• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.10-17
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• 2001

Purpose: We measured anti-H. pylori IgG in Korean elementary school children living in Shinchon area of Seoul, Korea to evaluate the influence of environmental living standards on H. pylori infection. Methods: IgG antibodies to H. pylori were measured in plasma using a commercial ELISA kit (GAP IgG Helicobacter pylori, Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc., Hercules, CA, USA). Information on environmental status such as place of birth, parental income, type of housing, number of persons in the household, parents' occupation, family history of peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer was obtained. Statistical analysis was done by Chi-square and logistic regression test using SPSS $7.0^{TM}$ for Windows. Results: Study subjects consisted of 571 children, and the age distribution ranged from 6.0 to 13.6 years with a mean of $9.6{\pm}1.8$ years. Male-to-female ratio was 1.1:1. The seropositive rates of H. pylori infection ranged from 10.4% in children aged 6 years to 30.9% in 12 year-old group, overall 16.8%. The prevalence of H. pylori infection progressively increased with age, but there was no significant difference in seropositive rates among children in different age groups (p=0.06). Seropositive rates of anti-H. pylori IgG on the basis of gender, place of birth, parental income, type of housing, parents' occupation, family history of peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer showed no statistically significant difference. Interestingly, however, seropositive rate of anti-H. pylori IgG showed statistical significance in relation to number of persons in the household (p=0.003; Odds ratio 1.50 by logistic regression test). Conclusion: These results suggest that number of persons in the household is the most important factor among environmental living standards, and that risk of H. pylori infection increases by increment of 1.5 times as the number of persons in the household increases by one.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.232-239
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• 1997

Purpose: The incidence of hepatitis A virus(HAV) infection has markedly decreased in the last 20 years due to industrialization and improvements in the standard of living and hygiene in Korea. The reduction in seroprevalence rates indicates infection potential for young adult population, and a need for vaccinations in high-risk adults and children groups has been suggested. In this study we evaluated the seroprevalence rates and natural infection rates of hepatitis A in children and adolescent to obtain the basic data for vaccination of hepatitis A. Methods: A total of 334 children and adolescent subjects below 20 years old in Kyonggi-do province were examined for HAV antibody and seroprevalence rates in each age group was investigated. In 584 elementary school students residing in Kyonggi-do province, serum samples collected in 1993 and 1996 from the same subjects for investigation of natural seroconversion rates. Method of testing antibody was enzyme immunoassay. Results: 1) The seropositive rate of HAV in 334 subjects aged below 20 years old was 5.4%. According to age, the seropositive rates were 27.3% in infant group, 0.0% in 1~4 year-old group, 0.0% in 5~9 year-old group, 2.9% in 10~14 year-old group and 15.0% in 15~19 year-old group. 2) In the study of 584 elementary school children, only one subject showed seropositive in 1993, and in 1996 three different subjects showed seropositive results(0.5%); the natural seroconversion rate during 3 years was 0.5%. 3) The seroprevalence rates of below 20 year-old subjects reported in previous studies were 63.8% in 1979 and 47.3% in 1989 while the present study showed the rate at 5.4%. Conclusion: Since natural antibody formation is rarely occurring, there is a high risk for apparent hepatitis A infection in adults. Therefore vaccination in high risk groups is essential at present, and in order to reduce the chance for hepatitis A infection in adults, vaccination in children may be needed.

• Communications for Statistical Applications and Methods
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.815-822
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• 2001

The aim of this study is to estimate the seroconversion date of the human immunodeficiency virus(HIV) infection for the HIV infected patients in Korea. Data are collected from two cohorts. The first cohort is a group of "seroprevalent" patients who were seropositive and AIDS-free at entry. The other is a group of "seroincident" patients who were initially seronegative but later converted to HIV antibody-positive. The seroconversion dates of the seroincident cohort are available while those of the seroprevalent cohort are not. Estimation of seroconversion date is important because it can be used to calculate the incubation period of AIDS which is defined as the elapsed time between the HIV infection and the development of AIDS. In this paper, a Weibull regression model Is fitted for the seroincident cohort using information about the elapsed time since seroconversion and the CD4$^{+}$ cell count.The seroconversion dates for the seroprevalent cohort are imputed on the basis of the marker of maturity of HIV infection percent of CD4$^{+}$cell count.unt.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.172-176
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• 2003

