• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.197-202
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• 1985

During 8 April 1983 to 9 April 1985, a total of 181 domestic cats (Felis catus domestica Linnaeus) of unknown localities in Korea were purchased at Seoul Chung-ang market, and the internal organs were dissected for helminth infections. In the results, three kinds of trematodes of family Heterophyidae (Ohdner, 1914) were obtained from small intestine of domestic cats and identified as follows; five adult worms of Heterophyopsis continua (Onji et Nishio, 1916) from three hosts, two hundreds and twenty three adult worms of Pygidiopsis summa Onji et Nishio, 1916 from seven hosts and twenty six adult worms of Heterophyes heterophyes nocens (Onji et Nishio, 1916) from three hosts. Among them, Heterophyopsis continua and Pygidiopsis summa had not been proved as natural infections of cats in Korea.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.27-33
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• 2014

Mucosal immune responses against Pygidiopsis summa (Trematoda: Heterophyidae) infection were studied in ICR mice. Experimental groups consisted of group 1 (uninfected controls), group 2 (infection with 200 metacercariae), and group 3 (immunosuppression with Depo-Medrol and infection with 200 metacercariae). Worms were recovered in the small intestine at days 1, 3, 5, and 7 post-infection (PI). Intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL), mast cells, and goblet cells were counted in intestinal tissue sections stained with Giemsa, astra-blue, and periodic acid-Schiff, respectively. Mucosal IgA levels were measured by ELISA. Expulsion of P. summa from the mouse intestine began to occur from days 3-5 PI which sustained until day 7 PI. The worm expulsion was positively correlated with proliferation of IEL, mast cells, goblet cells, and increase of IgA, although in the case of mast cells significant increase was seen only at day 7 PI. Immunosuppression suppressed all these immune effectors and inhibited worm reduction in the intestine until day 7 PI. The results suggested that various immune effectors which include IEL, goblet cells, mast cells, and IgA play roles in regulating the intestinal mucosal immunity of ICR mice against P. summa infection.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.55-62
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• 1986

The growth and development of Pygidiopsis summa were studied in experimental rats and mice, and a special reference was given to its morphological characters differed from the type species, P. genata. The metacercariae were obtained from young mullets (Mugil sp.), and total 21 rats and mice infected each with 1,000 metacercariae. Worms of various ages of infection, from 3 to 28 days, were subjected to a microscopic observation. The worms grew rapidly and remarkably in size up to 10 days of infection, to become 0.53~0.82mm long and 0.31~0.39mm wide, but nearly stopped the growth thereafter. Their genital organs developed more rapidly and fully matured within 3~5 days. At 3 days several eggs were found in uterus. The presence of two groups of small spines, 5~6 on the right and 7~9 on the left side of the genital apparatus, was a new finding in this study and considered a distinct character of P. summa. The morphology of ventral sucker and intestinal ceca was also different from P. genata. This study confirms the validity of the species, P. summa.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.107-112
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• 2002

A scanning electron microscopic study was performed on the surface ultrastructure of Pygidiopsis summa (Digenea: Heterophyidae) adults. Metacercariae were collected from gills and muscles of mullets (Mugil cephalus) caught in a known endemic area, and adult flukes were harvested from dogs after 8 weeks of experimental infection. The worm was calabash form with its posterior part broader than the anterior part. Tegumental spines were densely distributed over the body surface, except on the suckers and genital apparatus, and around the excretory pore. Well differentiated spines were observed on the anterior half of the body, with 14-16 tips ventrally, and 19-20 tips dorsally. On the oral sucker. three pairs of type I sensory papillae (uni-ciliated knob-like swellings) and one pair of type II sensory papillae (aciliated round-swellings) were observed on the anterior and posterior parts of the lip, respectively. On the lip of the ventral sucker, one pair of type II sensory papillae was distributed only on its posterior part. Sperms were seen emerging from or entering into the genital apparatus. The results showed that the surface ultrastructure of P. summa was unique among the heterophyid trematodes, especially in digitation of tegumental spines and in distribution of sensory papillae on oral and ventral suckers.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.205-211
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• 2007

