• Proceedings of the National Institute of Ecology of the Republic of Korea
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.70-75
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• 2021

The present study aimed to clarify flora living at the area of Restoration Center for Endangered Species in Yeongyang, Gyeongbuk Province. In May, August, and September 2019 and in May and July 2020, all of vascular plants were recorded, and endangered, Korea endemic, and exotic plant species were further identified. The study site contained a total of 418 floral taxa (98 families, 261 genera, 384 species, 4 subspecies, 27 variations, and 3 formations), in which Magnoliophyta accounted for larger proportion (95.2%) than Pteridophyta (3.6%) and Pinophyta (1.2%). In addition, 1 endangered (Cypripedium macranthos Sw.) and 5 Korea endemic species (Aconitum pseudolaeve Nakai, Eleutherococcus divaricatus var. chiisanensis [Nakai] C.H. Kim & B.-Y. Sun, Lonicera subsessilis Rehder, Paulownia coreana Uyeki, and Weigela subsessilis [Nakai] L.H. Bailey) were detected. The number of exotic species was 33, consisting of 4 invasive-exotic, 4 potentially invasive-exotic, and 25 non-invasive species. Compared to a previous assessment before the establishment of the center (in 2014), there were increases in total floral taxa (from 361 to 418), endangered species (from 0 to 1), and exotic species (from 26 to 33). These results possibly reflect temporal changes in floral community, which should be confirmed through subsequent long term monitoring.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.59 no.6
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• pp.595-605
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• 2021

An understanding of the knowledges, attitudes and perceptions of different populations is key for public health policy makers. Here, a survey was performed on knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions about malaria diagnosis, prevention, control, and treatment. The 407 survey participants included both uninfected inhabitants and patients from 2 cities (Gimpo- and Paju-si) of Northern Gyeonggi-do, known as high-risk areas for vivax malaria. We used community-based study design and non-probability sampling method using the primary data. Association between variables were tested using χ²-tests. In general, the information on malaria reported by the participants in this study was unsystematic and included inaccurate details. The knowledge of malaria symptoms, identified as headache, chills and fever, was high, but the surveyed community lacks knowledge of the specific medications used for malaria treatment, with a large number of respondents having no knowledge of any form of medication. Survey questions with high correct answer rates included questions about easy treatment of malaria in Korea, the high daytime activity of malaria-borne mosquitoes, and the infection risk posed by outdoor activities. However, a large portion of the respondents was unable to provide simple medical and biological information about the disease. This study aimed to comprehensively evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practical behavior of the surveyed community with respect to malaria and the implications reported here could be applicable to other malaria endemic areas in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.153-159
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• 2022

The olfactory organ of a Korean endemic species, Pseudobagrus koreanus, was investigated to describe its morphology and histology and analyze correlation between habitat environment and its ecological habits and characters, using a stereo microscope, a light microscope, and a scanning electron microscope. Its external morphology showed tubular anterior nostril at the tip of the snout and slit posterior nostril at the base of the nasal barbel. The olfactory chamber showed the rosette structure consisting of numerous lamellae radial and parallel to the medium raphe. The olfactory lamella has the sensory epithelium with olfactory receptor nuerons, supporting cells, basal cells, lymphatic cells, plasma cells and the non-sensory epithelium with stratified epithelial cells, mucous cells, lymphatic cells. In particular, 1) 41~43 (n=20) lamellae, 2) lymphatic cells and plasma cells, 3) mucous cells including neutral polysaccharid may be olfactory characteristics relevant to a stagnant or a standing habitat environment, nocturnal habit dependent on olfaction, and taxonomic characters compared at least to other catfish species.

• Proceedings of the National Institute of Ecology of the Republic of Korea
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.55-59
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• 2024

The remarkable economic growth achieved in the modern era has revitalized various industries, including pet trade. More than 2,000 species of non-native species have been introduced to South Korea and approximately 7.7 tonnes of alien turtles are imported annually. Turtles belonging to the family Kinosternidae. They are mostly small and popular pets, although they are designated as Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) species. In the present study, we present the first two species of musk turtles found in the wild in South Korea. On April 5, 2023 and July 8, 2023, an eastern musk turtle (Sternotherus odoratus) and a razorbacked musk turtle (Sternotherus carinatus) were captured in Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do and Jung-gu, Daejeon, respectively. The carapace length was 88.6 mm for S. odoratus and 105.68 mm for S. carinatus. They were identified based on their morphological characteristics and mtDNA cytochrome b gene. These turtles were found in waterfront areas with over 1.4 million annual visitors. Both sites were found to have threatened amphibians and reptiles. There is an urgent need to continue monitoring and conducting risk assessments for the protection of endemic species in Korea.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.213-220
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• 1990

