• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.133-137
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• 2004

This study was attempted to survey on the prevalence of canine heartworm(Dirofilaria immitis) infections among 206 dogs (male 92, female 114) in Daejeon area from March to December 2003. Blood samples taken from dogs were examined for the presence of D immitis microfilaria by the modified Knott's test and an antigen test( $AGEN^{TM}$ canine heartworm). The result obtained from this experiment were summarized as follows; 1. Eighteen(8.7%) of the 206 examined dogs were microfilaria positive, while twenty five dogs(12.1%) were antigen test positive. 2. The infection rates of heartworm in dogs at the age of <2, 2∼4 and $\geq$5 were 3.8%, 18% and 25%, respectively. 3. The infection rates of heartworm in dogs by housing of indoor and outdoor were 3.3% and 36.4%, respectively. 4. The regional infection rates were Dong-gu(13/29, 44.8%), Seo-gu(7/92, 7.6%), Yuseong-gu(2/33, 6.1%), Jung-gu(1/17, 5.9%) and Daedeok-gu(2/35, 5.7%). 5. The seasonal infection rates were summer(June∼August, 16.7%), autumn (September∼October, 14%), spring(March∼May, 9.4%) and winter(November∼December. 7.7%).7.7%).

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.225-232
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• 1996

A survey of canine heartworm (nirofilaria inmitis) infections among German shepherds in five areas of South Korea was performed from October 1994 to August 1995 using a microfilarial test (modified Knott's test) and an antigen test (DiroCHEKⓑ Synbiotics, USA). The infection rate of 127 German shepherds (71 males and 56 females) was 10.2% (13/127) by the microfilarial test, but was 28.3% (36/127) by the antigen test, revealing that 24 of the 36 antigen-positive dogs were microfilaria-negative in the peripheral blood . All dogs that were microfilaria-positive were also antigen-positive. Three of the microfilaria-negative and antigen-positive dogs contained 4-15 adult heartworms in the heart and pulmonary arteries upon necropsy. The infection rate among German shepherds was the highest in Hoengsong-gun (Kangwon-do, 84.4%) , while those of Yechon-gun (Kyongsangbuk-do) and Chungwon-gun (Chungchongbuk-do) areas were 20.0% and 14.3%, respectively. None of the dogs in the Kimhae-shi (Kyongsangnam-do) and Kwangiu areas was heartworm positive. The infection rates of heartworm in dogs at the age of 1-3, 4-6. and 7-11 years were 6.3%, 21.4%, and 56.4%, respectively. Based on the fact that the antigen test is more accurate than the microfilarial test, this study strongly indicates that the prevalence rate of canine heartworm in Korea may be higher than previously reported (3.1-23.0%) which utilized microfilarial tests.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.255-262
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• 1988

An epidemiological study on brugian filariasis was carried out in endemic areas including Cheju Island in Korea, with a brief review of literatures. The results showed that the incidence among residents has remarkably decreased in Cheju Island, which was the main endemic area. Reviewing available informations on the prevalence of filariasis reported in recent years and also judging from the present socio·economic conditions which enable people to practice personal protection against mosquitos, it can be said with confidence that alariasis has almost disappeared from Cheju Island and inland areas. The disease is considered to remain at a low level of endemicity in Hugsan Islands. Certainly mass diethylcarbamasine (DEC) treatment carried out in Cheju Island in the 1960s and 1970s and remarkable economic growth followed by improved living standard and altered life-style of inhabitants could all have combined effects on the disappearance of this mosquito-borne disease in this island. If the present trends go on, the possibility of resurgence of filariasis in Cheju Island is hardly postulated.

• Journal of the korean veterinary medical association
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.25-28
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• 1993

A study was conducted to detect infection rate of microfilaria in blood and occult infection of adult of Dirofilaria immitis in the heart of dogs in Daegu during the period from July in 1991 to September In 1992. A total of 250 dogs(female : 122, male : 1

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.19-26
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• 2003

This study was attempted to survey on the prevalence of canine heartworm(Dirofilaria immitis) infection among 100 dogs(male 39, female 61) on the nine breeding farms in eastern Chungnam province in December 2002. Blood samples taken from dogs were examined for the presence of D immitis microfilaria by the modified Knott's test and an antigen test was using FASTest$\^$/ HW Antigne kit (Mega Cor A-6912 Horbranz-Austraia). 1. Eleven(11.0%) of the 100 examined dogs were microfilaria positive, while nineteen dogs(19.0%) were antigen positive, which suggested that the antigen test was more sensitive than the microfilarial test in detecting heartworm infection. 2. Infected dogs were observed higher more at 2 years older ages(4/48, 8.3%) and male(9/39, 23.1%) than young ages(4/48, 8.3%) and female(10/61, 16.4%). 3. The regional infection rates were of Gongju(15/43, 34.9%), Geumsan(4.27, 14.8%), while none of infection dogs in Yeongi(0/30, 0%). 4. Survey for hematological values of D immitis infected dogs : WBC and eosinophils were 21.4${\pm}$7.2 k/${\mu}\ell$, 3.5${\pm}$0.4 k/${\mu}\ell$, respectively. In conculsion, this study could be overemphasized the importance of control program the heartworm in eastern Chungnam province

