• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• 제54권6호
• /
• pp.793-795
• /
• 2016

Cysticercosis and sparganosis are not uncommon parasitic infections in the developing world. Central nervous system infection by both cestodes can present with neurological signs and symptoms, such as seizure and mass effect, including brain hernia. Early detection and accurate diagnosis can prevent a fatal outcome. Histological examinations of brain tissues can confirm the diagnosis of cerebral cysticercosis, which differs from sparganosis by the presence of a cavitated body. We report here a case of cerebral cysticercosis which has the similar clinical and imaging findings as sparganosis.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• 제39권4호
• /
• pp.319-321
• /
• 2001

Diphyllobothrium latum infection in human is not common in Korea and only thirty seven cases have been reported since 1921. We report two cases of fish tapeworm infection after ingestion of raw cherry salmon (Oncorgynchus masou) caught in the domestic river. Among four family members who ate together raw salmon flesh six months ago, just two, mother and daughter were infected. It is our expectation that the salmon associated tapeworm infections would be enlisted as one of the major parasitic problems with the growing consumption of salmon in Korea.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• 제48권4호
• /
• pp.281-284
• /
• 2010

Due to the possible emergence of resistance and safety concerns on certain treatments, development of new drugs against parasites is essential for the effective control and subsequent eradication of parasitic infections. Several drug targets have been identified which are either genes or proteins essential for the parasite survival and distinct from the hosts. These include the phosphagen kinases (PKs) which are enzymes that playa key role in maintenance of homeostasis in cells exhibiting high or variable rates of energy turnover by catalizing the reversible transfer of a phosphate between ATP and naturally occurring guanidine compounds. PKs have been identified in a number of important human and animal parasites and were also shown to be significant in survival and adaptation to stress conditions. The potential of parasite PKs as novel chemotherapeutic targets remains to be explored.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• 제47권4호
• /
• pp.397-399
• /
• 2009

Dirofilariasis is a common parasitic disease in both domestic and wild animals around the world, with canines as the principal reservoir host and mosquitoes as the vector. Human ophthalmic dirofilariasis is an uncommon condition, but there have been reports from many parts of the world, including Africa, Australia, the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Ophthalmic involvement with Dirofilaria may present itself as periorbital, subconjunctival, orbital, or intraocular infections. In this report, we present a case of orbital dirofilariasis with lateral rectus muscle involvement. To our knowledge, this is the first orbital dirofilariasis case reported in Iran. Although debulking of the tumor usually leads to resolution, our patient showed an episode of recurrence after biopsy. Complete recovery was achieved after a spontaneous discharge, without the need for systemic medication.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• 제56권4호
• /
• pp.286-289
• /
• 2023

A 58-year-old woman presented with an incidental asymptomatic mass occupying the entire right lower thorax. A radiologic study demonstrated a huge cystic mass, initially suggestive of an exophytic echinococcal cyst. After unsuccessful catheter drainage, the patient was referred for surgery, and curative resection of the lung-, heart-, and diaphragm-compressing mass was performed under video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. Culture studies revealed no growth of parasitic, bacterial, or fungal infections, and the final pathological result confirmed a primary pleural cyst. Thoracic cystic masses mostly manifest as bronchogenic or pericardial cysts, while primary pleural cysts have rarely been reported. We present a rare case of a huge pleural cyst that initially mimicked an echinococcal cyst.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• 제61권4호
• /
• pp.345-387
• /
• 2023

Paleoparasitology is a discipline that applies existing conventional and molecular techniques to study parasites found in ancient ruins. This review focuses on the history of the discovery of parasites (mostly helminth eggs and larvae) in archaeological soil samples and mummies in Korea from the Three Kingdoms Period to the Joseon Dynasty (100 BCE-1910 CE). We also briefly review important milestones in global paleoparasitology. The helminth species reported so far in Korea included Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, Strongyloides stercoralis (larva), Trichostrongylus sp. (larva), Paracapillaria philippinensis (syn. Capillaria philippinensis), Enterobius vermicularis, Fasciola hepatica, dicrocoeliids, Paragonimus westermani, Clonorchis sinensis, Metagonimus yokogawai, Pygidiopsis summa, Gymnophalloides seoi, Isthmiophora hortensis, Dibothriocephalus nihonkaiensis (syn. Diphyllobothrium nihonkaiense), and Taenia spp. tapeworms. The findings obtained by Korean paleoparasitologists/archaeologists have brought about deep insight into the status of helminthic infections in Korea's past populations. Continued paleoparasitological research is essential for further understanding of ancient parasites and parasitic diseases in Korea.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• 제20권3호
• /
• pp.24.1-24.14
• /
• 2020

