• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.101-107
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• 2018

Quantitative analysis of a myxosporean parasite, Parvicapsula sp. in internal organs (kidney, intestine, spleen, brain and liver) from non-emaciated (farm-A) or emaciated (farm-B and farm-C) olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus were performed by real-time PCR. The highest DNA copy number ($1.7{\times}10^7copies/mg$ tissue) was detected in kidney of the emaciated olive flounder from farm-C, while the DNA copy number was below detection limit in all the organs of the olive flounder from farm-B. There was not positive result in all of organs from olive flounder in farm-A. PCR and histopathological analysis were also performed using the same specimen and showed same results as those by real-time PCR.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.59 no.1
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• pp.89-95
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• 2021

Microcotyle sebastis is a gill monogenean ectoparasite that causes serious problems in the mariculture of the Korean rockfish, Sebastes schlegelii. In this study, we isolated the parasite from fish farms along the coasts of Tongyeong, South Korea in 2016, and characterized its infection, morphology and molecular phylogeny. The prevalence of M. sebastis infection during the study period ranged from 46.7% to 96.7%, and the mean intensity was 2.3 to 31.4 ind./fish, indicating that the fish was constantly exposed to parasitic infections throughout the year. Morphological observations under light and scanning electron microscopes of the M. sebastis isolates in this study showed the typical characteristics of the anterior prohaptor and posterior opisthaptor of monogenean parasites. In phylogenetic trees reconstructed using the nuclear 28S ribosomal RNA gene and the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I gene (cox1), they consistently clustered together with their congeneric species, and showed the closest phylogenetic relationships to M. caudata and M. kasago in the cox1 tree.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.58 no.6
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• pp.603-608
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• 2020

This study was performed to find out the clusters with high parasite infection risk to discuss the geographical pattern. Clusters were detected using SatScan software, which is a statistical spatial scan program using Kulldorff's scan statistic. Information on the parasitic infection cases in Korea 2011-2019 were collected from the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Clusters of Ascaris lumbricoides infection were detected in Jeollabuk-do, and T. trichiura in Ulsan, Busan, and Gyeongsangnam-do. C. sinensis clusters were detected in Ulsan, Daegu, Busan, Gyeongsangnamdo, and Gyeongsangbuk-do. Clusters of intestinal trematodes were detected in Ulsan, Busan, and Gyeongsangnam-do. P. westermani cluster was found in Jeollabuk-do. E. vermicularis clusters were distributed in Gangwon-do, Jeju-do, Daegu, Daejeon, and Gwangju. This clustering information can be referred for surveillance and control on the parasitic infection outbreak in the infection-prone areas.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.59 no.4
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• pp.393-397
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• 2021

Although research conducted in East Asia has uncovered parasite eggs from ancient toilets or cesspits, data accumulated to date needs to be supplemented by more archaeoparasitological studies. We examined a total of 21 soil samples from a toilet-like structure at the Hwajisan site, a Baekje-period royal villa, in present-day Korea. At least 4 species of helminth eggs, i.e., Trichuris trichiura, Ascaris lumbricoides, Clonorchis sinensis, and Trichuris sp. (or Trichuris vulpis) were detected in 3 sediment samples of the structure that was likely a toilet used by Baekje nobles. The eggs of T. trichiura were found in all 3 samples (no. 1, 4, and 5); and A. lumbricoides eggs were detected in 2 samples (no. 4 and 5). C. sinensis and T. vulpis-like eggs were found in no. 5 sample. From the findings of this study, we can suppose that the soil-transmitted helminths were prevalent in ancient Korean people, including the nobles of Baekje Kingdom during the 5th to 7th century.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.61 no.3
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• pp.240-250
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• 2023

The genus Anisakis is among the most significant parasites to public health, as it causes anisakiasis, a parasitic infection in humans resulting from consuming raw or undercooked seafood. Although the infection status of Anisakis in second intermediate hosts, such as marine fishes and cephalopods, and humans have been severally reported in Korea, no information about the definitive host in Korean waters is available. In 2014, 2 adult gastric nematodes were collected from a common minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) found in the East Sea, Korea. These worms were identified as A. simplex sensu stricto (s.s.) by comparing the mitochondrial COX2 marker with previously deposited sequences. Phylogenetic and phylogeographic analyses of A. simplex (s.s.) worldwide revealed 2 distinct populations: the Pacific population and the European waters population. This is the first report on adult Anisakis and its definitive host species in Korea. Further studies on Anisakis infection in other cetacean species and marine mammals in Korean seas are warranted.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.314-320
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• 2023

An acanthocephalan parasite, Corynosoma strumosum, was found in the intestine of harbor seal, Phoca largha, living in the East Sea, Korea. The probosci's hook and trunk spine patterns typical of the collected worms indicated it to be C. strumosum. The body lengths measured are 4.2-5.8 (4.9) mm in males and 5.3-6.8 (5.7) mm in females. The proboscis is bent ventrally, armed with 18 longitudinal rows of 9-13 hooks in males and 20 longitudinal rows of 11-13 hooks in females. The proboscis receptacle is double-walled with the robust trapezoidal neck being unarmed. The hind-trunk is pipe-shaped with posterior parallel sides. The characteristic hind trunk spines cover the anterior third of the ventral surface. The lemnisci are equal and slightly shorter than the double-walled proboscis receptacle, which is longer than the proboscis. This species is an acanthocephalan parasite reported for the first time in Korea.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.88-94
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• 2024

