• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제58권4호
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• pp.467-473
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• 2020

Chinese edible frogs, Hoplobatrachus rugulosus, were examined to estimate the potential risks of human gnathostomiasis and sparganosis in Myanmar. A total of 20 frogs were purchased in a local market of Yangon and examined with naked eyes and the artificial digestion method after skin peeling in June 2018 and June 2019. Larvae of gnathostomes and Spirometra (=spargana) were detected in 15 (75.0%) and 15 (75.0%) frogs with average intensities of 10.5 and 6.3 larvae per infected frog, respectively. Gnathostome larvae were 2.75-3.80 (av. 3.30) mm long and 0.29-0.36 (0.33) mm wide. They had a characteristic head bulb with 4 rows of hooklets, a muscular long esophagus, and 2 pairs of cervical sac. The mean number of hooklets were 41, 44, 47, and 50 on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th row, respectively. Collected spargana were actively moving, particularly with the scolex part, and have ivory-white color and variable in size. Conclusively, it has been first confirmed that Chinese edible frogs, H. rugulosus, are highly infected with larval gnathostomes and spargana in this study. Consuming these frogs is considered a potential risk of human gnathostomiasis and sparganosis in Myanmar.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제59권3호
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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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• 제59권6호
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• pp.615-623
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• 2021

Human sparganosis is a food-borne parasitic disease caused by the plerocercoids of Spirometra species. Clinical diagnosis of sparganosis is crucial for effective treatment, thus it is important to identify sensitive and specific antigens of plerocercoids. The aim of the current study was to identify and characterize the immunogenic proteins of Spirometra erinaceieuropaei plerocercoids that were recognized by patient sera. Crude soluble extract of the plerocercoids were separated using 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis coupled with immunoblot and mass spectrometry analysis. Based on immunoblotting patterns and mass spectrometry results, 8 antigenic proteins were identified from the plerocercoid. Among the proteins, cysteine protease protein might be developed as an antigen for diagnosis of sparganosis.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제50권2호
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• pp.181-183
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• 2012

The author reported previously on separation of the outer tegument of the spargana (plerocercoids of Spirometra mansoni) using high concentration of urea solution. To determine which layer of the tegument is separated by this method, an electron microscopic analysis has been processed in this study. It was confirmed that the basement layer of the tegument is separated from the parenchyme of the sparganum. In addition, the antigenicity of the separated outer tegument against the human sparganosis patient sera was evaluated. Numerous antigenic proteins, including 16 and 55 kDa proteins, were noticed in the separated tegument; however, there were no diagnostic 31/36 kDa molecules in this tegument. The molecules reactive with the patient sera in the tegument are to be characterized in future studies.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제51권4호
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• pp.467-470
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• 2013

The present study reports a human case of cutaneous gnathostomiasis with recurrent migratory nodule and persistent eosinophilia in China. A 52-year-old woman from Henan Province, central China, presented with recurrent migratory reddish swelling and subcutaneous nodule in the left upper arm and on the back for 3 months. Blood examination showed eosinophila (21.2%), and anti-sparganum antibodies were positive. Skin biopsy of the lesion and histopathological examinations revealed dermal infiltrates of eosinophils but did not show any parasites. Thus, the patient was first diagnosed as sparganosis; however, new migratory swellings occurred after treatment with praziquantel for 3 days. On further inquiring, she recalled having eaten undercooked eels and specific antibodies to the larvae of Gnathostoma spinigerum were detected. The patient was definitely diagnosed as cutaneous gnathostomiasis caused by Gnathostoma sp. and treated with albendazole (1,000 mg/day) for 15 days, and the subsequent papule and blister developed after the treatment. After 1 month, laboratory findings indicated a reduced eosinophil count (3.3%). At her final follow-up 18 months later, the patient had no further symptoms and anti-Gnathostoma antibodies became negative. Conclusively, the present study is the first report on a human case of cutaneous gnathostomiasis in Henan Province, China, based on the past history (eating undercooked eels), clinical manifestations (migratory subcutaneous nodule and persistent eosinophilia), and a serological finding (positive for specific anti-Gnathostoma antibodies).

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제28권3호
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• pp.135-142
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• 1990

조직기생충증인 스파르가눔증은 우리 나라를 비롯하여 동양 여러 나라에서 드물지 않게 발생하고 있으므로 보조진단법으로서 쳔청학적 진단이 필요하다. 그러나, 현재 진단에 사용하는 항원인 스파르가눔의 생리식염수 추출액은 그 단백질 구성이 복잡하고, 낭미충중, 포충증, 폐흡충증 등과 혈청학적 교차반응을 일으키는 경우가 있어 개선의 여지가 많다. 이 실험은 스파르가눔 생리 식염수 추출액의 구성단백질 중 항원성이 높고, 교차반응이 적은 구성단백질 분회만을 단세포군항체를 이용하여 친화성 크로마토그래피로 분리하고 그 항원성을 평가하고자 하였다. 먼저 Sephacryl S-300 Superane을 통과시켜 스파르가눔 생리 식염수 추출액을 5 분획으로 나눈 결과, 분자량이 90kDa 이상으로 구성된 제1, 2 분획은 항원성은 높았으나 교차반응을 많이 일으키고 있었다. 제 3분획 의 주요 구성성분은 스파르가눔증 환자 혈청과의 SDS-PAGE/EITB를 통해 가장 민감한 반응을 보였던 36, 29 kDa 단백질이었다. 이어 스파르가눔 추출액으로 면역시킨 BALB/C mice 비장세포에서 기린한 단세포군항체 중 36,29 kDa에 반응하는 단세포군항체를 리간드로 친화성 크로마토그래피를 실시하여 36, 29 kDa 단백질을 순수하게 분리하였다. 이 두 단백질은 같은 항원결정 기를 지니고 있는 것으로 판단하였다. 순수분리한 항원의 항원성을 스 파르가눔 감염자 28명과 기타 질환자 및 건강 대조군 99명의 혈청으로 평가한 결과, 이 항원은 조항원(스파르가눔 추출액)에 비해 민감도는 같았으나(96.4%) 특이도는 86.8%에서 96.9%로 개선되었다.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제31권2호
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• pp.141-148
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• 1993

