd day, and seminal receptacle and uterine eggs on the 3rd day. Until 8 days after infection the genital organs developed continuously and the number of uterine eggs increased. The above results show that albino rats are one of useful experimental hosts for C. armatus and the worms can develop to adults in 3 days after infection.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.203-212
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• 1989

The development of Echinestcma cinetorchis in several snail species reared in laboratory aquaria was observed. The eggs from adult cukes collected from the intestine of rats were cultivated to miracidia, and exposed to Hippeutis sp. snails. Observations were made for cercarial shedding from the exposed snails. The cercariae shed from the snails were again exposed to several species of fresh water snails in order to observe metacercarial formation in the snails and their infectivity to final hosts. The results obtained in this study were as follows: 1. Twenty miracidia were exposed to each snail of Hippeutis sp. About 58.3% of the above snails (7 out of 12) were dead before shedding the cercariae, anti the remainder shed the cercariae for a period of 7 to 9 days before death. 2. Cercarial shedding from the infected snails started from the 25th day after the exposure to mi.acidia, and the total number of cercariae shed per snail was 684 in average (range; 482-904). 3. The sixte of refine developed in the infected Hippeutis sp. snails was 1$, 242{\times}214{\;}{\mu}m$ in average, and the number of rediae per snail was 350 in average (range; 120-510). 4. About 40 to 50 cercariae shed from the Hippeutis sp. snails were each exposed to several species of snails reared in the laboratory. The metacercarial formation was confirmed by dissecting the infected snails, 12 to 16 days after the infection. The infectivity to each snail species was 100% in Hippeutis sp. (recovery rate; 56.7%) and Radix auricuzaria coreana (recovery rate; 66.4%), 66.7% in Physa acute (recovery rate; 37.5%), and 50% in Cipangopaludina sp. (recovery rate; 8.0%), respectively. 5. The swimming cercariae attached first at the cephalo-podial part of the snails and then migrated to the mantle, internal organ s and hemocele areas to form the metacercariae. 6. Adult worms of E. cinetorchis were obtained from the rats infected with the metacercariae encysted in the experimental snails. Summarising the above results, it is suggested that the mud-snail (Cipangopaludina sp.) may play an important role as a source of human infection with E. cinetorchis in Korea, and that several species of fresh water snails are involved in the life cycle as a second intermediate host.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.41-46
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• 1989

This study was performed to observe the infection rate and infection intensity of fresh water fish such as pale chub (Z. platypus) and dark chub (Z. temminckii) with the metacercariae of C. armatus. The fish were caught in several rivers and streams from June to September, 1988 and examined by artificial digestion technique. Total 370 fish were caught at 19 rivers. The metacercarial (C. armatus) infection rate and average burden in Z. Platypus were 86.8% and 224, and those in Z. tsmminckii were 78.5% and 131. The infection rate and burden per fish were 73.4% and 32 in the fish caught from the Han river, and 88.0% and 44 from the Youngsan river. All fish caught from the Keum and the Tamjin river were infected and their mean metacercarial density was 45 and 59 respectively. The infection rate and density in fish caught from the Seomjin and Nagdong rivers were 100% and 119, and 81.0% and 348 respectively. From this study, it is confirmed that C. armatus is widely distributed along 5 major rivers in Korea.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.197-202
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• 1997

Diagnosis of early paragonimiasis is difficult because parasitological evidence is not easily obtained. Antibody tests have been proposed as a good substitute for classical diagnostic techniques. Using the crude extracts of Parnsonimus westermnni eggs, metacercariae. 4- and 7-week Juveniles, and 16-week adults as antigens, we observed the early antibody responses. Sera were obtained from 4 experimental cats, fed 50 metacercariae each, at intervals until 13 weeks post-infection. Antibody (IgG) responses were identified by ELISA using extracts of 4-week juveniles, followed by those of 7- and 16-week worms. Antibody responses were minimal against the metacercarial extracts. Antibodies to p. westemoni egg extracts were elevated after 10 weeks post-infection. In immunoblot analysis, more than nine protein bands in 4-week juveniles reacted with the early infection sera. Antigenic proteins in adult worms were different from those of juveniles. After four weeks of infection, 32 and 35 kDa bands in the adult extracts were increasingly reactive. Egg specific proteins at 28, 46 and 94 kDa were reactive only after 10 weeks. Antigenic components reactin료 to the early infection sera changed during the maturation stages of P. westermani; almost all juvenile antigens were replaced by adult antigen components.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.221-229
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• 1985

The echinostomatid metacercariae encysted in the gill of the fresh water fish, Pseudorasbora larva were identified through obtaining adult worms after eBperimental infection to mice. In addition, a brief course of worm development and maturation was observed in this experimental host. The results were as follows: 1. The echinostomatid metacercariae were elliptical, golden yellow, 0.073∼0.078 mm long and 0.0541∼0.065 mm wide. Their head portions were characterized by the presence of a head crown armed with collar spines of total 24 in number and interrupted at the mid-dorsal side of the oral sucker. 2. The average rate of worm recovery froth 12 mice (on the 1-2lth postinfection days) was 19.4 % and the rate revealed no decrease in accordance with the increase of infection duration. The worms were collected chiefly from the lower part of the small intestine. 3. After the infection, their sexual maturation was attained in 5 days and their growth in size nearly completed in 7 days. The early growth curve of genital organs was S shape while that of nongenital organs was C form. In 5 day old worms, 1 or 2 eggs were found from their uteri and the stools of mice revealed echinostomatid eggs from the 5-6th postinfection day. 4. The 7 day old adult worms were ovoid in shape, 0.54-0.69 mm long and 0.29-0.34 mm wide, and characterized by a well developed head crown with 24 collar spines and vitelline follicles distributed from the acetabular level down to the posterior end of body. Based on these characters they were identified to be Echinochasmus japonicus Tanabe, 1926. From these results, it is verified that p. larva is one of the second intermediate hosts of 5. jatonicus in Korea.