• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.439-446
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• 2016

Toxoplasmosis is a protozoan disease that is caused by Toxoplasma gondii in livestock and humans. Due to its medical and veterinary importance, it is essential to study the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection among humans and animals in various parts of the world. The major objective of this study was to determine the seroprevalence and spatial distribution of toxoplasmosis in small ruminants (sheep and goats) of north-eastern region, Pakistan. A total of 1,000 animals comprising of sheep (n=470) and goats (n=530) were examined for T. gondii infection by using ELISA. An epidemiological data was collected in the form of questionnaire. A surface has been generated by using method of interpolation in Arc GIS with the help of IDW (inverse distance weight). The results showed higher seroprevalence of T. gondii in goats (42.8%) as compared to sheep (26.2%). The seroprevalence was higher in females as compared to males in all examined ruminants. Similarly, there is a wide variation in the seroprevalence of T. gondii in different breeds of sheep and goats showing higher seroprevalence in Teddy (52.8%) and Damani breed (34.5%) of goat and sheep's, respectively. The geographical and spatial distribution of T. gondii shows that it is widely distributed in different parts of the north-eastern region of Pakistan. Our results suggest widespread environmental contamination with T. gondii oocysts and that small ruminants could be a potentially important source of T. gondii infection if their infected meat is consumed undercooked.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.147-154
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• 2013

To control coccidiosis without using prophylactic medications, a DNA vaccine targeting the gametophyte antigen Gam56 from Eimeria maxima in chickens was constructed, and the immunogenicity and protective effects were evaluated. The ORF of Gam56 gene was cloned into an eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3.1(zeo)+. Expression of Gam56 protein in COS-7 cells transfected with recombinant plasmid pcDNA-Gam56 was confirmed by indirect immunofluorescence assay. The DNA vaccine was injected intramuscularly to yellow feathered broilers of 1-week old at 3 dosages (25, 50, and $100{\mu}g/chick$). Injection was repeated once 1 week later. One week after the second injection, birds were challenged orally with $5{\times}10^4$ sporulated oocysts of E. maxima, then weighed and killed at day 8 post challenge. Blood samples were collected and examined for specific peripheral blood lymphocyte proliferation activity and serum antibody levels. Compared with control groups, the administration of pcDNA-Gam56 vaccine markedly increased the lymphocyte proliferation activity (P<0.05) at day 7 and 14 after the first immunization. The level of lymphocyte proliferation started to decrease on day 21 after the first immunization. A similar trend was seen in specific antibody levels. Among the 3 pcDNA-Gam56 immunized groups, the median dosage group displayed the highest lymphocyte proliferation and antibody levels (P<0.05). The median dosage group had the greatest relative body weight gain (89.7%), and the greatest oocyst shedding reduction (53.7%). These results indicate that median dosage of DNA vaccine had good immunogenicity and immune protection effects, and may be used in field applications for coccidiosis control.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.281-284
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• 1998

Humoral immune response of young chicks to Brucella abortus strain 1119-3 inoculation was monitored to verify the degree of immunosuppression caused by infection with Cryptosporidium baileyi. Young chicks (2-day-old) were orally inoculated each with $2{\times}10^6$ oocysts of C. baileyi, and then injected intramuscularly with 0.3 $m\ell$ B. abortus strain 1119-3 containing $1{\times}10^9$ living organisms on day 14 postinoculation (PI). Serum samples were tested by plate agglutination test on day 17 PI onwards at an interval of 3-6 days over a period of 36 days. Infected chicks with the coccidium showed significantly lower antibody titers than those of uninfected controls (P<0.05). These findings document that C. baileyi infection in early life stage may predispose chicks easily to other potential poultry diseases.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.793-800
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• 2008

