• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.125-130
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• 2009

To figure out the epidemiological status and relevance with other diseases in toxoplasmosis, we checked serum IgG antibody titers of 1,265 patients and medical records of seropositive patients. Seropositive rates were 6.6% by latex agglutination test (LAT) and 6.7% by ELISA. No significant differences were detected between sexes and age groups. The peak seroprevalence was detected in the 40-49-year-old age group. According to clinical department, Toxoplasma-positive rates were high in patients in psychiatry, ophthalmology, health management, emergency medicine, and thoracic surgery. Major coincidental diseases in seropositive cases were malignant neoplasms, diabetes mellitus, arthritis, chronic hepatitis B, chronic renal diseases, schizophrenia, and acute lymphadenitis, in the order of frequency. In particular, some patients with chronic hepatitis B and malignant neoplasms had high antibody titers. These results revealed that the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in a general hospital-based study was similar to that in a community-based study, and T. gondii seropositivity may be associated with neoplasms, diabetes, and other chronic infections.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.1151-1160
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• 1999

This study was conducted to detect the toxoplasma-specific DNA in peripheral blood collected from cats experimentally infected with Toxoplasma gondii (RH strain) and from domiciled cats by B1 gene-base polymerise chain reaction(PCR). The sensitivity of oligonucleotide primer, T-1 & T-2, designed from toxoplasma B1 gene amplification method was compared with parasite detection by mouse inoculation(MI). And also, latex agglutination test(LAT) and indirect fluorescent antibody test(IFAT) were conducted to detect the fluctuation of serum antibodies compared with the detection of toxoplasma by PCR and MI. Toxoplasma B1 gene PCR was shown consistently high sensitivity and the results obtained by PCR agreed completely with those from MI. All blood samples collected before infection with T gondii gave negative results by PCR and MI. Also, toxoplasma Bl gene PCR was not cross reaction with Neospora caninum DNA and normal cat leucocyte as controls. The toxoplasma-specific DNA was detected by PCR in blood of 5 cats experimentally infected with T gondii 6 days after infection and the detection of this specific-DNA was long lasted in blood for 64 days after infection. The detection of toxoplasma-specific DNA by PCR could be identified as few as 10 tachyzoites and the isolation of T gondii by MI could be isolated as few as 1 tachyzoite from tenfold serial dilution of T gondii with normal cat blood, respectively. In healthy domiciled cats, the toxoplasma-specific DNA and the parasite were detected and isolated in blood from 3 of 56(5.3%) cats by both PCR and MI, respectively. In the results of antibody test from the total 56 heads of healthy domiciled cats, the positive rates are 15(26.7%) by LAT and 19(33.9%) by IFAT. These results suggest that PCR detection of toxoplasma can be applied as a sensitive and specific diagnostic and research tool.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.54.1-54.11
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• 2020

Background: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a leading cause of severe infections in humans and animals worldwide. Studies elucidating the population structure, staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec types, resistance phenotypes, and virulence gene profiles of animal-associated MRSA are needed to understand spread and transmission. Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine 1) clonal complexes and spa types, 2) resistance phenotypes, and 3) virulence/resistance gene profiles of MRSA isolated from animals in Switzerland. Methods: We analyzed 31 presumptive MRSA isolates collected from clinical infections in horses, dogs, cattle, sheep, and pigs, which had tested positive in the Staphaurex Latex Agglutination Test. The isolates were characterized by spa typing and DNA microarray profiling. In addition, we performed antimicrobial susceptibility testing using the VITEK 2 Compact system. Results: Characterization of the 31 presumptive MRSA isolates revealed 3 methicillinresistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius isolates, which were able to grow on MRSA2 Brilliance agar. Of the 28 MRSA isolates, the majority was assigned to CC398 (86%), but CC8 (11%) and CC1 (4%) were also detected. The predominant spa type was t011 (n = 23), followed by t009 (n = 2), t034 (n = 1), t008 (n = 1), and t127 (n = 1). Conclusions: The results of this study extend the current body of knowledge on the population structure, resistance phenotypes, and virulence and resistance gene profiles of MRSA from livestock and companion animals.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.1083-1093
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• 1997