Pet rabbits are affected by the highly contagious ectoparasite Psoroptes (P.) ovis, which carries significant economic implications for the global rabbit industry. Accurate identification of the mite species remains essential to implement effective treatment and control strategies. Two approximately one-year-old female pet rabbits were admitted to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of Chungbuk National University due to excessive scratching of the ears and the presence of waxy debris within the ear canals. Mites were isolated from the waxy debris extracted from the ear canals and subsequently identified as Psoroptes spp. through microscopic examination. Species confirmation was achieved through mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene analysis. The analysis revealed the mites to be P. ovis based on cox1 gene sequences. The deposited GenBank accession numbers for these sequences are OR985022 and OR985023. This represents the first report of mitochondrial cox1 gene sequences of P. ovis isolated from pet rabbits in South Korea.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.141-151
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• 2023

Purpose: Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) are a major health problem worldwide, especially in developing countries. According to the literature, children are more likely to get infected due to more frequent exposure to sources of infection. Methods: In this study, we collected 500 fecal samples from children under 15 years of age who referred to labs in Ilam city. All samples were microscopically examined using formalin-ether concentration and Trichrome staining techniques. The results were analyzed using SPSS 20.0. Results: Among 500 investigated samples, 4 types of parasites were detected. Giardia lamblia, Entameba coli, and Blastocystis hominis were identified as intestinal protozoa, and pinworm as intestinal worm. In this study, 23 cases (4.6%) had parasitic infections. 13 patients (2.6%) were infected with Giardia parasite, 4 patients (0.8%) with E. coli, 3 patients (0.6%) with B. hominis and 3 patients (0.6%) had pinworms. Conclusions: The findings of this study showed that the prevalence of IPIs among children aged under 15 years in Ilam is relatively down, which can be attributed of sufficient information of parents and children about the modes of parasite transmission and the important role of carriers in the pathogen cycle.

• Clinical and Experimental Vaccine Research
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.146-154
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• 2024

Purpose: Infection by the intracellular apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii has serious clinical consequences in humans and veterinarians around the world. Although about a third of the world's population is infected with T. gondii, there is still no effective vaccine against this disease. The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate a multimeric vaccine against T. gondii using the proteins calcium-dependent protein kinase (CDPK)1, CDPK2, CDPK3, and CDPK5. Materials and Methods: Top-ranked major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-I and MHC-II binding as well as shared, immunodominant linear B-cell epitopes were predicted and linked using appropriate linkers. Moreover, the 50S ribosomal protein L7/L12 (adjuvant) was mixed with the construct's N-terminal to increase the immunogenicity. Then, the vaccine's physicochemical characteristics, antigenicity, allergenicity, secondary and tertiary structure were predicted. Results: The finally-engineered chimeric vaccine had a length of 680 amino acids with a molecular weight of 74.66 kDa. Analyses of immunogenicity, allergenicity, and multiple physiochemical parameters indicated that the constructed vaccine candidate was soluble, non-allergenic, and immunogenic, making it compatible with humans and hence, a potentially viable and safe vaccine candidate against T. gondii parasite. Conclusion: In silico, the vaccine construct was able to trigger primary immune responses. However, further laboratory studies are needed to confirm its effectiveness and safety.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.3
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• pp.31-39
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• 1964

The authors studied on the bionomics of the Florida wax scale, Ceroplastes floridensis Comstock and bionomics of two kind of parasites which attack on this Florida wax scale in 1963 to 1964. 1. Ceroplastes floridensis Comstock was heavily infested on the persimmon tree planted in the southern part of Korea, specially at the center of Taegu city. Parasitic ratio of important parasite of Ceroplastes floridensis Comstock, Microterys clauseni was $66.67\%$ and appeared low parasited ratio at the center of the city. 2. The developed eggs of the Ceroplastes floridensis Comstock was appear며 from mid-May to early July. The peak of it was late-May to early June. Average stored eggs inside of a body is 2030. $2030.77\pm0.49.$. 3. The hatching period of the Ceroplastes floridensis Comstock begins from early June to early July. Mid-June was the peak period of it. Pupation period of the male was August 14 to September 7 and adult was emerged on August 20 to September 8. Mean longevity for adult male was 3 days in August but 4 days in September. 4. On the differences of the body- length parasited on the three host plants, persimmon, platanus, and trifoliate orange, the body length parasited on the persimmon was the largest, medium on platanus and the smallest on the trifoliate orange. 5. Microterys clauseni H. Compere parasite on tile Ceroplastes floridensis Comstock with 5 generations in a year. Hibernate in the body of the host as tan·at stage. The first adult appears in middle April. Fifteen days was required for one generation in $21^{\circ}$. The authors observed on the form ovary, female with 6 ovarioles, and mean number of eggs per female was $47.19\pm0.55$. 6. On the parasited individuals of the Microterys clauseni H. Compere a larva was the most numerous and was found 2 individuals or 4 individuals parasite on the one Ceroplastes floridensis Comstock. 7. Coccophagus app. parasited on the only male body of the Ceroplastes floridensis Comstock. The parasitic ratio was $14.831\%$ on persimmon tree in Taegu city.