Recently domestic drinking water industry has recognized membrane-based technology as a promising alternative for water treatment. To ensure successful application of membrane processes, the integrity of membrane systems should be maintained. According to US EPA guidance, the pressure decay test based on the bubble point theory is recommended to detect any membrane defection of which size is close to the smallest diameter of Cryptosporidium oocysts, $3{\mu}m$. Proper implementation of the pressure decay test is greatly affected by initial test pressure, and the interpretation of the test results is associated with upper control limit. This study is conducted to investigate various factors affecting determination of initial test prtessure and upper control limit, including membrane-based parameters such as pore shape correction factor, surface tension and contact angle, and system-based parameters, such as volumetric concentration factor and total volume of system. In this paper, three different hollow fibers were used to perform the pressure decay test. With identical initial test pressure applied, their pressure decay tendency were different from each other. This finding can be explained by the micro-structure disparity of those membranes which is verified by FESEM images of those membranes. More specifically, FESEM images revealed that three hollow fibers have asymmetry, deep finger, shallow finger pore shape, respectively. In addition, sensitivity analysis was conducted on five parameters mentioned above to elucidate their relation to determination of initial test pressure and upper control limit. In case of initial pressure calculation, the pore shape correction factor has the highest value of sensitivity. For upper control limit determination, system factors have greater impact compared to membrane-based parameters.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.317-326
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• 1995

The purpose of this study was to establish a method for in vitro culture of C parvum isolated in Korea by determination of suitable cell model to complete development of this parasite. The result obtained were summerized as follows: 1. To determine the most suitable cell line, six types of cell line were examined by microscopy. All cell lines were infected with C parvum and showed the highest infection score in HmLu cells. 2. The staining methods including DMSO-modified acid-fast(A-F) stain, hematoxylin-eosin(H & E) stain and immunofluorescence antibody(IFA) stain were applied to examine the infection of C parvum in cell culture. These staining methods were possible to examine the infection of C parvum in cell culture. The most sensitive one was IFA staining technique. 3. Developmental stages of C parvum in HmLu cell were observed. After the initial 8 hour incubation period, some trophozoites were observed. The meronts and gametes were appeared at 24-48 hour post inoculation(PI), and oocysts were observed firstly at 48-72 hour PI. 4. In H & E stain, the parasite appeared as basophilic within parasitophorous vacuole membrane(PVM) and lying in cytoplasm at near the nucleus of the host cells. It was able to distinguish the type I, type II meronts and gametes. 5. In DMSO-modified acid-fast stain, specific stained parasites were appeared firstly after 48 hour PI. The parasites were showed with different degrees of staining bright red color within PVM. 6. The endogenous stages of parasites in HmLu cell recovered at 48, 96, 120 and 144 hour after inoculation were reacted with rabbit immunized serum in immunofluorescence antibody and avidin-biotin complex peroxidase staining technique.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.121-126
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• 1998

Hemagglutination-inhibition titers (log2) to Newcastle disease (ND) vims were chronologically observed in chicks, which were orally inoculated with 5 × 105 oocysts of Cwptospori,drum bcileyi at 2 days of age and subsequently vaccinated with inactivated ND virus at 4 and 21 days postinoculation. In general, the titers were considerably lower in the infected chicks than those in the uninfected control throughout the experimental period (p < 0.01), and rapid negative seroronversions were observed in the infected chicks. The titers reached a peak on weeks 2 and 4 post-booster-vaccination in the control and infected chicks, respectively. Thus, C. bciLeWi infection was shown to have an immunosuppressive effect on ND vaccination when the agent was given to 2-day-old chicks. It is suggested that C. bniLeWi infection in chicks may increase the host susceptibility to ND virus.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.181-188
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• 1997

In order to clarify the effect of cryptosporidiosis on immune response, histopathological changes associated with experimentally occurring bursal cryptosporidiosis in chickens were chronologically observed as the first step. A total of 150 2-day-old chickens was each inoculated orally with a single dose of 5 × 105 Cryptospori,mum bailevi oocysts. The chickens showed a normal profile of oocyst shedding in droppings. The bursa indices throughout the experimental period indicated negligible reactions. Numerous cryptosporidia occurred in the microvillous border of bursal epithelium between days 4 and 16 postinoculation (PI). Appearance of the most mast cells was followed by a dramatic loss of the protozoa in the bursa of Fabricius (BF). The distribution of the coccidium coincided with heterophil infiltration in the epithelium and adjacent lamina propria. The histopathological lesion was marked diffuse chronic superficial purulent bursitis with heterophil infiltration in the epithelium and adjacent lamina proprla and mucosal epithelial hyperplasia. These results suggest that the bursitis may induce immunosuppressive effect.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.27-34
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• 2004

