• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.60 no.3
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• pp.201-205
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• 2022

Babesia microti is one of the most common causative agents of babesiosis. A sensitive and rapid detection is necessary for screening potentially infected individuals. In this study, B. microti cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (cox1) was selected as the target gene, multiple primers were designed, and optimized by a recombinase-aided amplification (RAA) assay. The optimal primers and probe were labeled with fluorescein. The sensitivity of fluorescent RAA (fRAA) was evaluated using gradient diluents of the cox1 recombinant plasmid and genomic DNA extracted from whole blood of B. microti infected mice. The specificity of fRAA was assessed by other transfusion transmitted parasites. The analytical sensitivity of the fRAA assay was 10 copies of recombinant plasmid per reaction and 10 fg/µl B. microti genomic DNA. No cross-reaction with any other blood-transmitted parasites was observed. Our results demonstrated that the fRAA assay would be rapid, sensitive, and specific for the detection of B. microti.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.59 no.3
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• pp.257-263
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• 2021

Human gnathostomiasis is a parasitic disease caused by Gnathostoma nematode infection. A rapid, reliable, and practical immunoassay, named dot immuno-gold filtration assay (DIGFA), was developed to supporting clinical diagnosis of gnathostomiasis. The practical tool detected anti-Gnathostoma-specific IgG4 in human serum using crude extract of third-stage larvae as antigen. The result of the test was shown by anti-human IgG4 monoclonal antibody conjugated colloidal gold. The sensitivity and specificity of the test were both 100% for detection in human sera from patients with gnathostomiasis (13/13) and from healthy negative controls (50/50), respectively. Cross-reactivity with heterogonous serum samples from patients with other helminthiases ranged from 0 (trichinosis, paragonimiasis, clonorchiasis, schistosomiasis, and cysticercosis) to 25.0% (sparganosis), with an average of 6.3% (7/112). Moreover, specific IgG4 antibodies diminished at 6 months after treatment. This study showed that DIGFA for the detection of specific IgG4 in human sera could be a promising tool for the diagnosis of gnathostomiasis and useful for evaluating therapeutic effects.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.58 no.6
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• pp.669-674
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• 2020

The diagnostic accuracy of dermoscopy (DS) for scabies, a highly contagious parasitic disease, remains disputed. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of DS in scabies, analyze the factors influencing DS, and explore its role in post-treatment evaluation. Patients with suspected scabies were randomly divided into 2 groups: 71 patients in the skin scraping (SS) group and 73 patients in the DS group. The diagnostic efficiencies of SS and DS in these groups were calculated. We also analyzed the influence of body part and investigator competence on the accuracy of DS. Then 16 body parts with typical signs of scabies were monitored by DS 2 and 4 day after sulfur ointment treatment. The sensitivity and specificity of DS were 98.3% and 88.5%, respectively. Hands, arms, and the abdomen had higher positivity rates than other body parts (P<0.001). The accuracy of dermatologists' interpretations of images negative for scabies in the intermediate- and high-level groups was higher than that in the low-level group (P<0.001). At follow-up, the mites were still visible on 43.8% to 62.5% of the skin lesions 2 and 4 day after sulfur ointment treatment. These results showed that DS could significantly increase the accuracy of diagnosing scabies owing to its high sensitivity and specificity. Therefore, it may be useful for monitoring clinical responses to anti-parasitic treatment.

• Mycobiology
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.263-269
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• 2017

The genus Peronospora, an obligate biotrophic group belonging to Oomycota, causes serious damage to a variety of wild and ornamental plants, as well as cultivated crops, such as beet, rose, spinach, and tobacco. To investigate the diversity of Peronospora species parasitic to Stellaria and Pseudostellaria (Caryophyllaceae) plants in Korea, we performed a morphological analysis on dried herbarium specimens and molecular phylogenetic inferences based on internal transcribed spacer rDNA and cox2 mitochondrial DNA sequences. As a result, it was confirmed that there are four species of Peronospora parasitic to specific species of Stellaria and Pseudostellaria, all of which were hitherto unrecorded in Korea: P. alsinearum (ex Stellaria media), P. stellariae-aquaticae (ex Stellaria aquatica), P. stellariae-uliginosae (ex Stellaria alsine), and P. pseudostellariae (ex Pseudostellaria palibiniana). In addition, Peronospora specimens parasitic to Pseudostellaria davidii differed morphologically from P. pseudostellariae owing to the large and ellipsoidal conidia; this morphological discrepancy was also validated by the high genetic divergence between the two species. Peronospora casparyi sp. nov. is described and illustrated here.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.389-393
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• 2009

Regional distribution of mistletoe (Viscum album var.coloratum) and its habitual environments were investigated in order to obtain the basal data on the artificial propagation to cope with its increasing consume for medicine. Mistletoes inhabited throughout the overall region of the South Korea investigated. They were parasitic mainly to the Quercus spp. including Q. serrata and rarely to the Castanea crenata var. dulcis, Prunus serrulata var. spontanea, Alnus japonica, and Pyrus pyrifolia, etc. Mistletoes were not observed on the conifers such as Pinus densiflora and Pinus koraiensis and some deciduous broad-leaved trees species such as Zelkova serrata, Diospyros kaki, Acer mono, Acer palmatum, and Morus alba. Their habitats were located from zero to 1,200 m above sea level nevertheless the direction or slope of the mountains, suggesting that artificial propagation can be carried out nation widely to the well-grown parasite tree species. Parasitic specificity related to the physical and chemical characteristic of the epidermal tissues will be studied further.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.169-176
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• 2021