The infection status of mullets Mugil cephalus (n = 139) and gobies (n = 35) Acanthogobius fIavimanus with metacercariae of Heterophyes nocens and Pygidiopsis summa was examined in 11 western, southern, and eastern coastal areas of the Republic of Korea, using a digestion technique. Heterophyid metacercariae were highly prevalent in mullets from western and southern coastal areas; Shinan-gun (100% for H. nocens and 100% for P. summa), Muan-gun (93% and 100%), Buan-gun (42% and 75%), Seocheon-gun (73% and 53%), Ganghwa-gun (47% and 100%), Sacheon-shi (47% and 77%), and Gangjin-gun (50% and 70%, respectively). Only 1 (10%) of 10 mullets from an eastern coastal area, i.e., Donghae-shi, was positive for P. summa metacercariae. Metacercarial densities were the highest in the trunk of mullets for H. nocens and the gill for P. summa. Gobies from Muan-gun were positive for H. nocens (40%) and P. summa metacercariae (40%), and gobies from Seocheon-gun revealed H. nocens metacercariae (20%). The metacercarial density was remarkably higher in mullets than in gobies. The results revealed that H. nocens and P. summa metacercariae are prevalent in mullets and gobies from coastal areas of the Republic of Korea, and the prevalence and intensity of infection vary according to geographical locality.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.55-66
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• 1991

A numerical taxonomy was studied on a group of heterophyid trematodes and analysis was made on the following species: Metagonimus yokogawai (3 OTU, Operational Taxonomic Unit) , Metagcnimus Miyata Type (3 OTU), Metagonimus takahashii (2 OTU), Heterophyes dispar (2 OTU), Heterephyes heterophyes (1 OTU), Heterophyes nocens (2 OTV), Heterophyopsis continua (1 OTU), Pygidiopsis summa (3 OTU), Stellantchasmus falcatus (2 OTU) and Stictodora sari (2 OTU). Twenty-six morphological characters were measured and their values were expressed as relative ratios. Similarity and correlation matrix among each individuals were calculated. Clustering analysis by Ward's method and factor analysis were performed using the SAS (Statistical Analysis System) package. As a results, the groups belonging to the genus of Metegenimus were divided into three phonons (Awetegonimus yokogawai, Metegcnimus Miyata Type, M. takahashii) , and Metagonimus Miyata Type was classified as the level of subspecies of M. takahashii. The groups belonging to the genus Heterophyes were clearly divided into three phonons (Heterophyes dispar, H. heterephyes, H. nocens), and H. nccens was classified as not a subspecies level of H. heterophyes but a distinct species. Other species were classified as distinct phonons. From these results, the appllcr lion of numerical taxonomy on trematode classification is considered to be a great aid to determine the limit of taxa.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.497-502
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• 2016

To know the infection status of zoonotic trematode metacercariae in brackish water fish, we surveyed mullets collected from 18 coastal areas in the Republic of Korea. The metacercariae of Pygidiopsis summa were detected in 236 (68.2%) out of 346 mullets examined. They were found in mullets from 15 areas except for those from Boseong-gun (Jeollanam-do), Pohang-si, and Uljin-gun (Gyeongsangbuk-do). Especially in mullets from Taean-gun (Chungcheongnam-do) and Geoje-si (Gyeongsangnam-do), their prevalences were 100% and 95.5%, and the average metacercarial density was more than 1,000 per fish. They were also detected in mullets from 3 coastal lakes, Gyeongpoho, Songjiho, and Hwajinpoho, in Gangwon-do, and their average densities were 419, 147, and 672 per infected fish, respectively. The metacercariae of 5 other heterophyid species, including Heterophyes nocens, Heterophyopsis continua, Metagonimus sp., Stictodora fuscata, and Stictodora lari, were found in the mullets examined. The metacercariae of H. nocens were detected in 66.7, 100, 28.6, 81.6, 3.9, 61.5, and 27.3% of mullets from Muan-gun, Shinan-gun, Haenam-gun, Gangjin-gun, and Boseong-gun (Jeollanam-do), Hadong-gun, and Geoje-si (Gyeongsangnam-do), and their metacercarial intensities were 64, 84, 119, 99, 1, 24, and 24 per fish infected, respectively. From the above results, it has been confirmed that P. summa metacercariae are heavily infected in mullets from coastal areas of Korea. It is suggested that residents who frequently consume raw mullet dish can be easily infected with heterophyid flukes.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.233-238
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• 1997

