• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.207-213
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• 2012

The egg morphology of minute intestinal flukes (MIF) that can occur as human infections in the Republic of Korea, i.e., Metagonimus yokogawai, M. miyatai, M. takahashii, Heterophyes nocens, Heterophyopsis continua, Stellantchasmus falcatus, Stictodora fuscata, Pygidiopsis summa, and Gymnophalloides seoi, was studied in comparison with Clonorchis sinensis. The adult worms were obtained from residents of endemic areas, and their intrauterine eggs were studied and measured using light microscopy; the length, width, length-width ratio (LWR), and Faust-Meleney index (FMI). Several specimens were processed for scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and before gold-coating, the uterine portion of each fluke was etched with a sharp pin in order to expose the eggs. The MIF eggs were ovoid, pyriform, or elliptical with a size range of $21-35{\times}12-21{\mu}m$. S. fuscata eggs revealed the highest FMI (largest in the area) and lowest LWR, whereas P. summa eggs showed the lowest FMI and medium LWR. SEM revealed that G. seoi and S. fuscata had remarkably clean shell surface lacking the muskmelon-like structure which is prominent in C. sinensis eggs. In Metagonimus spp., H. continua, H. nocens, and S. falcatus eggs, minute surface ridges were recognizable though less prominent compared with C. sinensis. On the surface of P. summa eggs, thread-like curly structures were characteristically seen. The results revealed that important differential keys for MIF eggs include the length, width, area (FMI), shape of the eggs, and the extent of the muskmelon-like structure or ridges on their shell surface and operculum.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.13-19
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• 2012

To determine the status of Korean molluscs infection and relation with climate change of Korean peninsula, references were reviewed. Wild animals serve as intermediate, reservoirs and paratenic hosts to zoonotic parasites of human beings. Trematode are common parasites of molluscs and almost all trematodes infect mollusks as the first host in the life cycle, and most have a complex life cycle involving other hosts. The significance of auxiliary hosts to the ecology of the parasite has not been proper discussion. There is increasing concern as to the impact of climate change on the epidermiology of many parasitic diseases. A total of 21 species for snail transmitted parasites from Korean molluscs has been reviewed. Among them, 15 species was aquatic mollusks and 6 species for marine mollusks. Maximum infections belonged to Semisulcospira livertina had 11 kind of parasite pathogenic organisms, including Paragonimus westermani, Metagonimus yokogawai, Centrocestus armatus, Notocotylus magniovatus, Centrocestus formosanus, incerte cercaria, nipponensis cercaria, Yoshidae cercaria, cristata cercaria, innominatum cercaria and Metagonimus sp. And 11 in Parafossarulus manchouricus including Clonorchis sinensis, Asymphylodora japonica, Cyathocotyle orientalis, Exorchis oviformis, Notocotylus attenuatus, Echinochasmus japonicus, Loxogenes liberum, Cercariae of Loxogenes liberum Type I, Cercariae of Loxogenes liberum Type II, Furcocercus cercariae (Family Sanguincolidae) and Cercaria of Mucobucaris, 10 in Semisulcospira sp. including Paragonimus westermani, Metagonimus yokogawai, Centrocestus armatus, Echinochasmus redioduplicatus, Notocotylus magniovatus, Cercaria incerte, Cercaria nipponensis, Cercaria yoshidae, paludinarum cercaria and Metagonimus sp., 7 in Koreanomelania globus including Pseudexorchis major, Cercaria of parapleurolophocercous type, Metagonimus sp. (A & B), Cercaria nipponensis, Cercaria inserta and Cercaria yoshidae. Also, Tapes philippinarum have 3 pathogenic organisms including Cercariae tapidis, Cercariae furcocercus and Parvatrema sp. In particular, under climatic extremes such as floods and drought, aquatic molluscs may play a more prominent role in parasite transmission in the future.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.33-36
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• 2000

