• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제53권6호
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• pp.705-712
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• 2015

Intestinal parasitic infections are one of the major causes of diarrhea in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seropositive individuals. Antiretroviral therapy has markedly reduced the incidence of many opportunistic infections, but parasite-related diarrhea still remains frequent and often underestimated especially in developing countries. The present hospital-based study was conducted to determine the spectrum of intestinal parasitosis in adult HIV/AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) patients with or without diarrhea with the levels of $CD4^+$ T-cell counts. A total of 400 individuals were enrolled and were screened for intestinal parasitosis. Of these study population, 200 were HIV seropositives, and the remaining 200 were HIV uninfected individuals with or without diarrhea. Intestinal parasites were identified by using microscopy as well as PCR assay. A total of 130 (32.5%) out of 400 patients were positive for any kinds of intestinal parasites. The cumulative number of parasite positive patients was 152 due to multiple infections. A significant association of Cryptosporidium (P<0.001) was detected among individuals with $CD4^+$ T-cell counts less than $200cells/{\mu}l$.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제50권1호
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• pp.57-62
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• 2012

A total of 450 stool samples were collected from inpatient and outpatient clinics of Pediatric Department, Minia University Hospital, Minia District, Egypt. Two groups of patients were studied, including 200 immunosuppressed and 250 immunocompetent children. Stool samples were subjected to wet saline and iodine mounts. A concentration technique (formol-ether sedimentation method) was carried out for stool samples diagnosed negative by wet saline and iodine mounts. Samples were stained by 2 different methods; acid fast stain (modified Ziehl-Neelsen stain) and Giemsa stain. Total 188 cases (94%) were diagnosed positive for parasitic infections among immunosuppressed children, whereas 150 cases (60%) were positive in immunocompetent children ($P$<0.0001). The most common protozoan infection in immunosuppressed group was $Cryptosporidium$ $parvum$ (60.2%), followed by $Blastocystis$ $hominis$ (12.1%), $Isospora$ $belli$ (9.7%), and $Cyclospora$ $caytenensis$ (7.8%). On the other hand, $Entamoeba$ $histolytica$ (24.6%) and $Giardia$ $lamblia$ (17.6%) were more common than other protozoans in immunocompetent children.

• 한국건강관리협회지
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• 제1권1호
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• pp.26-32
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• 2003

The current status and future prospects of parasitic infections in Korea is briefly reviewed. Soil-transmitted helminth infections including ascariasis, trichuriasis, and hookworm infections decreased remarkably. owing to the national control activities excuted by the Korea Association of Health Promotion(formerly Korea Association of parasite Eradication) using mass heath education. Important recent trends include reemergence of vivax malaria since 1993, persistence of food-borne trematode infections including clonorchiasis and intestinal trematode infections, increased detection of zoonotic parasitosis, close-up of infection with opportunistic parasites including cryptosporidiosis, toxoplasmosis, and pneumosytosis, increase of imported tropical infectious disease, appearance of new parasitic disease such as gymnophalloidiasis, and increase of accidental infections with free-living amoebae. These trends represent greatly changed overall patterns of parasitic infections in Korea.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제43권1호
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• pp.1-5
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• 2005

The prevalence of parasitic infections was investigated in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients (n = 105) who visited Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea, during the period from 1995 to 2003. Fecal samples were collected from 67 patients for intestinal parasite examinations, and sputum or bronchoalveolar lavage samples from 60 patients for examination of Pneumocystis carinii. Both samples were obtained from 22 patients. Thirty-three ($31.4\%$) of the 105 were found to have parasitic infections; Cryptosporidium parvum ($10.5\%$; 7/67), Isospora belli ($7.5\%$; 5/67), Clonorchis sinensis ($3.0\%$; 2/67), Giardia lamblia ($1.5\%$; 1/67), Gymnophalloides seoi ($1.5\%$; 1/67), and Pneumocystis carinii ($28.3\%$; 17/60). The hospital records of the 11 intestinal parasite-infected patients showed that all suffered from diarrhea. This study shows that parasitic infections are important clinical complications in HIV-infected patients in the Republic of Korea.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.96-99
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• 2008

