• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.55-60
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• 2016

The aim of the present study is to determine the characteristics of genotype and phenotype of Echinococcus granulosus derived from wild sheep and to compare them with the strains of E. granulosus sensu stricto (sheep-dog) and E. granulosus camel strain (camel-dog) in Iran. In Khojir National Park, near Tehran, Iran, a fertile hydatid cyst was recently found in the liver of a dead wild sheep (Ovis orientalis). The number of protoscolices (n=6,000) proved enough for an experimental infection in a dog. The characteristics of large and small hooks of metacestode were statistically determined as the sensu stricto strain but not the camel strain (P=0.5). To determine E. granulosus genotype, 20 adult worms of this type were collected from the infected dog. The second internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) of the nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA) and cytochrome c oxidase 1 subunit (COX1) of the mitochondrial DNA were amplified from individual adult worm by PCR. Subsequently, the PCR product was sequenced by Sanger method. The lengths of ITS2 and COX1 sequences were 378 and 857 bp, respectively, for all the sequenced samples. The amplified DNA sequences from both ribosomal and mitochondrial genes were highly similar (99% and 98%, respectively) to that of the ovine strain in the GenBank database. The results of the present study indicate that the morpho-molecular features and characteristics of E. granulosus in the Iranian wild sheep are the same as those of the sheep-dog E. granulosus sensu stricto strain.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.27-32
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• 1988

The applicability of indirect immunoftuorescent antibody test (IFAT) was compared with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in sera from 163 cases of confirmed neurocysticercosis, 101 other neurologic and parasitic diseases and 100 normal controls. As antigen, frozen sections of a Taenia solium metacestode from a human brain was used in IFAT and cystic fluid was used in ELISA. For the detection of specific IgG antibody, IFAT was equally sensitive (89.6%) and specific (85.1%) as ELISA. The antibody titers by IFAT were correspondingly increased with mean absorbance of ELISA. The corresponding rate of positivity in the two techniques was 90.8%. Except for the difficulty in detecting antibodies in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), IFAT was concluded to be very useful for the serodiagnosis of human neurocysticercosis.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.15-20
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• 1992

The Taenia species in East Asia, hitherto identified as Taenia saginata, has been recognized as differing from the classical descriptions of life cycles and was recently named Taenia saginata taiwanensis (tentatively until 1992) . Major differences between T. saginata and the newly recognized Asian T. saginata are their intermediate hosts and the infected tissues. Asian T. saginata metacestodes are found in the livers of pigs rather than in the muscles of cattle. In this study, we observed the natural infection status of Asian T saginata metacestodes in the livers of 25,358 pigs at an abattoir in Cheongju City, Korea, from 1989 to 1990. Total 256 livers(1.01%) were infected with 1∼96 (mean 2.5 per capita) metacestodes. Most of the metacestodes, however, were either calcified (87.1%) or highly degenerated (12.9%). Living metacestodes were found in only 0.01% (3/25,358) of the examined livers. And these were distributed randomly in each lobe of the livers. The liver of pigs in Korea was con- firmed as an organ hosting the Asian T. saginata metacestode. But its epidemiological significance as a source of human infections should be properly evaluated because of the rarity of the living metacestodes.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.7.1-7.10
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• 2019

Cysticercosis, a parasitic disease caused by Taenia solium metacestode (TsM), has a major global public health impact in terms of disability-adjusted life years. The parasite preferentially infects subcutaneous tissue, but may invade the central nervous system, resulting in neurocysticercosis (NC). NC is an important neglected tropical disease and an emerging disease in industrialized countries due to immigration from endemic areas. The prevalence of taeniasis in Korea declined from 0.3%-12.7% during the 1970s to below 0.02% since the 2000s. A survey conducted from 1993 to 2006 revealed that the percentage of tested samples with high levels of specific anti-TsM antibody declined from 8.3% to 2.2%, suggesting the continuing occurrence of NC in Korea. Modern imaging modalities have substantially improved the diagnostic accuracy of NC, and recent advances in the molecular biochemical characterization of the TsM cyst fluid proteome also significantly strengthened NC serodiagnosis. Two glycoproteins of 150 and 120 kDa that induce strong antibody responses against sera from patients with active-stage NC have been elucidated. The 150 kDa protein showed hydrophobic-ligand binding activities and might be critically involved in the acquisition of host-derived lipid molecules. Fasciclin and endophilin B1, both of which play roles in the homeostatic functions of TsM, showed fairly high antibody responses against calcified NC cases. NC is now controllable and manageable. Further studies should focus on controlling late-onset intractable seizures and serological diagnosis of NC patients infected with few worms. This article briefly overviews diagnostic approaches and discusses current issues relating to NC serodiagnosis.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.60 no.1
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• pp.25-34
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• 2022

Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) caused by infection with E. multilocularis metacestode, represents one of the most fatal helminthic diseases. AE is principally manifested with infiltrative, proliferating hepatic mass, resembling primary hepatocellular carcinoma. Sometimes metastatic lesions are found in nearby or remote tissue. AE diagnosis largely depends on imaging studies, but atypical findings of imaging features frequently require differential diagnosis from other hepatic lesions. Serological tests may provide further evidence, while obtaining reliable AE materials is not easy. In this study, alternative antigens, specific to AE were identified by analyzing E. granulosus protoscolex proteins. An immunoblot analysis of E. granulosus protoscolex showed that a group of low-molecular-weight proteins in the range from 14 kDa to 16 kDa exhibited a sensitive and specific immune response to AE patient sera. Partial purification and proteomic analysis indicated that this protein group contained myosin, tubulin polymerization promoting protein, fatty-acid binding protein, uncharacterized DM9, heat shock protein 90 cochaperone tebp P-23, and antigen S. When the serological applicability of recombinant forms of these proteins was assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, DM9 protein (rEgDM9) showed 90.1% sensitivity (73/81 sera tested) and 94.5% specificity (172/181 sera tested), respectively. rEgDM9 showed weak cross-reactions with patient sera from the transitional and chronic stages of cystic echinococcosis (3 to 5 stages). rEgDM9 would serve as a useful alternative antigen for serodiagnosis of both early- and advanced-stage AE cases.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.85-92
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• 1994

A seroepidemiologic observation of anti-Spirometrc erinacei plerocercoid (sparganum) antibody (IgG) in serum was made in normal adult and epileptic patients in Korea from february, 1987 to September, 1990. Sera were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for anti-sparganum antibody together with anti-Taenic soEiun metacestode, and anti-Parusonimus westermcni antibodies. Sera reacted positively to sparganum antigen only were considered. Positive rate for anti-sparganum antibody in 850 normal adults was 1.9% (standardized rate by provincial population was 1.7%). In 2,667 randomly selected patients of epilepsy at 28 local centers of the Changmi Club, positive rate was 2.5% (standardized rate: 2.3%). In both normal adult and patient groups, the higher antibody rates were observed in Kangwon and Chonnam Provinces. Positive rates were 10 times higher in male than in female in normal adults and 4.5 times in male epileptic patients. The rates were elevated especially with age over 30-year. odd ratio of the antibody was 1.32 which indicated an ambiguous etiologic factor for epilepsy.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.519-525
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• 2016

To investigate the potential role of transforming growth factor (TGF)-${\beta}1$ in liver fibrosis during Echinococcus granulosus infection, 96 BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 2 groups, experimental group infected by intraperitoneal injection with a metacestode suspension and control group given sterile physiological saline. The liver and blood samples were collected at days 2, 8, 30, 90, 180, and 270 post infection (PI), and the expression of TGF-${\beta}1$ mRNA and protein was determined by real-time quantitative RT-PCR and ELISA, respectively. We also evaluated the pathological changes in the liver during the infection using hematoxylin and eosin (H-E) and Masson staining of the liver sections. Pathological analysis of H-E stained infected liver sections revealed liver cell edema, bile duct proliferation, and structural damages of the liver as evidenced by not clearly visible lobular architecture of the infected liver, degeneration of liver cell vacuoles, and infiltration of lymphocytes at late stages of infection. The liver tissue sections from control mice remained normal. Masson staining showed worsening of liver fibrosis at the end stages of the infection. The levels of TGF-${\beta}1$ did not show significant changes at the early stages of infection, but there were significant increases in the levels of TGF-${\beta}1$ at the middle and late stages of infection (P<0.05). RT-PCR results showed that, when compared with the control group, TGF-${\beta}1$ mRNA was low and comparable with that in control mice at the early stages of infection, and that it was significantly increased at day 30 PI and remained at high levels until day 270 PI (P<0.05). The results of this study suggested that increased expression of TGF-${\beta}1$ during E. granulosus infection may play a significant role in liver fibrosis associated with E. granulosus infection.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.149-156
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• 1993

Monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) were produced against crude scolex extract of T solium metacestodes, and applied to ELISA-inhibition test for improving the specificity of serodiagnosis of human cysticercosis. Four hybridomas secreting species-specific anti- cysticercal Mabs (Cya-1, Cya-7, Cya-28 and Cya-31) were selected. Each Mab reacted on antigenic components of 25.5 kDa (Cya-1), 28 kDa (rcya-7), 87.5 kDa (Cya-281), and 12.5 kDa (Cya-31). IFA showed that Cya-1 was located at the calcium corpuscles, and Cya-7 at the loose connective tissue of T soLium metacestode scolex. Cya-28 and Cya-31 reacted on the tegument of the scolex. By conventional ELISA, 23 out of 28 (82.1%) cysticercosis patients were found serologically positive, but 1 out of 9 (11.1%) sparganosls cases and 6 out of 31 (19.4%) paragonlmiasis cases showed false positives. By ELISA-Inhibition test using species-specific anti-cysticercal Mab Cya-7, 19 out of 28 (67.9%) cystlcercosis cases were found serologically positive, but there were no false positives In other parasitic infections.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.49-56
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• 1993

Specific antibody test in serum and cerebrosinal fluid (CSF) is still the main mode of serological diagnosis of cystiercosis. Of different techniques of artibody test, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (micro-ELISA) has widely been applied. This study was undertaken to observe whether diagnostic capability can be Improved by applying more sensitive techniques such as Protein A-ELISA and avidin biotin complex ELISA (ABC-ELISA). When evaluated using 115 sera of human cysticercosis, the antibody positive rates were not significantly improved in Protein A-ELISA (82.6%) and in ABC-ELISA (86.1%) than in micro-ELISA (81.7%). The specificities, evaluated in 165 sera from other diseases and normal controls, were significantly improved (88.5% by micro-ELISA, 93.3% by Protein A-ELISA and 93.8% by ABC-ELISA). Antibody levels (absorbance, abs.) in individual serum were correlated well (r : 0.83∼0.86) each other. An actual benefit of Protein A-ELISA and ABC-ELISA was that they needed smaller amount of test sample.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.58 no.1
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• pp.93-97
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• 2020

The cestode Taenia hydatigena uses canids, primarily dogs, as definitive hosts, while the metacestode larval stage cysticercus infects a range of intermediate hosts, including domestic animals such as goats, sheep, and pigs. Cysticercosis due to T. hydatigena has large veterinary and economic drawbacks. Like other taeniids, e.g., Echinococcus, intraspecific variation is found among the members of the genus Taenia. In Africa, few studies are available on the epidemiology and distribution of T. hydatigena, and even fewer studies are available on its genetic variation. In this study, we molecularly identified 11 cysticerci from sheep in Sudan and demonstrated the genetic variation based on the NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 (nad1) and cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) mitochondrial genes. The isolates were correctly identified as T. hydatigena with more than 99% similarity to those in the GenBank database. Low diversity indices and insignificant neutrality indices were observed, with 3 and 2 haplotypes for the nad1 and cox1 genes, respectively. The results suggest the presence of unique T. hydatigena haplotypes in Sudan, as haplotypes with 100% similarity were not found in the GenBank database. With few available studies on the genetic variation of T. hydatigena in Africa, this report represents the first insights into the genetic variation of T. hydatigena in Sudan and constitutes useful data.