Background : So far, there have been numerous reports on organ damage due to cryptococcosis, however, cases of lung localization have been infrequently reported. Recently pulmonary cryptococcosis has been reported more frequently than before due to enhanced diagnostic techniques and increased underlying diseases. Method : The author, therefore, analyzed the clinical manifestations of 5 cryptococcosis cases that we experienced at Hanyang University Hospital from 1985 to 1996 and 9 cases reported in Korea from 1984 and 1996 retrospectively. The following results were obtained. Results : Cryptococcosis occurred frequently over sixth decade and the male to female ratio was 3.6 : 1. Underlying diseases included acute rejection after kidney transplantation, rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune hepatitis, diabetes mellitus and state of bilateral adrenalectomy. Remaining 8 cases had no evidence of an underlying disease. Because the symptoms were subacute & nonspecific, and not improved by conventional antibiotics, 6 patients of 14 pulmonary cryptococcosis patients were treated as pulmonary tuberculosis before correct diagnosis was made. There were three asymptomatic cases. According to the results of CXR, solitary alveolar consolidation was the most common finding(8 cases) followed by diffuse infiltration(5 cases). It also showed pleural effusion, hilar lymphadenopathy and cavity formation that was rarely reported in world literature. The diagnasis was made through fine needle aspiration biopsy in 10 cases, open thoracotomy in 2 cases, transbronchial lung biopsy in 1 case. and thoracentesis with pleural biopsy in 1 case. Only one case showed positive result in sputum stain and culture, serum latex agglutination test for cryptococcus neoformans. Treatment modalities were various such as fluconazole, amphotericin B, flucytosine, ketoconazole, surgery and it's combination. After 1990 year, there was a trend that fluconazole or ketoconazole are more used than other therapeutic modalities. Conclusion : Because the symptoms are subacute & nonspecific and not improved by conventional antibiotics, pulmonary cryptococcosis is likely to misdiagnosis as pulmonary tuberculosis in Korea. Because the diagnosic yield of sputum stain, culture and serologic test for pulmonary cryptococcosis is low, histologic diagnosis is need in most pulmonary cryptococcosis.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.79-89
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• 1997

Purpose : Neonatal bacterial meningitis is the disease which clinical manifestations are nonspecific and several neurologic complications may occur. We studied neonatal bacterial meningitis, particularly in treatment and prognosis according to causative organisms -gram positive and gram negative bacteria- to assist in treatment of neonatal bacterial meningitis. Methods : We analysed twenty-four cases retrospectively who had been admitted in NICU or pediatric ward in Chung-ang Gil hospital from Jan. 1991 to Jun. 1996, and who had proven causative organisms in culture or latex agglutination[n test in CSF. Results : 1) The ratio of male to female was 2.4: 1. The mean birth weight and gestational age in cases with gram positive bacterial meningitis were $2.91{\pm}0.79kg$ and $38.4{\pm}2.74$ weeks and those in cases with yam negative bacterial meningitis were $3.30{\pm}0.90kg$ and $37.7{\pm}3.33$weeks respectively. There was no significant difference between the two groups. 2) The perinatal predisposing factors were pematurity, mecoinium staining amnionic fluid, matemal diabetes and pregnancy-induced hypertension, etc. The clinical manifestations Were fever, seizure, poor oral intake and fontanel bulging, etc. There were eleven cases with early onset bacterial meningitis(four cases by gram positive bacteria, seven cases by gram negative bacteria), and thirteen cases with late onset bacterial meningitis(seven cases by gram positive bacteria, six cases by gram negative bacteria). There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of onset. 3) There were eleven cases with yam positive bacterial meningitis and they were coagulase-negative staphylococci(three cases), group B streptococci(three cases), Staphylococcus aureus(two cases), Streptococcus viridans(two cases), and enterococci(one case). And there were thirteen cases with gram negative bacterial menir gitis and they were Escherichia coli(seven cases), Klevsiella pneumoniae(three cases), Pseudomonas aeruginosa(one case), Acinetobactor(one case) and Enterobacter(one case). 4) The initial CSF WBC counts in cases with yam negative bacterial meningitis were significantly higher than those in cases with gram positive bacterial meningitis but the CSF protein and glucose levels were no significant difference in the two groups statistically. 5) The number of cases with abnormal findings in brain ultrasonography was seven in gram positive bacterial meningitis and ten in gram negative bacterial meningitis. 6) There were relatively high sensitivity to penicillin derivatives, the first generation cephalosporin and vancomycin in gram positive bacteria and to the third generation cephalosporin and amikacin in gram negative bacteria. 7) The mortality rate was 20.8%(5 cases were expired or discharged hopelessly). There was no significant difference between the two groups in prognosis. Conclusions : We recommend active treatment in noenatal bacterial meningitis to improve prognosis because the prognosis is poor.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.69-74
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• 1996