We investigated the optimal culture conditions for Cryptosporidium muris in a human stomach adenocarcinoma (AGS) cell line by determining the effects of medium pH and of selected supplements on the development of C. muris. The optimum pH of the culture medium required for the development of C. muris was determined to be 6.6. The number of parasites significantly increased during cultivation for 72 hr (p < 0.05) at this level. On the other hand, numbers decreased linearly after 24 hr of incubation at pH 7.5. When cultured in different concentrations of serum, C. muris in media containing 5% FBS induced 4-7 times more parasites than in 1% or 10% serum. Of the six medium supplements examined, only 1 mM pyruvate enhanced the number of C. muris in vitro. Transmission electron microscopic observation showed the developmental stages of C. muris in the cytoplasm of the cells, not in an extracytoplasmic location. The growth of C. muris in AGS cells provides a means of investigating its biological characteristics and of testing its response to therapeutic agents. However, a more optimized culture system is needed for the recovery of oocysts on a large scale in vitro.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.131-138
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• 2009

The present study surveyed the prevalence of natural infection of the sheep esphagus muscle with sarcocysts of Sarcocystis ovicanis and examined induction of protective immunity using UV-attenuated sporocysts. The overall prevalence of natural infection of the sheep was 95%. Infectivity of the collected sarcocysts was confirmed by shedding of sporulated oocysts after feeding infected esophageal tissues to dogs. To induce protective immunity, lambs were immunized 3 times (once a week) with $1.5{\times}10^4$ sporocysts exposed to UV-light for 30min (UV-30 group) or 60 (UV-60 group) min and then challenged with $1.5{\times}10^4$ normal sporocysts at the 3rd week post the 1st vaccination. These lambs showed high survival and less clinical signs of sarcocystosis than normal infected lambs. The attenuated sporocysts produced abnormal cysts; small in size and detached from the muscle fiber. These abnormalities were more obvious in UV-60 group than UV-30 group. Also, the $IFN-{\gamma}$ level and lymphocyte percentage were increased while the total leukocyte count was decreased in the UV-60 group compared with other groups. The high level of $IFN-{\gamma}$ may be an evidence for the induction of Th1 responses which may have protective effect against a challenge infection.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.471-478
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• 1993

Culicoides arakawae is a kind of the main blood sucking insects of domestic fowls and serves as a vector of Leukocytozoom caulleryi, the causative protozoon of chicken leukocytozoonosis. In this study, the complete life history of C arakawae was cycled by laboratory colonization. Adult midges were collected from various poultry farm by light trap. The laboratory colonization was performed under the conditions of constant temperature of $25{\pm}1^{\circ}C$ and relative humidity of 80% or above. The hatched larvae were cultured in larval medium consisted of rice field mud and activated charcoal powder. The surface of medium was continuously flowed with biologically conditioned water. The fine powder meal composed of pellet feed for mice and equal mount of yeast was supplied for feeding larvae at every 72 hours. The life cycle completed at $25^{\circ}C$ in 35~35 days ; the period of preoviposition, egg. larval and pupal stage was 2~3, 3~4, 28~30 and 3 days, respectively. The measurements of the eggs, the lst instar larvae, the 4th instar larvae and pupae was $36.28{\mu}m{\pm}1.95$, $13.58{\mu}m{\pm}0.72$, $4000{\mu}m{\pm}1.47$ and $219.95{\mu}m{\pm}6.25$ in $mean{\pm}S.D.$, respectively. In order to confirm experimental colonization of C arakawae in laboratory, the colonized adult midges were allowed to suck blood from chicken infected with L caulleryi. The oocysts and sporozoites could be identified in midguts and salivary grands of engorged midges at 72 hours after blood sucking.