A small-scale epidemiological survey was undertaken during 1997-1998 on the residents along the Osib-chon (Stream), Samchok-shi (City), Kangwon-do (Province), to evaluate the status of Metagonimus yokogawai infection. A total of 165 fecal samples was collected and examined by cellophane thick smear and formalin-ether sedimentation techniques. The egg Positive rate of M. yokogawai was 29.7%, showing a remarkable difference between males (46.6%) and females (16.3%). To obtain the adult flukes of M. yokogawai, 11 egg positive persons were treated with praziquantel and purged with magnesium sulfate. A total of 242,119 adult flukes (average 22,010 per person, 367 119,650 in range) was collected from diarrheic stools, all of which were identified as M. yokogawai. The results show that M. yokogawai is still highly endemic in this area.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 2000

A scanning electron microscopic study was performed on the surface ultrastructure of metacercariae and adults of Metagonimus takahashii. Metacercariae were collected from the scale of crucian carp (Carassius auratus) , and adult flukes were harvested 1-4 weeks after infection to rats. In excysted metacercariae. the oral sucker had type I (numerous) and type II (seven in total) sensory papillae. Tegumental spines were dense and digitated into 5-7 points on the surface anterior to the ventral sucker, but became sparse and less digitated posteriorly toward the end of the body In adults, seven type II sensory papillae were characteristically arranged around the lip of the oral sucker, and on the inner side of the lip four small and two large type I sensory papillae were symmetrically seen on each side (12 in total). Tegumental spines on anterior two-thirds of the body. were digitated with 9-12 tips ventrally and 8-13 tips dorsally. Sperms entering into the Laurer's canal were observed. The results show that the surface ultrastructure of M. takuhashii is generally similar to those of M. yokogawai and M. miyatai except for the digitation of tegumental spines.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.37-43
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• 1989

Helminthological parasites for inhabitants in Boeun-Gun, Chungbuk province were survyed. Total infection rate was 21.4% and helminth ova of-seven species were observed: Clonorchis sinensis 11.7%, Metagonimus sp. 7.0%, Echinostoma hortense 2.7%, Taenia sp. 2.3%, Ascaris lumbri-coides 0.8%, Trichuris trichiura 1.6% and Enterobius vermicularis 3.5%. Infection rate of food-transmitted helminths (C. sinensis, Metagonimus sp. E.hortense, Taenia sp.) was 76.4% (42/55), soil-transmitted helminths (A.lumbricoides, T. trichiura) was 7.3% (4/55), contageous helminths(E. vermicularis) was 16.3% (9/55). Multiple infection rate was 30.9% and most of them were limited in snail-transmitted helminths(C.sinensis, Melagonimas sp., E. hortense). Infection rate of male (18. 3%) was higher than those of female (3.1%). Intensities of C.sinensis and Metagonimus sp. were light or moderate, showed 530 and 444 by mean E.P.G. respectively. In this survey, we newly found the small endemic areas of E.hortense, which was previously reported sporadically in Korea other than in Chungbuk province.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.11-20
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• 1984