Background: The diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE) based on clinical findings is often elusive and therefore requires confirmative diagnostic method. Pulmonary angiography, though the gold standard for the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism, is an invasive method and requires trained personnel and special equipment. Lung V/Q scan, on the other hand, is a noninvasive method but the diagnostic specificity and sensitivity arc not satisfactory in case that the results are either intermediate or low probability scan. Plasma D-dimer is generated when a thrombus is fibrinolysed by plasmin and is known to be increased in various thrombotic disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate the value of the determination of plasma D-dimer level in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism. Methods: Pulmonary angiography was performed in 17 patients who were clinically suspected to have pulmonary embolism. 9 patients(PE, $56{\pm}13.4$ yrs, M:F=8:1) were diagnosed to have pulmonary embolism by pulmonary angiography. The control group were the 8 patients with negative pulmonary angiography and 13 orthopedic patients with no evidence of pulmonary embolism on scintigraphic and impedance plethysmographic studies(n=21) (non-PE, $54.5{\pm}11.1$ yrs, M:F=11:10). Plasma D-dimer was measured by latex agglutination method in study subjects and the results were analyzed according to the presence or absence of pulmonary embolism. Results: 1) The increased level of plasma D-dimer was more frequently observed in the patients with pulmonary embolism than in the controls(>0.5 mg/L, 8 in PE, 10 in non-PE; <0.5 mg/L, 1 in PE, 11 in non-PE, p=0.049). 2) The diagnostic value of plasma D-dimer level higher than 0.5 mg/L were as follows: sensitivity 88.9%(8/9), specificity 52.4%(11/21), positive predictive value 44.4%(8/18), and negative predictive value 91.7%(11/12). Conclusion: Plasma D-dimer determination showed high sensitivity and negative predictive value in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism and is therefore thought to be useful in excluding the possibility of pulmonary embolism.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.73-78
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• 1997

Purpose : Escherichia coli O157 can produce diarrhea as well as hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome. In many parts of North America, E. coli O157 often is the second or third most commonly isolated enteric bacterial pathogens. Recently, intakes of fast food, including hamburgers have increased in Korea. Therefore, E. coli O157 infection in Korea are likely to be increased. Methods : Stool samples from 317 pediatric diarrheal patients were analyzed by culture on sorbitol-MacConkey agar. Sorbitol-negative colonies were teated by E. coli O157 latex agglutination test. Results : Of the 317 specimens, one (0.3%) were E. coli O157:NM that not produced Shiga toxin. The 7 year old male patient who had complained of abdominal pain, vomiting and non-bloody diarrhea for 2 days. The patient was improved for 2 days after admission. Conclusions 1 Only one (0.3%) of all fecal samples were isolated E. coli O157 that not produced Shiga toxin. Therefore, routine stool culture for the isolation of E. coli O157 was not likely to be neccessary so far.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.343-347
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• 2008