폐흡충증의 진단을 위하여 근자에 효소면역측정 법(ELISA)이 널리 쓰이고 있다. 이 논문에서는 폐흡충 항원에 대한 단클론항체를 제조하고 이를 효소면역억제측정 법 (ELISA-Inhlbltlon test)에 응용하여 효소면역측정 법의 특이도를 더욱 높이고자 하였다. 폐흠충 성충의 수용성 항원으로 면역한 BALB/c 마우스의 비장세포와 형질세포종세포를 융합하여 림프잡종세포를 만들고 이 중에서 폐흡충 항원에 대한 특이 단클론항체를 생성하는 하나의 림프잡종세포를 선택하였다. 이는 Pwa-14라고 이름지워졌는데, EITB상 28 kDa, 42.5 kDa, 89 kDa, 120.5 kDa 항원대에 반응하였으며, 간접 면역항체법으로 반응하는 항원의 위치가 난황선임을 확인하였다. 폐흡충 항원을 사용한 통상적인 효소면역측정법에 폐흡충 감염자 22명의 혈청은 모두 양성 반응을 보였으며, 간흡충 감염자 40명 중 5명(12.5%), 유구낭충 감염자 26명 중 3명(7.7%)은 양성을 나타내 교차 반응을 보였다. 이 때, 스파르가눔 감염자 10명 및 정상 대조군에서는 양성 반응을 보이는 혈청이 없었다. 특이 단세포군항체를 이용한 효소면역 억제측정법으로 측정한 결과, 폐흡충 감염자는 모두 양성반응을 보였으나, 유구낭충, 스파르가눔 감염자의 혈청은 교차 반응을 보이지 않았다. 이상의 결과로 보아 폐흡 충의 면역 진단 시, 폐흠충 특이 단클론항체를 이용한 효소면역 억제측정 법은 통상적인 효소면역측 정법에 비하여 더 높은 특이도를 보임을 알 수 있었다.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제38권3호
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• pp.195-199
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• 2000

The 27 kDa cathepsin L-like cysteine protease of Spirometra erinocei plerocercoid is known to play an important function in tissue penetration, nutrient uptake and immune modulation in human sparganosis. In the present study, the expression of this enzyme was examined at different developmental stages of S. erinacei including immature egg, coracidium, plerocercoid in tadpole and rat, and adult Proteolytic activity against carboxybenzoyl-phenylalanyl-arginyl-7-amino-4-rnethylcournarin was do tooted in the extracts of coracidia and plerocercoid while no activity was observed in those of immature egg and adult. The specific activity in coraridial extracts was lower than that in the plerocercoid. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Northern biol analysis demonstrated that the gene was expressed in the coracidium and plerocercoid but not in immature egg and adult. These results suggest that the 27 kDa cysteine protease is only expressed in the stages involving active migration of the parasite in the host tissue.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제48권2호
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• pp.161-165
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• 2010

Echinococcus granulosus, an intestinal tapeworm of dogs and other canids, infects humans in its larval stage and causes human echinococcosis or hydatid disease. In the Republic of Korea, 31 parasite-proven human echinococcosis cases have been reported, most of which were imported from the Middle East. We recently examined a 61-year-old Korean man who had a large cystic mass in his liver. ELISA was negative for tissue parasitic infections, including echinococcosis, cysticercosis, paragonimiasis, and sparganosis. The patient underwent surgery to remove the cyst, and the resected cyst was processed histopathologically for microscopic examinations. In sectioned cyst tissue, necrotizing protoscolices with disintegrated hooklets of E. granulosus were found. In some areas, only freed, fragmented hooklets were detected. The patient had traveled to western and central Europe in 1996, and had no other history of overseas travel. We report our patient as a hepatic echinococcosis case which was probably imported from Europe.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제51권4호
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• pp.433-440
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• 2013

Toxocariasis is a worldwide zoonosis caused by larvae of ascarid nematodes of dogs or cats, Toxocara canis or T. cati. Diagnosis of human toxocariasis currently relies on serology that uses T. canis excretory-secretory antigen to detect specific IgG antibodies by ELISA. We investigated the serodiagnostic efficacy of ELISA using crude antigen of T. canis larvae (TCLA). Serum specimens of 64 clinically confirmed toxocariasis, 115 healthy controls, and 119 other tissue-invading helminthiases were screened by ELISA using TCLA. The ELISA using TCLA showed 92.2% (59/64 patient samples) sensitivity and 86.6% (103/119) specificity. Its positive diagnostic predictivity was 78.7% and negative predictivity was 97.8%. No serum of healthy controls reacted but that of anisakiasis (45.5%), gnathostomiasis (19.2%), clonorchiasis (15.8%), sparganosis (11.1%), and cysticercosis (6.3%) cross-reacted. Immunoblot analysis on TCLA recognized antigenic proteins of 28- and 30-kDa bands in their dominant protein quantity and strong blotting reactivity. The present results indicate that the ELISA using our TCLA antigen is acceptable by the sensitivity and specificity for serodiagnosis of human toxocariasis. ELISA with TCLA is recommended to make differential diagnosis for patients with any sign of organ infiltration and eosinophilia.