The employees at the Pohang industrial area, where Clonarchis sinensis has been known to be endemic along the Hyungsan River, were examined parasitologically for clonorchiasis and a part of the infected cases were surveyed with a questionaire to outline the recent infection status of C. sinensis and epidemiological parameters in the area. Total of 3, 180 cases were tested by intra- dermal inoculation of C. sinensis antigen (Green Cross Co., Korea), and 834(26.2%) were found positive. Out of the positive cases, 598 were subjected to (ecal examination for helminth ova. The examination revealed 129(21.6%) ova Positive cases of C. sinensis, and Trichuris trichiura 1.7%, Ascaris lumbricoides 0.3%, and Metagonimus yokogawai 0.2%. The questionaire analysis showed some significant difFerences between the infected and non-infected(control) groups. The infected cases were less educated than the control, and they lived at the closer area to the river, and most of them lived there over 20 years. Also they preferred eating raw fresh water fish. Most of the detected cases were treated with prasiquantel and found negative for the eggs in 85.3% of them 1 year after the treatment. The present data reveal markedly decreased endemicity of clonorchiasis compared with previous prevalence rates but still clonorchiasis is endemic in the Hyungsan river basin. A comprehensive measure including case detection, treatment and education for parasite control should be applied to control clonorchiasis in such endemic areas.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.1-9
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• 2017

This study investigates the environmental factors of endemic species in Korea in order to understand their ecological characteristics, and to investigate the target species of their natural habitats to find similar sites. The purpose is to restore and follow suitable growth methods for the appropriate highway facility of target species to establish a management system via monitoring. This study endeavors to restore the target species near highway facilities on the basis of monitoring data and restore sites have similar natural characteristics of the target species. After restoring the target species, a restoration strategy and management plan will be established for breeding and continuation. The restoration strategy and management plan of the target species is divided into breeding, restoring, maintaining and monitoring plans. Specially management plans include several divisions such as soil, water, non-point pollution source reduction and naturalized plants. The results of this study can be used as reference materials for the restoration of endemic Korean plants in the future of highway routes, and for systematic management measures in habitats.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.71-74
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• 2018

Soluble antigens from an axenic culture of Entamoeba histolytica were used to develop a commercial ELISA kit to quantify anti-E. histolytica antibodies in sera of patients with extraintestinal amebiasis in non-endemic settings. The diagnostic specificity and sensitivity of the test were assessed retrospectively using 131 human serum samples with amoebic serologic status available. They were selected according to their results in immunofluorescence (IFAT) and were separated in 2 sample categories: 64 sera with positive results by IFAT and 67 with negative results by IFAT. The sensitivity and specificity of the ELISA kit were assessed at 95.0% and 94.0% compared to the IFAT. The test can be useful to exclude a potential diagnosis of amebiasis and could be used as a screening method since ELISA is an automated technique.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.59 no.4
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• pp.399-402
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• 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to be a major health problem worldwide. Timely diagnosis of co-infections mimicking COVID-19, such as malaria, might be challenging particularly in non-endemic areas. We report the first case of COVID-19 and Plasmodium ovale malaria co-infection from our region aiming to highligt the importance of travel history and prophylaxis in malaria management in the context of pandemic. The galloping sound can sometimes be a harbinger of zebra besides the horse.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.123-130
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• 2019

The olfactory organ of the Korean endemic fish, Rhodeus uyekii, a mussel-spawning species, was researched anatomically, histologically and histochemically, for looking into a relation to the physical and chemical condition of its habitat and ecological habit, using stereo microscopy, light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The external structure of the olfactory organ consists of the semicircular-shaped anterior nostril with arched shape at its forward position, posterior nostrils and the nasal flap. Within the olfactory chamber, it has the rosette structure with 14 to 15 lamellae which is largely divided into the sensory and non-sensory regions. The sensory region has the olfactory receptor neurons, the supporting cells, the basal cells, the lymphatic cells, and the plasma cells, while the non-sensory region has the stratified epithelial cells, the mucous cells with sulfomucin and 1 type of unidentified cell. In particular, the arched feature in the anterior nostril and the mucous cell of sulfomucin were unique.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.103 no.3
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• pp.359-367
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• 2014

This study was carried out to determine the effects of seed storage methods and pre-treatments on seed germination, soil types and shading conditions on potted seedlings growth of S. sieboldiana var. pendula and S. sieboldiana for. xanthocarpa, endemic species in Korea. The seed germination rate of S. sieboldiana var. pendula was the highest at 48.6% when seeds were treated with stratification for 60 days and then soaked in 100 ppm $GA_3$. And seed germination rate of S. sieboldiana for. xanthocarpa was the highest at 51.4% when seeds were pre-chilled for 30 days and then soaked in 100 ppm $GA_3$. And potted seedlings of S. sieboldiana var. pendula showed the best quality under 50% shading in bedsoil with the growth characteristics of plant height (41 cm), number of leaves(8), leaf width (16 cm), leaf length (18 cm), root length (22 cm), fresh weight(aerial part/root part; 20/6.9 g) and dry weight(aerial part/root part; 4.5/2.0 g). And potted seedlings of S. sieboldiana for. xanthocarpa showed the best quality under non-shading in bedsoil with the growth characteristics of plant height (39 cm), number of leaves(10), leaf width (12 cm), leaf length (15 cm), root length (22 cm), fresh weight (aerial part/root part; 21/13 g) and dry weight (aerial part/root part; 4.2/2.2 g). Therefore, seeds treated with stratification or prechilling and then soaked in $GA_3$ were effective in germination of S. sieboldiana var. pendula and S. sieboldiana for. xanthocarpa, and potted seedlings should be cultivated in bedsoil under non or 50% shading condition.