Recently, Sunshik has been issued because of easy-cook and well-being food. Sunshik basically was made of the heated cereals. Amount of spore-forming Bacillus cereus was detected and it has been caused some problem of food safety. B. cereus was isolate from 57 out of 161 Sunshik samples resulting in the isolation rate of 35.4%. Quantitative analysis of 57 samples showed that 21 samples were less than 100 CFU/g, 33 samples were between 100 and 1,000 CFU/g and distinctively even 3 (1.9%) samples had over 1,000 CFU/g. Typical morphology of B. cereus isolated from Sunshik was observed on MYP agar and then further characteristics was identified by using VITEK 2 (Biomeriux, France). 53 strains out of 57 strains isolated from Sunshik (about 93.0%) produced diarrheal enterotoxin in brain heart infusion broth which was detected by the Bacillus cereus enterotoxin reversed passive latex agglutination test kit (Oxoid England). The D-values of the B. cereus spores were $75^{\circ}C$ (37.1mim), $80^{\circ}C$ (22.5mim), $85^{\circ}C$ (4.9mim), and $90^{\circ}C$ (3.1mim) respectively. The Z-value was calculated $12.8^{\circ}C$ in Sunshik sample inoculated with B. cereus. Therefore, the management of B. cereus in Sunshik is required for the food-safety.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.124-129
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• 2006

Purpose : We investigated the causative organisms of bacterial meningitis by age distribution from 1996 to 2005. Methods : Retrospective data were obtained from the medical records with diagnosis of bacterial meningitis or neonatal meningitis from 1996 through 2005. A case was defined by isolation of organism or detection of its antigen by latex agglutination from cerebrospinal fluid. Results : A total of 46 cases(27 neonates and 19 children) were identified. 15 of 27 episodes(55.6%) of neonatal meningitis had a concomitant-positive blood culture. Group B streptococci were the most common bacterial causes of neonatal meningitis(44.4%). Nine of 12 episodes(75.0%) were late-onset infections in neonatal meningitis caused by group B streptococci. 16 of 19 children(84.2%) with bacterial meningitis beyond the neonatal period were younger than 5 years of age(median age, 23 months). Of 19 cases, 8 infections were with Streptococcus pneumoniae, 8 were with Haemophilus influenzae and 3 were with Neisseria meningitidis. Since 2001 there was no case of meningococcal meningitis in this study. Conclusion : In neonates group B streptococci are the most common causative organisms of bacterial meningitis, especially late-onset infections. In infants and young children, the predominant causes of bacterial meningitis are H. influenzae and S. pneumoniae; meningitis caused by the former are likely to decrease after the introduction of the conjugate vaccine for H. influenzae type b.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.395-400
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• 2005

Purpose :Rotavirus is one of the most important causes of nosocomial infections among children. The aim of this study is to determine the risk of nosocomial rotavirus infections and to evaluate the effectiveness of breast-feeding and probiotics in the prevention of nosocomial rotavirus infections. Methods : This study was carried out on admitted children without diarrhea between March 1, 2003 and February 29, 2004. Three hundred ninety patients aged 4 days to 13 years during this study were available. We examined the feces of all children for rotavirus by latex agglutination on admission, during hospital, and after discharge, to see whether they developed diarrhea or not. Results : Nosocomial rotavirus infections was significantly increased with children under 12 months of age(P=0.008). The monthly attack rate was great between December and March(P=0.046). Prolonged hospital stay was associated with an increased attack rate of nosocomial rotavirus infections (P=0.003). The risk of nosocomial rotavirus infections was not associated with the number of roommates and whether or not they were breast-fed or fed on probiotics. Conclusion : Nosocomial rotavirus infections are significantly more likely to occur in children under 12 months of age, admitted between December and March, and with prolonged hospital stays. Prompt identification and isolation of children with nosocomial rotavirus infections, even without diarrhea, may decrease rates of nosocomial rotavirus infections.