• Journal of Species Research
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.68-89
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• 2023

This is the second catalog listing unrecorded invertebrates discovered during the research project 'Discovery of Korean Indigenous Species'. The data to compile the catalog were primarily gathered from the final reports of the project, between 2013 and 2021. We present 38 previously undocumented species, belonging to four phyla (Platyhelminthes, Annelida, Rotifera and Arthropoda). Samples were collected from intertidal coastal waters, soil, freshwater ponds, reservoirs and hosts in South Korea. In this study, we provide brief taxonomic information, including collection site (GPS), diagnosis, specimen vouchers, figures of representative individuals and the Korean name newly assigned, for each species. All data were reviewed and updated by experts working on the respective taxonomic group. The aim of the present study is to publish species that have been previously reported through the project. Upon publication, these species will be added to the 'National Species List of Korea', curated by the National Institute of Biological Resources(NIBR).

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.509-518
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• 2016

Parasites are recorded from the red squirrel, Sciurus vulgaris, from Cheongju, the Republic of Korea. A total of 5 road-killed squirrels were thoroughly examined for internal and external parasites from November 2011 to May 2014. Total 4 parasite species, including 1 tapeworm and 3 ectoparasite species were recovered. They were morphologically identified as Catenotaenia dendritica (Cestoda: Catenotaeniidae), Hirstionyssus sciurinus, Leptotrombidium pallidum, and Ceratophyllus (Monopsyllus) indages. Among them, C. dendritica and H. sciurinus are recorded for the first time in the Korean parasite fauna. In addition, the possibility that the red squirrel could act as a reservoir host for a zoonotic disease like tsutsugamushi disease with L. pallidum as its vector has been raised.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.57 no.6
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• pp.639-645
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• 2019

In the present study, a Spirometra species of Tanzania origin obtained from an African leopard (Panthera pardus) and spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) was identified based on molecular analysis of cytochrome c oxidase I (cox1) and NADH dehydrogenase subunit I (nad1) as well as by morphological observations of an adult tapeworm. One strobila and several segments of a Spirometra species were obtained from the intestine of an African male leopard (Panthera pardus) and spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) in the Maswa Game Reserve of Tanzania. The morphological characteristics of S. theileri observed comprised 3 uterine loops on one side and 4 on the other side of the mid-line, a uterine pore situated posterior to the vagina and alternating irregularly either to the right or left of the latter, and vesicular seminis that were much smaller than other Spirometra species. Sequence differences in the cox1 and nad1 genes between S. theileri (Tanzania origin) and S. erinaceieuropaei were 10.1% (cox1) and 12.0% (nad1), while those of S. decipiens and S. ranarum were 9.6%, 9.8% (cox1) and 13.0%, 12.6% (nad1), respectively. The morphological features of the Tanzania-origin Spirometra specimens coincided with those of S. theileri, and the molecular data was also consistent with that of S. theileri, thereby demonstrating the distribution of S. theileri in Tanzania. This places the leopard (Panthera pardus) and spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) as new definitive hosts of this spirometrid tapeworm.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.58 no.6
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• pp.653-660
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• 2020

Spirometra tapeworms (Cestoda: Diphyllobothriidae) collected from carnivorous mammals in Tanzania were identified by the DNA sequence analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) and internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1), and by morphological characteristics. A total of 15 adult worms were collected from stool samples and carcasses of Panthera leo, Panthera pardus, and Crocuta crocuta in the Serengeti and Selous ecosystems of Tanzania. Three Spirometra species: S. theileri, S. ranarum and S. erinaceieuropaei were identified based on morphological features. Partial cox1 sequences (400 bp) of 10 specimens were revealed. Eight specimens showed 99.5% similarity with Spirometra theileri (MK955901), 1 specimen showed 99.5% similarity with the Korean S. erinaceieuropaei and 1 specimen had 99.5% similarity with Myanmar S. ranarum. Sequence homology estimates for the ITS1 region of S. theileri were 89.8% with S. erinaceieuropaei, 82.5% with S. decipiens, and 78.3% with S. ranarum; and 94.4% homology was observed between S. decipiens and S. ranarum. Phylogenetic analyses were performed with 4 species of Spirometra and 2 species of Dibothriocephalus (=Diphyllobothrium). By both ML and BI methods, cox1 and ITS1 gave well supported, congruent trees topology of S. erinaceieuropaei and S. theileri with S. decipiens and S. ranarum forming a clade. The Dibothriocephalus species were sisters of each other and collectively forming successive outgroups. Our findings confirmed that 3 Spirometra species (S. theileri, S. ranarum, and S. erinaceieuropaei) are distributed in the Serengeti and Selous ecosystems of Tanzania.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.303-305
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• 2009