Parasitic infection is among the most common problems for carp cultivation. They are also important for the principal entrance of other hazardous infections as well. This study was carried out for determining of parasitic fauna of two major carp known as silver and grass carp with the comparison of prevalence value and intensity rate of parasites among them, alongside the relationship between the biometric characteristics and host sex with the infection level. For this purpose, a total of 94 fish samples were caught randomly using a fishing net, from Guilan ponds during spring and summer of the year 2018 and transported alive to the laboratory. Upon arriving, the biometric characteristics and genus of each carp were measured individually. Specimens were then acquired from the skin, gills, and eyes of the carp and examined according to standard parasitology methods. Recovered parasites were observed under a light microscope and then fixed for identification. As the result, the occurrence and intensity in the higher length group were comparatively greater than the lower one. Also, the prevalence and intensity of total parasites in male carp were higher than in females. In this research, Dactylogyrus hypophthalmichthys and Dactylogyrus aristhichtys were observed in silver carp and Dactylogyrus lamellatus was detected in grass carp. In the paper below, we found that the host specificity varies in different species of Dactylogyrus isolated from grass carp and silver carp.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.7
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• pp.1041-1045
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• 2013

The xTAG$^{(R)}$ Gastrointestinal Pathogen Panel (GPP) is a multiplexed molecular test for 15 gastrointestinal pathogens. The sensitivity and specificity of this test were assessed in 901 stool specimens collected from pediatric and adult patients at four clinical sites. A combination of conventional and molecular methods was used as comparator. Sensitivity could be determined for 12 of 15 pathogens and was 94.3% overall. The specificity across all 15 targets was 98.5%. Testing for the pathogen identified was not requested by the physician in 65% of specimens. The simultaneous detection of these 15 pathogens can provide physicians with a more comprehensive assessment of the etiology of diarrheal disease.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.375-380
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• 2016

Angiostrongyliasis is difficult to be diagnosed for the reason that no ideal method can be used. Serologic tests require specific equipment and are not always available in poverty-stricken zone and are time-consuming. A lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) may be useful for angiostrongyliasis control. We established a LFIA for the diagnosis of angiostrongyliasis based on 2 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against antigens of Angiostrongylus cantonensis adults. The sensitivity and specificity were 91.1% and 100% in LFIA, while those of commercial ELISA kit was 97.8% and 86.3%, respectively. Youden index was 0.91 in LFIA and 0.84 in commercial ELISA kit. LFIA showed detection limit of 1 ng/ml of A. cantonensis ES antigens. This LFIA was simple, rapid, highly sensitive and specific, which opened an alternative approach for the diagnosis of human angiostrongyliasis.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.207-212
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• 2011

Rapid serodiagnostic methods for Toxoplasma gondii infection in cats are urgently needed for effective control of transmission routes toward human infections. In this work, 4 recombinant T. gondii antigens (SAG1, SAG2, GRA3, and GRA6) were produced and tested for the development of rapid diagnostic test (RDT). The proteins were expressed in Escherichia coli, affinity-purified, and applied onto the nitrocellulose membrane of the test strip. The recombinant SAG1 (rSAG1) showed the strongest antigenic activity and highest specificity among them. We also performed clinical evaluation of the rSAG1-loaded RDT in 182 cat sera (55 household and 127 stray cats). The kit showed 0.88 of kappa value comparing with a commercialized ELISA kit, which indicated a significant correlation between rSAG1-loaded RDT and the ELISA kit. The overall sensitivity and specificity of the RDT were 100% (23/23) and 99.4% (158/159), respectively. The rSAG1-loaded RDT is rapid, easy to use, and highly accurate. Thus, it would be a suitable diagnostic tool for rapid detection of antibodies in T. gondii-infected cats under field conditions.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.503-510
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• 2013

Toxoplasma gondii is an apicomplexan parasite with a broad host range of most warm-blooded mammals including humans, of which one-thirds of the human population has been infected worldwide which can cause congenital defects, abortion, and neonatal complications. Here, we developed a rapid diagnostic test (RDT) for T. gondii infection. Antigenic N-terminal half of the major surface antigen (SAG1) was linked with intrinsically unstructured domain (IUD) of dense granule protein 2 (GRA2). The recombinant GST-GRA2-SAG1A protein was successfully expressed and purified as 51 kDa of molecular weight. Furthermore, antigenicity and solubility of the rGST-GRA2-SAG1A protein were significantly increased. The overall specificity and sensitivity of GST-GRA2-SAG1A loaded RDT (TgRDT) were estimated as 100% and 97.1% by comparing with ELISA result which uses T. gondii whole cell lysates as the antigen. The TgRDT tested with Uganda people sera for field trial and showed 31.9% of seroprevalence against T. gondii antibody. The TgRDT is proved to be a kit for rapid and easy to use with high accuracy, which would be a suitable serodiagnostic tool for toxoplasmosis.