• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.221-225
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• 2002

The first laboratory culture of host-parasite system of Prorocentrum minimum- Amoebophrya sp. was established by single cell isolation method. Here, we report the life cycle stages of the parasitic dinoflagellate. Amoebophrya sp. of the red tide dinoflagellate P. minimum as observed by light and epifluorescence microscopy. Infections developed inside the nucleus of P. minimum. The trophont developed to occupy almost all the intracellular space of the host at its late stage. The fully developed trophont finally ruptured through the host cell. “Vermiform stage”, the free-swimming extracellular lift cycle stage is followed by another stage for the sudden release of many individual dinospores. Our laboratory strain of the host-parasite system for P. minimum, a causative species fur the huge red tides in spring and summer in Korean coastal waters, could be a useful living material for the in situ biological control of harmful algal blooms.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.319-329
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• 2022

The paramyxean parasite Marteilioides chungmuensis infects the cytoplasm of the eggs of Pacific oysters Crassostrea gigas , resulting in spawning failure of the infected females. Such infected eggs appear as bump-like nodules on the body in late fall when most of the uninfected females complete spawning. In this study, we estimated the quantity of the infected eggs using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), which is destroyed by M. chungmuensis parasitism. In December, the infected oysters collected from Tongyoung on the south coast exhibited numerous yellowish bump-like nodules as signs of infection. In histology, the infected oysters exhibited mature eggs in the follicle, which were heavily infiltrated by hemocytes. ELISA indicated that the infected egg mass accounted for 7.52±5.50 percent of the body weight, suggesting the ovarian parasite causes substantial reproductive loss. Histology also indicated that the infected oysters are in a poor nutritional condition, as the digestive gland atrophy (DGA) level is comparatively higher than the uninfected oyster. The total carbohydrate contents in the infected oysters (108.68±44.41 mg/g dry wt) were significantly lower than in uninfected oysters (269.76±50.97 mg/g dry wt), suggesting that M. chungmuensis parasitism also affected the energy storage capacity of the host during the resting stage.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.175-179
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• 2015

Proteases play important roles in parasite development and host parasite interactions. The protease of Kudoa spp. has been recognized as a key factor of severe proteolysis of fish muscle post-mortem; however, there is little information available regarding the protease of Kudoa (K.) septempunctata, which was recently identified as a cause of food poisoning in humans. The present study was conducted to isolate and characterize proteases to elucidate the type of protease contained in the parasite and determine the optimal pH for protease activity. We confirmed the cysteine protease and metalloprotease produced by K. septempunctata. While the cysteine protease showed optimal activity at pH 5 that decreased rapidly with increasing pH, the optimal activity of metalloprotease was pH 7, and it remained stable from pH 6 to pH 8. These results indicate that the pH of cysteine protease is not proper for fish muscle postmortem, and that metalloprotease can act in human intestines. Overall, the present study provides important information that improves our understanding of the role of protease physiology and the subsequent food poisoning caused by K. septempunctata.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.603-606
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• 2013

To determine geographical patterns of natural parasite infections among wild rodents, a total of 46 wild rodents from 3 different localities in northern Gangwon-do (Province), Korea were examined for intestinal parasite infections. Along with nematodes such as hookworms and Syphacia spp., Plagiorchis muris (2 specimens) (Trematoda) were collected from striped field mice, Apodemus agrarius. In a Korean wood mouse, Apodemus peninsulae, the overall nematode infections were similar to A. agrarius, but an adult worm of Echinostoma hortense (Trematoda) was collected. In addition, 2 species of cestodes, i.e., Hymenolepis nana and Hymenolepis diminuta, were collected from A. agrarius. Through this survey, A. agrarius and A. peninsule were confirmed as the natural definite hosts for zoonotic intestinal helminths, i.e., P. muris, E. hortense, H. nana, and H. diminuta, in northern Gangwon-do, Korea. Considering increased leisure activities around these areas, seasonal and further comprehensive surveys on wild rodents seem to be needed to prevent zoonotic parasite infections.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.293-299
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• 2001

The characteristics of vivax malaria epidemics along the demilitarized Bone (DMZ) in the Republic of Korea has been established by the early surveillance data. To further characterize the epidemic, data of civilian patients microscopically diagnosed with malaria from 1995 through 2000 were analyzed in Yonchon-gun (county) . Malaria incidence was greater in male civilians > 30 years of age (p < 0.05). The annual parasite index was significantly higher in those living in the administrative areas (Myeon) traversed by DMZ than those living in Myons not traversed by DMZ (p < 0.05). Analysis according to the distance (4 to 14 km) from DMZ showed that people living in villages close to DMZ had higher annual parasite indices than those living in villages remote from DMZ (p for trend < 0.05). Civilians living in Myeons with plains and located in northwestern part of the county had higher annual parasite indices than those living in hilly Myeons located in southeastern part of the county (p for trend f 0.05). These findings suggest that the contraction of vivax malaria is related with night-time outdoor activities, and that the distance from DMZ is a risk factor. In this area, the flying distance of infected vector mosquitos can explain the annually repeating occurrence of civilian cases.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.484-489
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• 2011