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.69-73
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• 2003

Lymphatic filariasis due to Brugia malayi infection was endemic in several areas of South Korea. The infection was controlled, or disappeared, in most areas, with the exception of the remote southwestern islands of Jeonranam-do, including the Heugsan Islands. To discover its current situation, a small-scale survey was performed on the Heugsan islands in September 2000. A total of 378 people, 151 male and 227 female, living in 8 villages (6 on Daeheugsan-do, 1 on Daejang-do, and 1 on Yeongsan-do) were subjected to a night blood survey for microfilaremia, and physical examination for elephantiasis on the extremities. There were 6 (1.6%) microfilaria positive cases, all in females aged 57-72 years, and from only two villages of the Daeheugsan-do area. There were 4 patients with lower leg elephantiasis, but they showed no microfilaremia. The results show that a low-grade endemicity of filariasis remains on the Daeheugsan-do.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.323-335
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• 2009

A successful experience of lymphatic filariasis control in the Republic of Korea is briefly reviewed. Filariasis in the Republic of Korea was exclusively caused by infection with Brugia malayi. Over the past several decades from the 1950s to 2006, many investigators exerted their efforts to detection, treatment, and follow-up of filariasis patients in endemic areas, and to control filariasis. Mass, combined with selective, treatments with diethylcarbamazine to microfilaria positive persons had been made them free from microfilaremia and contributed to significant decrease of the microfilarial density in previously endemic areas. Significant decrease of microfilaria positive cases in an area influenced eventually to the endemicity of filariasis in the relevant locality. Together with remarkable economic growth followed by improvement of environmental and personal hygiene and living standards, the factors stated above have contributed to blocking the transmission cycle of B. malayi and led to disappearance of this mosquito-borne ancient disease in the Republic of Korea.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.729-739
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• 2000

Echocardiography, vital signs, microfilaremia, and blood chemistry of 12 Jindo dogs naturally infected with canine heartworms (Dirofilaria immitis) were analysed and compared with those of 5 uninfected control Jindo dogs. Nine of the twelve infected dogs contained microfiaria in the peripheral blood, whereas the presence of adult heartworms in the pulmonary arteries and/or in the heart was detected from four dogs by echocardiography. Among the four echocardiography-positive dogs, two dogs also displayed evidence of heartworms in the right ventricle by echocardiography. Upon necropsy, a total of 547 adult worms was collected from the 12 infected dogs (av = 45.6, range = 9-166). Dogs with positive echocardiograpic images of heartworms contained 48, 74, 104 and 166 adult worms in the heart, pulmonary arteries and/or in the caudal vena cava (av. 98.0), whereas 9 to 39 worms (av. 19.4) were collected from those organs of dogs with negative echocardiography. Most heartworms were found in the right ventricle (438, 80%) at necropsy, whereas relatively fewer worms were found in the pulmonary arteries (96, 17.6%), and in the caudal vena cava (13, 2.4%). The necropsy findings on the location of adult worms significantly differed from the results of echocardiographic analysis in which the right ventricle of most dogs did not show the presence of heartworms. These results indicated that the adult heartworms had been located in the terminal branches of the pulmonary arteries when the host was alive, but the worms moved toward the right ventricle shortly after the heart of the infected dogs stopped beating. Microfilaremia in the peripheral blood was the highest in the blood samples collected at 10 pm. However, the correlation between the number of microfilaria and of adult worms was not observed. Clinical and vital signs of infected dogs did not show any significant difference before and after a 30 minute-exercise at 5 km/hr compared to those of uninfected control dogs.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.49-52
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• 2009

Clinical manifestations of extralymphatic disease caused by filariasis are varied and range from symptoms due to tropical pulmonary eosinophilia to hematuria, proteinuria, splenomegaly, and rarely arthritis. Disseminated microfilaremia in association with loculated lung cyst and empyema is of rare occurrence and to the best of our knowledge has not been documented in the literature so far. We report here a case of disseminated microfilaremia due to Wuchereria bancrofti infection accompanied by a lung cyst and empyema in a 21-year-old Indian man.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.25-35
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• 1999

The prevalence of canine heartworm(Dirofilaria immitis) infection in 150 mixed-breed dogs(male : 54, female : 96) from February to December 1997 was investigated by using antigen test kit(ICT $GOLD^{TM}$ HW, Synbiotics, USA) based on immunochromatographic assay in Inchon city. Also, gross and histopathological findings of an antigen positive dog were carried out. The results were summarized as follows ; 1. Four dogs were positive from 150 tested dogs(2.7%). They were all more than 2 years old and infection rates in male and outdoor dogs was higher than those in female and indoor, respectively. Species of infected dogs were Pug(2) , German Sheperd(1) and Great-dane (1). 2. Regional infection rates were closely related with housing system in the city. 3. Pathological findings of antigen-positive dog was excessive enlargement, congestion and hemorrhage of lung and D immitis in heart and histologically hemosiderin, hypertrophy of pulmonary alveoli wall and irregular hypertrophy of pulmonary artery inner wall. Microfilaria was observed in pulmonary artery and arteriole, ventricle and splenic artery.