Toxoplasma gondiiis a widespread apicomplexan parasite which is able to infect virtually all warm-blooded vertebrates. Twenty-two percent of the U.S. population is infected, but severe disease in adults is mainly limited to immunosuppressed patients. In patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome(AIDS), T. gondii causes a life-threatening opportunistic infection, with Toxoplasma encephalitis as its most severe manifestations. T. gondii is also known to cause congenital infection and is among the pathogens with the highest incidence of complications in pregnancies. Despite its clinical importance, only very few therapeutic drugs against T. gondii are available, all of which target the rapidly dividing tachyzoites, leaving the dormant encysted bradyzoite stage unaffected. We searched 15 traditional medicines that have anti-inflammatory effect from dongyibogam and Traditional Chinese medicine. In vitro studies were performed with HeLa cell cultures, with quantification of Toxoplasma growth by a cell proliferation assay. The result of experiment shows the selectivity of Citrus unshiu Markovich is 6.0. This is higher than sulfadiazine (selectivity was 1.63). For in vivo studies, mice were acutely infected intraperitoneally with $10^5$ tachyzoites of the virulent RH strain and then treated per orally for 4 days from 6 hours postinfection. Efficacy was assessed by sequential determination of parasite burdens in peritoneal cavity. In vivo, Citrus unshiu Markoviche inhibited Toxoplasma growth at a concentration of 10㎎/㎏ of body weight per day, the inhibition ratio was estimated to be 64.01%.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.95-103
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• 2024

Purpose: Diarrhea is one of the leading causes of mortality in children living in developing countries. The etiology of acute diarrhea in each healthcare center varies depending on place, time, and population. This study aimed to identify pathogen patterns in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected and non-HIV children suffering from acute diarrhea, using multiplex real time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), in an Indonesian tertiary hospital. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo National Hospital from March 2019 to April 2020. Results: The study showed that multiplex RT-PCR results were positive in 58.9% of the specimens, with more positive results in HIV-infected children than in non-HIV-infected children (70% vs. 54.7%). Altogether 72 enteropathogens were detected from all specimens. Enteropathogens in non-HIV children with acute diarrhea consisted of bacteria (70.6%) and viruses (29.4%) with a predominance of enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (25.4%), followed by Campylobacter spp. (11.8%), enteropathogenic E. coli (9.8%), Norovirus GII (7.8%), and Clostridium difficile (7.8%). Enteropathogens in HIV-infected children consisted of viruses (57.1%), bacteria (28.6%), and parasites (14.3%) comprising Norovirus GII (24%), Cryptosporidium spp. (14.3%), Campylobacter spp. (14.3%), Norovirus GI (14.3%), and Astrovirus (14.3%). Cryptosporidium spp. was the only parasite found in this study and was found only in HIV-infected children. In non-HIV children with acute diarrhea, most pathogens were invasive bacteria, while in HIV-infected children, more viral and parasite infections occurred, primarily caused by opportunistic pathogens. Conclusion: The pattern of enteropathogens can help clinicians determine further examinations and appropriate empirical antimicrobial therapy for the patient.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제28권1호
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• pp.31-38
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• 1990

