• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.91-93
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• 2008

The weight gain phenomenon associated with sparganosis has been well documented and was first recognized in the 1960s. Many studies have been conducted regarding the plerocercoid growth factor in the larva of Spirometra mansoni. In the present study, we hypothesized that the weight gain may be affected by the adipocyte secreted hormones, i.e., adiponectin, which is secreted from the adipose tissues in case of tissue migrating parasitic infections. Specifically, we attempted to ascertain whether the serum levels of adiponectin change in murine sparganosis. However, serum adiponectin levels assayed by ELISA evidenced no significant changes after an experimental infection (P > 0.05). Finally, the weight gain phenomenon in mouse sparganosis is not associated with changes in adiponectin levels, and further investigations involving parasitic infection-induced weight gain remain necessary.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.25 no.11
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• pp.1240-1244
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• 1992

Human sparganosis caused by Sparganum mansoni, the larval plerocercoid worm of the genus Spirometra, is not uncommon in Korea and is mostly found in subcutaneous or adipose tissue of the abdominal, thoracic wall and inguinal region, but is rarely found in the orbital cavity, brain and breast. It, at present, is a surgical disease because its diagnosis depends almost on the demonstration of the larva[e] from lesion or finding the worm section in surgical pathology specimens. We experienced a case of human sparganosis from a 48 years old woman who had a history of eating a raw frog. We report the case and review the related literatures.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.25-32
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• 1992

Antigenic proteins of 36 and 29 kDa were localized in Spirometra mansoni plerocercoid (sparganum) immunohistochemically by avidin biotin complex (ABC) staining. When polyclonal antibodies such as BALB/c mouse serum immunized with crude saline extract of sparganum or confirmed sparganosis sera were reacted as pri-mary antibodies, the positive chromogen (3-amino, 9-ethylcarbazole) reactions were recognized at syncytial tegument, tegumental cells, muscle and parenchymal cells and lining cells of excretory canals. A monoclonal antibody(MAb) which was reacting to 36 and 29 kDa proteins in the extract of the worm was localized at the syncytial tegument and tegumental cells. The present results suggested that the potent antigenic proteins of 36 and 29 kDa in sparganum were produced at the tegumental cells and transported to the syncytial tegument.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.163-168
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• 1988

To observe the antigenic protein fractions in saline extract of Spirometra mansoni plerocercoid (sparganum), the crude extract was separated in reducing conditions of sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis(SDS-PAGE). The proteins, transferred by celctrophoresis to introcillulose paper, were reacted with sera from 15 surgically confirmed sparganosis and 24 cysticercosis patients for immunoblotting. Out of 30 identified protein bands in the extract, bands of 29 and 36 kilodaltons (kDa) were the strongest and the most frequently reacting with specific antibody (IgG) in sparganosis sera. Bands of highter molecular weight also reacted with the sera but their frequency of reactions was lower. Sera of cysticercosis reacted with different protein bands in saline extract of sparganum, but the cross reactions were observed in strong antigenic bands of 29 and 36 kDa.