A number of studies on the papillae of cercariae of trematodes reported that the papillar patterns (or chaetotaxy) of cercariae might be an excellent method to attain better understanding of the digenetic trematodes (Richard, 1971 ; Short and Cartrett, 1973; Bayssade-Dufour, 1979) . The present study was aimed to determine the number, distribution pattern and structure of the sensory papillae of Metagonimus yokogawai cercariae, and to elucidate the chaetotaxy of this digenetic trematode. M. yokogawai cercariae were pipetted from a vial in which infected snails (Semisulcospira libertina) had been kept for 3 hours. The snails were collected from an endemic area of M. yokogawai, Boseong river in west-southern part of Korea. Observations of papillae were based on light microscopy of those stained with silver nitrate, and on scanning electron microscopy The results are summarized as follows: 1, All papillae observed were uniciliated. 2. Cilia in anterior tip were shorter than the others in other portions. 3. The body papillae were arranged in essentially symmetrical patterns, Total number of the papillae was 126(63 pairs) in average; anterior tip 40(20 pairs), ventral 20(10 pairs), lateral 42(21 pairs), and caudal 8(4 pairs). 4. The chaetotany of M. yokogawai cercaria was: Ci cycle ($3+3C_{I}V,{\;}2+2C_{I}L,{\;}2+3C_{I}D),{\;}C_{II}{\;}cycle(2C_{II}V,{\;}1C_{II}L,{\;}2C_{II}D),{\;}C_{lll}{\;}cycle{\;}(1+lC_{III}V,{\;}1C_{IlI}L),{\;}C_{IV}{\;}cycle{\;}(1C_{IV}V,{\;}IC_{lV}L){\;}in{\;}cephalic{\;}region:{\;}A_I(1A_{IV}V,{\;}1+2A_{I}L,{\;}1A_{I}D),{\;}A_{II}(1A_{II}V,{\;}1+3A_{II}L,{\;}1A_{II}D),{\;}A_{III}(1A_{III}V,{\;}1+1A_{III}L,{\;}1A_{III}D){\;}and{\;}A_{IV}(1A_{IV}V,{\;}2A_{IV}L)$ in antacetabular region: $1M_{I}V{\;}and{\;}2M_{I}L$ in median: $1+1P_{I}L,{\;}1P_{II}L,{\;}1P_{II}D,{\;}1P_{III}L,{\;}1P_{IV}L{\;}and{\;}1P_{IV}D$ in postacetabular region: 2-2-2-2 in caudal region.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.271-276
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• 1997

We tried to compare the three kinds oi Metagonimur species. M. Wokognulci, Ifetafonimus Miyata type, and M. tnknhashii, which were Know to be distributed in Korea with polymerase chain reaction based-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR- RFLP) patterns. We amplified the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITSI) site of ribosomal RNA and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (mCOI) gene. The restriction patterns of ITSI gene loth Rsc I, ALu I and Msp I showed multiple fragmented bands of different sizes between three kinds of Metcgonimus. In case of mc01 gene, Rsc I and Alu I enzymes produced differentially fragmented band patterns. According to the parsimony analysis of PCR-RFLP patterns, the estimated genetic divergence between M Wokognwai and Metasoninus Miyata type was 0.034880, between Metusoninus Miyata type and M. tckc- hushii was 0.028098, between M. wokogawai and M. tnkahashii was 0.018179. It is suggested that Metasonimus Miyata type may be separate species and evolutionize at the older time than the other two species.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.399-412
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• 2014

The infection status of zoonotic trematode metacercariae was investigated in a total of 2,293 freshwater fish collected from 11 rivers or streams in 9 administrative regions of Gangwon-do, Korea for 5 years (2009-2013). All fish were collected by netting methods and examined using the artificial digestion methods. Clonorchis sinensis metacercariae were detected in 4 fish species, i.e., Pungtungia herzi, Squalidus japonicus coreanus, Acheilognathus rhombeus, and Ladislabia taczanowskii, from only Hantangang in Cheorwon-gun. Metagonimus spp. metacercariae were found in 1,154 (50.3%) fish and their average number per infected fish was 55.8. Among the positive fish species, especially Tribolodon hakonensis from Namdaecheon in Yangyang-gun and Plecoglossus altivelis from Osipcheon in Samcheok-si were most heavily infected. Centrocestus armatus metacercariae were detected in 611 (26.7%) fish and the average metacercarial burden per infected fish was 1,032. Two chub species, Zacco platypus and Zacco temminckii were highly and heavily infected with C. armatus metacercariae in almost all regions surveyed. Echinostoma spp. metacercariae were also found in 24 fish from a few localities, but their numbers per fish infected were very low. From the above results, it is confirmed that the metacercariae of intestinal flukes, especially Metagonimus spp. and C. armatus, were heavily infected, while C. sinensis metacercariae were rarely found in fish from Gangwon-do, Korea.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.57 no.6
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• pp.681-690
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• 2019