A small coastal village of Muan-gun, Chollanam-do, was surveyed for intesti- nal fluke infections, especially heterophyids such as Heterophwes nocens and Ftsiniopsis summc by fecal examination on 108 inhabitants. The egg Positive rate of heterophyids was very high. 75.0%, and that of other parasites was comparatively low.0.9-3.7% by parasite species . After treatment of 20 patients showing high E. P. G. with praziquantel and purging with Mgs04, total 3,864 specimens of H. nocens were collected from the diarrheic stools of all the patients treated (3-1,338 individuallyl and total 703 p. summc were harvested from 18 patients (1-170 individually), together loth several other species of flukes. Other flukes included Stictodora jlscotn (164 specimens from 4 patients), Heterophwopsis continuo (2 from 2 patients), and Gwmnophalloides seoi (4 from 3 patients). From this study, the sutra- veyed coastal area of Muan-gun, Chollanam-do was proven to be a new endemic focus of H. nocens and p. summa. The occurrence of a few infected cases surf:mists that this area should also be a low-grade endemic area of S. Juscctc, H. continuo, and G. seoi.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.77-82
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• 2008

Fishborne zoonotic metacercariae have not been reported from brackish water and marine fish from Vietnam waters although these parasites are common in the country's freshwater fish. Both wild-caught and cultured grouper (Epinephelus coioides and Epinephelus bleekeri), and mullet (Mugil cephalus) from brackish and marine waters located in Khanh Hoa province in central coastal Vietnam were examined, and found positive for zoonotic trematode metacercariae. From grouper, Heterophyopsis continua and Procerovum varium were recovered. The prevalence of H. continua ranged from 2.0 to 6.0% and that for P. varium ranged from 11.6 to 15.8%. Mullet were infected with Pygidiopsis summa and H. continua; both of these species are new records for Vietnam. The prevalence of P. summa in mullet was generally high, ranging from 17.6 to 75.5%, and was significantly higher than the prevalence of H. continua (2.5 to 32.4%). There were no significant differences in the prevalence of metacercariae between grouper from natural or cultured habitats, indicating that the highest risk of infection occurs in the wild-caught state prior to their placement in culture. Further, there was no difference in metacercarial prevalence between the 2 species of grouper. Infected wild-caught seed were only observed from January to October. Monthly variation in prevalence suggests seasonal variation in mullet infections occurs in this region with the highest transmission taking place from October to December. Basic investigations on the ecology and epidemiology of these intestinal flukes need to be carried out to determine their significance as a public health problem and the aspects of their biology that may be vulnerable to control interventions.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.44 no.1 s.137
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• pp.7-13
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• 2006

Heterophyid metacercarial infections in brackish water fishes, i.e., perch, shad, mullet, redlip mullet, and goby, of Jinju-man (Bay), Kyongsangnam-do, Korea, were investigated using a digestion technique. Among 45 perch (Lateolabrax japonicus), the metacercariae of Heterophyopsis continua were found in $55.6\%$ (18.5 metacercariae per fish), Stictodora spp. in $28.9\%$ (3.6), and Metagonimus takahashii in $6.7\%$ (17.0). The metacercariae of H. continua were detected in 23 $(65.7\%)$ of 35 shad (Konosirus punctatus). Among 15 mullet (Mugil cephalus), the metacercariae of Pygidiopsis summa were found in $100\%$ (105.9 metacercariae per fish), Heterophyes nocens in $40.0\%$ (8.5), H. continua in $13.3\%$, and Stictodora spp. in $6.7\%$. Among 12 redlip mullet (Chelon haematocheilus), the metacercariae of P. summa were detected in $91.7\%$ (1,299 metacercariae per fish), H. nocens in $16.7\%$, and Stictodora spp. in $16.7\%$. Among 35 gobies (Acanthogobius flavimanus), the metacercariae of Stictodora spp. were found in $82.9\%$ (44.5 metacercariae per fish), and H. continua in $25.7\%$ (2.8). The adult flukes recovered from a cat experimentally infected with metacercariae from perches were compatible with M. takarashii. The results confirm that the estuarine fish in Jinju-man (Bay) are heavily infected with heterophyid metacercariae. Furthermore, it was found for the first time that the perch acts as a second intermediate host for M. takahashii.