Eosinophils are terminally differentiated cytotoxic effector cells that have a role in parasitic infections and allergy by releasing their granule-derived cytotoxic proteins. However, an increasing number of recent observations indicate that eosinophils are not only associated with the pathogenesis of a wide range of diseases, but also contribute to the maintenance of homeostatic responses in previously underappreciated diverse tissues, such as the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and adipose tissue. In this review, we describe biological characteristics of eosinophils, as their developmental properties, permissive proliferation and survival, degranulation activity, and migration properties enable them to distribute to both homeostatic and inflamed tissues. We describe pathologic aspects of eosinophils with a role in asthma and in various GI diseases, including eosinophilic GI disorders, inflammatory bowel disease, and radiation-induced enteropathy. Finally, we discuss the beneficial role of eosinophils, which contribute to the resolution of pathogenic conditions and to the modulation of homeostatic biologic responses.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• 제32권2호
• /
• pp.93-100
• /
• 1994

조직학적으로 진단할 수 있는 인체 기생충증의 종류 및 감염양상에 대하여 알아보고자 1980년부터 1989년까지 10년 동안 전남대학교병원 병리과에 통상적인 조직검사가 의뢰된 80,947례 중 기생충 감염으로 진단된 149례(0.18%)를 대상으로 본 조사를 시행하였다. 조직학적으로 진단된 기생충증은 낭미충증 112례. 례흡충증 17례. 간흡충증 7례. 아메바증 4례. 간질증 스파르가눔증. 요충증 및 아니사키스증 각각 1례 등이었다. 낭미충증은 여성에서 약간 많았으며. 연령별 감염빈도는 20대에서 가장 높았고, 주로 침범하는 부위는 피하조직 및 골격근이었다. 절편상에서 충체가 확인된 94례의 낭미충증은 형태적인 보존정도로 보아 19례(20.2%)에서는 거의 변성이 없었고, 중등 도변성 38례(40.4%). 고도변성 37례(39.4%)를 보였다 폐에 기생한 2례를 제외한 15례의 이소기생 폐흡충은 복강(8례)과 중추신경계(7례)에 분포하였고, 20대 및 30대에서 가장 호발하였으며. 남성에서의 감염이 73.3%로 많았다. 담관내 간질증은 국내 13번째 인체감염례에 해당된다. 조직학적으로 진단되는 기생충증의 빈도는 연도가 경과할수록 점차 감소하고 있었으나, 낭미충증과 이소기생 폐흡충증에서는 생검이 매우 유용하게 이용되는 진단 방법임을 알 수 있었다.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• 제58권1호
• /
• pp.67-72
• /
• 2020

Human infection with Echinostoma aegyptica Khalil and Abaza, 1924 (Trematoda: Echinostomatidae) is extremely rare. In this study, we confirmed E. aegyptica infection in 5 riparian residents living along the Mekong River in Savannakhet Province, Lao PDR. The patients revealed eggs of Opisthorchis viverrini/minute intestinal flukes, echinostomes, and other parasites in fecal examinations using the Kato-Katz technique. Following treatment with praziquantel 30-40 mg/kg and pyrantel pamoate 10-15 mg/kg in a single dose and purging with magnesium salts, adult specimens of various helminth species were collected. Among the trematodes, echinostome flukes of 4.5-7.6 mm in length (n = 134; av. 22.3 specimens per case) were of taxonomic interest and subjected in this study. The flukes were morphologically characterized by having total 43-45 collar spines arranged in 2 alternating rows (corner spines usually 5 on each side) and compatible with previous descriptions of E. aegyptica. The patients were mixed-infected with other helminths, so specific clinical manifestations due to this echinostome fluke were difficult to determine. The present paper describes for the first time human E. aegyptica infections in Lao PDR. This is the second report of human infection (2nd-6th cases) with E. aegyptica in the world following the first one from China.

• 대한의생명과학회지
• /
• 제2권2호
• /
• pp.267-274
• /
• 1996

익산시내 거주하는 일부 아동들의 장내 기생충 감염 상태를 조사하기 위하여 4세부터 8세사이의 유치원생과 초등학교 1∼2학년 학생 510명(남 276명 ,여 234명)을 대상으로 formalin-ether 침전법과 trichrome염색법으로 대변검사를 실시하였다. 장내 기생 윤충란 및 완충류의 포낭 양성자는 62명 (12.2%)이었으며, 윤충란 양성자는 3명(0.6%), 원충 포낭 양성자는 59명(11.6%)이었다. 성별 양성율은 남자(11.2%)보다 여자(13.2%)의 양성율이 다소 높았으며, 년령별 양성율은 7세군이 17.5%로 가장 높았고 4세군은 9.5%로 양성율이 가장 낮았다. 3종의 윤충란과 6종의 원충 포낭을 검출하였으며, 윤충란은 요꼬가와흡충란 0.4%, 요충란 0.2% 및 편충란 0.2%였고, 원충의 포낭은 왜소아메바 4.1%, 대장아메바 3.9%, 람블편모충 2.0%, 이질아메바 1.4%, 옥도아메바 0.8% 및 메닐편모충 0.4%였다. 윤충란 양성자 3명 중 단일종 감염이 2명(66.7%), 2종 감염은 1명(33.3%)이었으며, 원충류포낭 양성자 59명 중 단일종 감염이 54명(91.5%), 2종 감염은 5명(8.5%)이었다. 연령별 원충 포낭의 양성율은 7세군이 14.3%로 가장 높았으며 4세군은 9.5%로 가장 낮았다.