• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.445-448
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• 2011

A survey was performed to find out the intermediate hosts of Gnathostoma nipponicum in Jeju-do (Province), the Republic of Korea. In August 2009 and 2010, a total of 82 tadpoles, 23 black-spotted pond frogs (Rana nigromaculata), 7 tiger keelback snakes (Rhabdophis tigrinus tigrinus), 6 red-tongue viper snakes (Agkistrodon ussuriensis), and 2 cat snakes (Elaphe dione) were collected in Jeju-do and examined by the pepsin-HCl digestion method. Total 5 gnathostome larvae were detected in 3 (50%) of 6 A. ussuriensis, 70 larvae in 3 of 7 (42.9%) R. tigrinus tigrinus, and 2 larvae in 2 of 82 (8.7%) frogs. No gnathostome larvae were detected in tadpoles and cat snakes. The larvae detected were a single species, and $2.17{\times}0.22mm$ in average size. They had characteristic head bulbs, muscular esophagus, and 4 cervical sacs. Three rows of hooklets were arranged in the head bulbs, and the number of hooklets in each row was 29, 33, and 36 posteriorly. All these characters were consistent with the advanced third-stage larvae of G. nipponicum. It has been first confirmed in Jeju-do that R. nigromaculata, A. ussuriensis, and R. tigrinus tigrinus play a role for intermediate and/or paratenic hosts for G. nipponicum.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.58 no.6
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• pp.701-707
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• 2020

A survey was performed to investigate the infection status of zoonotic helminth larvae in fish from a local market of North Dagon District in Yangon City, Myanmar. A total of 486 fish in 13 species were collected 8 times from December 2015 to December 2019. All fish were transported under ice to a laboratory in Korea and examined for helminth larvae using artificial digestion method. Larval gnathostomes and metacercariae of more than 8 zoonotic trematode species, i.e., Opisthorchis viverrini, Haplorchis taichui, H. pumilio, H. yokogawai, Centrocestus spp., Stellantchasmus falcatus, Pygidiopsis cambodiensis, and Procerovum sp., were detected. Larval gnathostomes were found in 58 (16.0%) out of 362 fish of 6 species, with mean intensity of 2.8 per fish infected. Metacercariae of O. viverrini were detected in 10 (2.9%) out of 349 fish of 5 species, with mean intensity of 16.9 per fish infected. Metacercarial prevalences of 4 intestinal flukes, H. taichui, H. pumilio, H. yokogawai, and Centrocestus spp., were 16.8%, 26.0%, 12.5%, and 15.0% in the positive fish species, respectively, and mean metacercarial intensity was 63.3, 26.8, 86.2, and 8.7 per fish infected. Metacercariae of S. falcatus and P. cambodiensis were detected only from the mullet, Chelon macrolepis. Metacercariae of Procerovum sp. were found in Channa striata and Anabas testudineus. Collectively, it was confirmed that the fish were infected with gnathostome larvae and metacercariae of O. viverrini and intestinal flukes in Yangon City, Myanmar.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.58 no.4
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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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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.161-168
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• 1996

We observed the morphological characteristics and identified the species of gnathostome larvae obtained from the imported Chinese loaches. The early third-stage larvae ($EL_3$) were collected from viscera of the loaches and a part of them were infected to mice. The advanced third-stage larvae ($AdL_3$) were recovered from the mice at 4 weeks post-infection. both larval worms were fixed loth 10% formalin, cleared in alcohol-glycerin solution, mounted with glycerin-jelly, and observed. A total of 369 $EL_3$ were collected from viscera of 9,493 Chinese loaches. The whole body of $EL_3$ was covered with about 190 transverse rows of minute cuticular spines and $0.624{\;}{\times}{\;}0.101{\;}mm$ in average size. A pair of lips were protruded at the anterior end, and the muscular esophagus and brownish intestine were followed. The characteristic head bulb was provided with 4 rows of hooklets. The average number of hooklets in the respective row was 36.7, 39.5, 41.6 and 44.3 posteriorly $AdL_3$ was $2.660{\;}{\times}{\;}0.346{\;}mm$ in average size, and retained the esophagus (about 0.755 mm length) and cervical sac (about 0.355 mm length). The average number of hooklets in the respective row on the head bulb was 39.0, 41.9, 43.9 and 45.6, posteriorly. On the basis of the morphological characteristics, they were identified as the third-stage larvae of Gnathostomc hispinun.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.81-90
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• 1998

The present study was performed to observe the infection status of several kind of animals with indigenous Gnnthostomn in Korea, and morphological characteristics of gnathostome larvae detected from pit-viper, Askistronon breuiccudus, for the species bullfrogs. several kinds of snakes, j.e., 55 Elnphe rufodorsata, 2 Dinodon rufozonatum rufzonatum. 62 Rhnbdophis tisrinus tigrinus and 87 Askistronon app., and 438 cats were examined. A total of 21 larval gnathostomes was detected from 12 pit-vipers, A. breuicnudus. They were 2.233 x 0.343 mm in average size and covered with about 210 transverse rows of minute cuticular spines. Their characteristic head bulbs were provided with 4 rows of hooklets of which average numbers in each row were 36.8, 39.0, 41.7 and 44.3. posteriorly. In the cross sections of midgut level, the intestinal wall consisted of a single layer of 19-25 elongate epithelial cells with a single nucleus. SEM observation of the larvae revealed unique features of head bulb , cuticular spines on transverse striations and a cervical papilla. On the basis of above morphological characteristics, they were identified as the advanced third-stage larvae of Gnothostomo hispinum. It was first confirmed that the pit-viper. ABkistronon breuicaunus is the snake intermediate host of G. hispidun.