The infection status of digenetic trematode metacercariae (DTM) was investigated in fishes from coastal lakes in Gangwon-do, the Republic of Korea (Korea). All fishes collected in 5 lakes were examined with the artificial digestion method. More than 10 species, i.e., Metagonimus spp., Pygidiopsis summa, Centrocestus armatus, Metorchis orientalis, M. taiwanensis, Clinostomum complanatum, Echinostoma spp., Stictodora spp., Diplostomum sp. and Diplostomid No. 1. by Morita (1960), of DTM were detected in fishes from 5 coastal lakes in Gangwon-do. Metagonimus spp. metacercariae were found in 52 (41.3%) out of 126 sea rundace, Tribolodon hakonensis, from 5 lakes, and their density was 14.6 per fish infected. P. summa metacercariae were detected in 48 (84.2%) out of 57 mullets from 5 lakes, and their density was 316 per fish infected. C. armatus metacercariae were detected in 7 (14.6%) T. hakonensis and 3 (15.0%) Tridentiger brevispinis from Hyang-ho, and 5 (19.2%) Acanthogobius flavimanus from Gyeongpo-ho. Stictodora spp. metacercariae were found in 4 fish species, i.e., Tridentiger obscurus, Tridentiger trigonocephalus, Chelon haematocheilus, and Acanthogobius lactipes, from Gyeongpo-ho. Total 15 C. complanatum metacercariae were detected in 2 (9.1%) crucian carp, Carassius auratus, from Songji-ho. M. taiwanensis metacercariae were found in T. hakonensis from Hyang-ho and Gyeongpo-ho and in Pseudorasbora parva from Gyeongpo-ho. Total 11 M. orientalis metacercariae were detected in 3 (6.3%) T. hakonensis from Hyang-ho. From the above results, it was confirmed that various species of DTM are infected in fishes from coastal lakes in Gangwon-do, Korea.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.6-10
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• 1983

A study of infestation patterns for larval trematodes from fresh-water fish and brackish-water fish was carried out during the period from June to October in 1982. They were collected by netting, asking with rod and lino, and using the a bait of crushed oil cake in a transparent plastic bowls at the three localities, Daebon-dong, Kugil-dong, and Hoam-dong in the river Taechong, Kyungpook Province, Korea. Five species of fresh-water fish, the crussian carp, Carassius carassius Linnaeus, the bullhead, Coreobagrus brfvicorpus Mori, the fat minnow, Morose oxycephalus (Bleeker) , the flat bitterling, Paracheilognathus rhombea (Temminck et Schlegel) , and the catfish, Parasilurus asotus (Linnaeus), and two kinds of brackish-water fish, the grey mullet, Mugil cephalus(Linnaeus) and the sweet-fish, Plecoglossus aztivelis (Temminck et Schlegel) were examined. Four species of the metacercariae, Exorchis eviformis, Metacercaria hasegawai, Metorchis orientalis and undetermined larvae were found. Of these, the encysted larvae of the human intestinal fluke, Metagonimus yokegawai, were found from three kinds of fresh-water fish, the crussian carp, the bullhead and the fat minnow and one species of brackish-water fish, the sweets;sh and the infestation rates for the larvae varied appreciably from fish to fish. The intensity of infestation with the Metagonimus larvae in the three species of fresh-water fish was low, and the average number of the larvae per gram of flesh varied from 0.5 to 0.2. By comparison, the brackish-water fish wqs more heavily infested and the mean number of cysts per gram of flesh in Plecoglossus altivelis was 109.2. It was foung that infection with Metagonimus yokogawai os caused by consuming raw fresh-sater fish and brackish-water fish caught in the river Taechong, Kyungpook Province, Korea.