The incidence and etiology of parasite-associated gastroenteritis during 2004-2006 in Gyeonggi-do (province), South Korea was determined by means of antigen detection ELISA on 6,071 stool specimens collected from 6 general hospitals. At least 1 parasitic agent was detected in 3.4% (208/6,071) of the stool samples. Among these, Giardia lamblia was the most numerous (152 cases; 2.5%), followed by Entamoeba histolytica (25 cases; 0.4%), Cryptosporidium parvum (23 cases; 0.4%), and mixed infections (8 cases; 0.1%). Patients aged 1-5years had the largest proportion (69.2%; 144/208) of parasite-positive stool specimens. Parasite-mediated gastroenteritis was most common from June to September. The detection rate gradually increased from 2004 to 2006. This study shows that parasite-mediated gastroenteritis may be significant among children in Korea and that parasite infection surveillance should be constantly performed.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.22-26
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• 1976

Korea Parasite Eradication Association alleged in its seasonal spring report in 1975 that 36.8 percent of primary, middle and high school students in Seoul area are infected with parasites. Such a high rate of infection is a result of having used raw excrement for manure. Soil is, therefore, to a large extent infected with parasite eggs. In order to present helpful reference materials for preventing parasite infection in the area where human feces have been used for manure, soil in Seoul area and the suburban districts is sampled at random and then the rate of infection in various areas and the variation of infection rate in the same area are studied. The results are as follows 1) The parasite infection rates the according to districts are, Sootaik-ri 39.9%, Chamsil-dong14.2%, Songpa-dong 13.2%, Sageun-dong 12.8% Chayang-dong 11.4%, Sungsoo-dong 8.5%. The above figures show that the rate becomes higher as the area is farther from the urban and residential districts and nearer to the rural area. 2) The rates of detected parasites according to their kinds are as follows Ascaridae 55.9%, Ancylostomatidae 19.9%, Trichocephalus 13.5%, Trichostrongylus 5.7%, Tenia 3.9%, Enterobius 1.1% 3) The monthly variation of infection rate in the same districts, in the case of Sageun-dong, is, August 25.7%, July 18.9%, June 16.2%, September 15.3% April 12.6%, May 11.3%. The above shows that the infection rate of soil is comparatively higher in the summer season.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.243-248
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was 2-fold: 1) to investigate the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasite infection in cats reared in Daegu, Republic of Korea and 2) to assess the efficacy and safety of a topical emodepside/praziquantel formulation for cats with parasitic infections. The gastrointestinal parasite infections were examined microscopically using the flotation method. Of 407 cats, 162 (39.8%) were infected by at least one gastrointestinal parasite, including Toxocara cati (63.0%), Toxascaris leonina (31.5%), Taenia taeniaeformis (3.7%), and Cystoisospora felis (1.9%). None of the infected animals had multiple infections. When the data were analyzed according to sex, age, and type of cat, stray cats showed statistically higher prevalence than companion cats (P<0.05). On the 5th day after treatment, no parasitic eggs were detected using microscopic examination. In addition, no adverse effects, such as abnormal behaviors and clinical symptoms, were observed in the cats treated with the drug. These results quantify the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in cats in Daegu, Republic of Korea, and show that topical emodepside/praziquantel is a safe and effective choice for treating the parasitic infections in cats.

• Kyungpook Mathematical Journal
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• v.60 no.2
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• pp.335-347
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• 2020

In this paper, we take into account a parasite-host system with reaction-diffusion. Firstly, we derive conditions for Hopf, Turing, and wave bifurcations of the system in the spatial domain by means of linear stability and bifurcation analysis. Secondly, we display numerical simulations in order to investigate Turing pattern formation. In fact, the numerical simulation discloses that typical Turing patterns, such as spotted, spot-stripelike mixtures and stripelike patterns, can be formed. In this study, we show that typical Turing patterns, which are well known in predator-prey systems ([7, 18, 25]), can be observed in a parasite-host system as well.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.393-400
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• 2013

Ocular toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by the infection with Toxoplasma gondii through congenital or acquired routes. Once the parasite reaches the retina, it proliferates within host cells followed by rupture of the host cells and invasion into neighboring cells to make primary lesions. Sometimes the restricted parasite by the host immunity in the first scar is activated to infect another lesion nearby the scar. Blurred vision is the main complaint of ocular toxoplasmic patients and can be diagnosed by detection of antibodies or parasite DNA. Ocular toxoplasmosis needs therapy with several combinations of drugs to eliminate the parasite and accompanying inflammation; if not treated it sometimes leads to loss of vision. We describe here clinical features and currently available chemotherapy of ocular toxoplasmosis.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.63-67
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• 1998

The host finding behavior of Entobdella hippoglossi oncomiracidium, skin parasite of the Atlantic halibut was investigated. Almost of the parasite swam downward from the top to the bottom of the 150cm glass tube within 30 minutes. The average swimming speed of oncomiracidium was $0.32\pm0.10cm/second$ throughout the experiment. When the parasites arrived on the bottom of the glass tube, they moved upwards and downwards continuously within the 10cm of the bottom. This behavior would suggest that it may be one of the essential methods for host searching of the parasite. When the oncomiracidia was exposed different stimuli, they responded positively light and halibut mucus.