실험용 마우스(ICR)에 프레드니솔론을 주어 인공적으로 면역억제시키면서 Cryptosporidium 발현 여부를 7주 동안 관찰한 바 다음과 같은 결과를 얻었다. 면역 억제 1주 후부터 마우스 대변에서 Cryptosporidium의 Oocyst (크기 440 ㎛)가 검출되었고 2주 후부터 마우스가 사망하기 시작하였다. 대변에서 oocyst가 검출된 마우스의 소장 절편을 H&E 염색하여 광학현미경으로 관찰한 결과 Cryptosporisium은 공장 하부에서 호발하였으며 장 융모의 점막 상피세포 표면에 점같이 붙은 모습으로 무수히 발견되었고 호염기성이었으며 크기는 직경 2∼4 ㎛정도 되었다. 이들의 여러 발육 단계에 대해 주사 전자현미경 및 투과 전자현미경으로 입체구조를 관찰하였으며 그 결과 충체의 종은 C. Parvum으로 동정하였다. 항균제(tetracycline, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole)를 면역억제제와 함께 투여한 실험군에서도 Cryptosporidium이 발현되었으나 면역 억제제만을 투여한 실험군의 마우스보다 수명을 다소 연장시킬 수 있었다. 이 실험 결과 우리 나라에도 Cryptosporidium(C. Parvum)이 존재하고 있음을 확인하였으며 인체 감염례가 있을 가능성을 짐작할 수 있었다.

• 대한약침학회지
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.112-118
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• 2017

Objectives: The Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is an intracellular opportunistic protozoan parasite that infects approximately one-third of the human population worldwide. Honey has long been used for treatment of many diseases in folk medicine. Honey has exhibited significant anthelmintic, nematicidal and anti-protozoal activities. This study was conducted to investigate the immunological patterns in rats infected with T. gondii who were treated orally with supplemented 15% Capparis spinosa honey (Saudi Arabia) for a period of 28 days. Methods: Immunoglobulin M, immunoglobulin G, and cytokines were detected by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). In addition, the mortality and the morbidity rates were assessed. Results: Oral administration of Capparis spinosa honey as a natural food additive was experimentally shown to increase the antibody titer; furthermore, compared with the rats in the control group, the levels of the sera cytokines ($IFN-{\gamma}$, IL-1 and IL-6) were consistently higher at day 7 post-infection in the infected rats treated with oral supplements of Capparis spinosa honey. Conclusion: Orally administered supplements of Capparis spinosa honey increased both the antibody titer and the cytokines ($IFN-{\gamma}$, IL-1 and IL-6) levels in rats infected with T. gondii.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제52권6호
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• pp.581-593
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• 2014

Toxoplasmosis is an opportunistic infection caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. T. gondii is widespread globally and causes severe diseases in individuals with impaired immune defences as well as congenitally infected infants. The high prevalence rate in some parts of the world such as South America and Africa, coupled with the current drug treatments that trigger hypersensitivity reactions, makes the development of immunotherapeutics intervention a highly important research priority. Immunotherapeutics strategies could either be a vaccine which would confer a pre-emptive immunity to infection, or passive immunization in cases of disease recrudescence or recurrent clinical diseases. As the severity of clinical manifestations is often greater in developing nations, the development of well-tolerated and safe immunotherapeutics becomes not only a scientific pursuit, but a humanitarian enterprise. In the last few years, much progress has been made in vaccine research with new antigens, novel adjuvants, and innovative vaccine delivery such as nanoparticles and antigen encapsulations. A literature search over the past 5 years showed that most experimental studies were focused on DNA vaccination at 52%, followed by protein vaccination which formed 36% of the studies, live attenuated vaccinations at 9%, and heterologous vaccination at 3%; while there were few on passive immunization. Recent progress in studies on vaccination, passive immunization, as well as insights gained from these immunotherapeutics is highlighted in this review.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제47권1호
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• pp.7-11
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• 2009

Cryptosporidium parvum is a well-known waterborne and opportunistic intracellular protozoan parasite that causes diarrheal illness. In this study, we quantitatively investigated reduction of the infectivity of C. parvum after gamma irradiation and repair of the infectivity during incubation time after irradiation. C. parvum oocysts were subjected to gamma irradiation at various doses (1, 5, 10, and 25 kGy), and the in vitro infectivity was measured by real-time PCR every day up to 7 days after irradiation. The in vitro infectivity of C. parvum on human ileocecal adenocarcinoma cells (HCT-8) was effectively reduced (> $2\;{\log}_{10}$) by irradiation at 10kGy or more. However, in the experiment to find out repair of the infectivity, recovery was not noted until day 7 post-incubation.