As a baseline study for the establishment of bovine leukemia virus(BLV)-free herd in Korea, the prevalence of anti-BLV antibody was determined in the present study. Sera from Korean native cows of 8 provinces and from dairy cattle of 9 provinces were subjected to enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Anti-BLV antibodies were positive in two (0.14%) of 1,413 Korean native cows. In contrast. 54.2% of 2,415 dairy cows were positive for anti-BLV antibodies, and their seropositive herd rate was 86.8%. And no differences were found in the sero-positive rates with age. The results indicate that the BLV infection rate has been increased continuously in Korea and that the establishment of BLV-free herd is imminent.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.93-96
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• 1986

The prevalence of antibody to Getah virus was serologically followed among those horses in Korea. Blood samples were taken from 575 horses in February and 462 horses in September, 1985. Overall percentage of horses with seropositive to Getah virus was 37% in February and 47% in September. The data suggest that the Getah virus infection is endemic in Korea and the increase in prevalence may be associated with the seasonal activity of arthropod vectors. This entails preventive precautions of the horses against this viral infection before the entry into Korea.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.579-581
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• 2013

In recent years, worldwide surveys of Toxoplasma gondii infection in dogs have been reported. However, only limited surveys of T. gondii infection in police dogs have been available, including China. In the present study, we report the seroprevalence of T. gondii in police dogs in Shenyang, northeastern China. Sera from 291 police dogs were examined for T. gondii antibodies with the modified agglutination test (MAT), and 30.9% animals were tested seropositive. The results of the present study indicated a relatively high prevalence of T. gondii infection in police dogs in Shenyang, China.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.249-251
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• 2012

There have been several reports on the relationship between toxocariasis and eosinophilia, but all have been limited to the areas of Seoul or Gangwon-do. In the present study, we investigated the seroprevalence of toxocariasis among eosinophilia patients in Chungcheongnam-do, the central district of Korea. Among the 101 patients tested, 51 (50.5%) were identified as positive by Toxocara ELISA, and 46 (45.5%) were confidently diagnosed with toxocariasis because of absence of any other cause of eosinophilia. Whereas 22 of 42 seropositive patients (52.3%) had a recent history of consuming raw livers, especially the cow liver, only 1 of 25 seronegative patients (4%) had done so (P<0.01). From these results, we could confirm that toxocariasis is related to eosinophilia, and infer that ingestion of raw cow liver plays a vital role in the transmission of toxocariasis in Chungcheongnam-do.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.375-377
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• 2013

In the present study, we first report the seroprevalence of Dirofilaria immitis in dogs in Shenyang, northeastern China. Sera from 528 randomly selected dogs were examined for D. immitis antigen using SNAP$^{(R)}$4Dx test kit; 12.7% tested showed seropositive. No significant difference of infection was observed in different genders and breeds (P>0.05), but the difference was significant in different age groups and rearing conditions (P<0.05). The result suggested that the risk of exposure to D. immitis in dogs is high in Shenyang, and should be given attention.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.227-231
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was sero-epidemiological survey of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrom(PRRS) in Dangjin area. 411 samples from 26 pig farms were analyzed by enzyme linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA). The data indicate that 66% of the pigs and 92% of the farms showed sero-positives to the PRRS viruc. Sows showed 58% of sero-positive rate and fattening pigs showed 85% of seropositive rate. The rate of sero-positive in boars was 63%. No significant regional differences were detected in sero-epidemiological survey.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.43 no.2 s.134
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• pp.65-67
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• 2005

The intestines and hearts of dogs were examined for Toxocara canis, Toxascaris leonina, and Dirofilaria immitis, after necropsy between June 26 and September 29, 2004 in Chuncheon, Korea. Of the 662 dogs examined, 6 were infected with T. canis $(0.9\%),\;86\;with\;T.\;leonina\;(13.0\%)$. Fifty dogs were infected with D. immitis among 500 dogs examined $(10.0\%)$. Five were co-infected with T. canis and T. leonina, and three were co-infected with T. leonina and D. immitis. The cumulative positive infection rate for three species was $134/662(20.2\%)$. Considering previously reported seropositive rates of T. canis excretory-secretory antigen, i.e., $5\%$ in the adult population in Korea, the possibility of toxocariasis caused by T. leonina should be reevaluated.