This study examined whether N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a glutathione precursor, could attenuate toxic effects of three fish anti-parasitic agents, trichlorfon, hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) and formalin, all of which are known to exert side effects through free radical production. Common carp Cyprinus carpio were fed with NAC (approx. 50 mg/kg/day) for 3 consecutive days prior to anti-parasite bathing for a 24 hr period. Mortality rates were examined during this 24 hr bathing period, and selected hematological and biochemical parameters were also assessed at the termination of anti-parasite exposure. The mortality rates and plasma glucose elevations caused by all three anti-parasitics were significantly reduced by NAC pretreatment. Trichlorfon, but not $H_2O_2$ or formalin, elevated plasma levels of aspartatetransaminase (AST) and alanine-transaminase (ALT), and these elevations were attenuated by NAC. There was no change in hematocrit values in any treatment. The results provide evidence for the attenuating effects of NAC against toxicity caused by anti-parasite agents that act through free radical-producing properties. The results found in this study also suggest that NAC may be administered to fish to minimize toxicity in fish parasiticide use.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.23-30
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• 2018

Kudoa septempunctata, a myxosporean parasite that infects olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus is known to cause Kudoa food poisoning. Entire trunk muscle (ETM) is used for diagnosis of the parasite in fish and this method demands sacrifice of the host, causing a loss of commercial value. We developed a non-destructive method that uses a plastic syringe-style implanter to draw the sample, called the part-point muscle (PPM) sampling technique. We validated the PPM method in fish infected with K. septempunctata at the level detectable by the ETM method. We confirmed that the PPM method is equally sensitive in comparison to the ETM method for diagnosing K. septempunctata spores in olive flounder muscle. Our study also confirmed that the parasite is uniformly distributed in the dorsal muscle of infected fish. Over a period of 1 month, we observed no mortality of the host fish used for sampling by the PPM method. Thus, our studies demonstrate that the PPM sampling technique is an efficient, non-destructive method for diagnosing K. septempunctata in olive flounder.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.65-70
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• 2006

In order to detection of the intestinal parasites, fecal samples were taken from broiler (n=290), parent stock (n=168) and laying hen (n=114) in Jeonbuk province. The prevalence and identification of intestinal parasites were determined by the fecal examination using the floatation method and microscopical examination, respectively. The detection rate of parasite-eggs from 3 flocks (total=572) was 44.9%. In the breed and type of breeding, infection rate of parasite-eggs was detected 65.5% as broiler (floor breeding, 290 chickens), 20.2% as parent stock (floor breeding, 168 chickens) and 28.9% as laying hen (cage breeding, 114 chickens), in order. In the concern of mixed infection such as single and double, the rate were 40.7% and 4.2%, respectively. Six kinds of infective eggs were isolated 257 fecal sample from 3 flock. They were classified 74.7% as Eimeria spp, 18.1% as Ascaridia galli and 6.0% as Capillaria spp and 0.4% as Heteratkis gallinarum, Railleina spp or Trichostrongylus spp, single or in combination.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.79-83
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• 2001

Dirofilaria immitis parasitizes mainly in the pulmonary arteries and in the heart of dogs and cats. The parasite is also of public health importance, because it often elicits nodules in the pulmonary parenchyma and in the subcutaneous tissues, or sometimes parasitize itself in the eyes of human. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of heartworm infection among 165 dogs on three breeding farms in the vicinity of Seoul, Korea. Of 165 dogs, 83 dogs (50.3%) were infected with the parasite, as revealed by an antigen-detecting test using the peripheral blood. Of these, 23 dogs (20.2%) contained microfilaria using the peripheral blood, which are potential source of transmission to uninfected animals and to humans in the endemic area. None of infected dogs showed any clinical signs associated with the disease. Since the three farms were located in the vicinity of Seoul, the unexpectedly high infection rate could imply that the possibility of exposure of both animals and humans living in the metropolitan Seoul area to the parasite is higher than in the other area of Korea.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.49-56
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• 2001

Excretory/secretory proteins (ESP) from Toxoplasma gondii were analyzed to define the function in the penetration process into host cells. Whole ESP obtained at 37$^{\circ}C$ were composed of 15 bands with molecular mass of 110, 97, 86, 80, 70, 60, 54, 42, 40, 36. 30, 28, 26, 22, and 19 kDa. Five ESP of 86, 80, 42, 36, and 28 kDa were reacted with monoclonal antibodies (mAb). named as Tg386 (microheme), Tg485 (surface membrane), Tg786 (rhoptry), Tg378, and Tg556 (both dense granules), respectively. The ESP was released by a temperature-dependent/-independent manner and all at once whenever ready to pour out except Tg786. Each ESP was not exhausted within the parasite but the amount was limited. Tg786 was released continuously with increment, whereas Tg378 and Tg556 were ceased to release after 3 and 4 hr, Dense granular Tg378 and Tg556 were released spontaneously and constitutively before the entry into host cells also. The entry of T. gondii was inhibited by all the mAbs differentially. And the parasite deprived of ESP was inhibited to enter exponentially up to 90.1%. It is suggested that ESP play an essential function to provide appropriate environment for the entry of the parasite into host cells.