• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.550-554
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• 2004

A paragonimiasis infestation is caused by the paragonimus species. It is commonly found in the lung but has also been found to exist extrapulmonary infestations including cerebral, spinal, subcutaneous, hepatic, splenic, abdominal, urinary, and gynecologic infestation. On the other hand, a cutaneous infestation is extremely rare. Human infestation is caused by ingesting raw or undercooked intermediate hosts. Because paragonimus westermani larva mature to an adult worm in the lung, the possibility of identifying the adult worm of paragonimus westermani at extrapulmonary region is very rare. Case : After ingesting a fresh-water crab 1 month prior to the hospital visit, a 45-year old female patient was suffering from right pleuritic chest pain during that 1 month. The patient also complained of a palpable mass that was movable and migrating, and it was localized at the right upper quadrant of the abdomen. The eosinophil fraction of the white blood cell of peripheral blood and pleural fluid was elevated to 55.1% and 90%, respectively. Parasite eggs were not found in her sputum and stool examination. By using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), the paragonimus-specific IgG antibody titer was elevated to 0.28. During incisional biopsy, we were able to find the young adult worm of paragonimus westermani. We experienced the rare case of ectopic paragonimiasis with pleural effusion that was confirmed by identifying the adult worm of paragonimus westermani within the abdominal subcutaneous tissue. We report a case with brief literature reviews.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.93-100
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• 1994

In order to know the species and frequency of human parasitic infection diagnosed by biopsy, 149 cases (0.18%) of parasitic infection were reviewed, which were selected from 80,947 biopsied materials submitted for routine histopathological examination during a period of 10 years from 1980 to 1989 at Department of Pathology, Chonnam National University Hospital. They consisted of 112 cases of cysticercosis, 17 paragonimiasis, 7 clonorchiasis, 4 amebiasis, 1 sparganosis, 1 enterobiasis, 1 anisakiasis, and 1 fascioliasis respectively Based on morphological preservation of cysticercus, they could be divided into mild (20.2%), moderate (40.4%), and severe (39.4%) degeneration. Except 2 cases biopsied at the lungs, 15 cases of ectopic paragonimiasis were located at abdominal cavity (8 cases) and central nervous system (7 cases). One case of intrahepatic fascioliasis was observed. This is the 13th human fasciollasis reported in Korea. From the above results, the frequency of parasitic infections found in biopsied specimens was on the decrease as the year passed by, but biopsy is very useful diagnostic method on tissue parasites such as cystlcercosis and ectopic paragonimiasis.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.71-80
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• 1979

Paragonimiasis is a common trematodiasis of medical importance and one of public health problems in many areas of sob thern part of Korea. During the last sixty years, several on the prevalence among the Korean population have been carried out by various investigators, although the general distribution and prevalences of paragonimiasis are now yet clearly determind. This study was undertaken to evaluate the status of human paragonimiasis in Kang Hwa Gun, Kyung gi Province, Korea by the use of intradermal screening test whih Veronal buffered saline antigen. A total number of 208 residents (male 119, female 89) of all age group in Kilgeong-Ri, Yangdo Myun, Kang Hwa Gun were examined by the intradermal test with paragonimus antigen. The infestation rate of crayfish with Paragonimus metacerearia was also examine in Konneung and Jeoungha village, Kilgeong-Ri from March 1973 to October 1978 by the interval of two to five years. 1. In the resnlt of 208 residents, Kilgeong-Ri, the positive rate showed in 29.3% in as a whole(36.1% in male, 20.2% in female). The highest positive rate showed in 10 to 19 age group(41.5%). 2. Among the residents in Kilgeong-Ri, Paragonimus eggs were detected in 11 residents by the sputum and the stool examinations without the intradermal test result. 3. The infestation rate of crayfish with Paragonimus inetacercaria was 90.6%(116 out of 128 crayfishes) in Konneung village, and 61.5%(24 out of 39) crayfishes) in Jeongha village, Kilgeng-Ri. 4. The fluctation of the infestation tate and density of crayfish with Paragonimus metacercaria was decreased by the interval of two to five years in Konneung and Jeongha village in Kilgeong-Ri.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.141-148
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• 1993

ELISA-inhibition test using Paragonimus westermani specific monoclonal antibody (Mab) was investigated to improve the diagnostic specificity of paragonimiasis. By cell fusion, one hybridoma clone secreting un-n westemanl specific Mab was selected (Pwa-14), which reacted on bands of 28 kDa, 42.5 kDa, 89 kDa and 120.5 kDa. IFA showed Pwa-14 was located at the vitelline follicles. By micro-ELISA, 100% of 22 paragonimiasis cases were found positive, but 5 of 40 clonorchlasls cases (12.5%),3 of 26 cystlcercosis cases (7.7%) showed false positive. None of 10 sparganosis patients or 28 normal controls reacted positively. On the other hand, by ELISA-Inhibition test using a R westermcni specific Mab, 100% of patagonimlasls cases were found positive, and there were no positive in cysticercosis, sparganosis cases or normal controls, except 2 (5.0%) false-positive sera of 40 clonorchiasis cases. The ELISA-Inhlbltlon test using a Mab showed higher specificity in comparison with macro-ELISA for serodlgnosis of human paragonimlasis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.553-556
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• 2010

A 55-year-old female presented to Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital with left neck and shoulder pain. An anterior mediastinal mass was detected on chest CT and there were no other specific lesions in the lung or pleural cavity. An infected pericardial cysts was suspected and excision was performed through a left-sided VATS approach. The patient was discharged on the second post-operative day with left diaphragm palsy and praziquantel was prescribed after paragonimaisis was confirmed on pathology. The patient has not shown any particular problems at my outpatient clinic.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.15-22
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• 1989

To observe antibody changes after praziquantel treatment in paragonimiasis, a total of 46 serum samples from 13 serologically diagnosed patients was collected for 4~28 months. The specific antibody (IgG) levels were measured by enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). All but one patient who needed retreatment became symptom-free within a week. Antibody levels were dropped near to or below a cut-off absorbance (abs.) of 0.25 in varying intervals from 4 to 18 months. Of 9 patients who were retested within 3 months, 5 revealed temporary elevation of antibody level. After the elevation, the levels be낙an to decline slowly to negative ranges. If treated earlier after symptoms developed, the temporary elevation did not occur and intervals to negative conversion were shorter. By sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) /immunoblot, antigen-antibody reactions in individual patient faded gradually without significant changes in reacting antigen bands.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.239-244
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• 1988

In order to observe the antigenic fractions in saline extract of adult Paragonimus westermani, proteins in the crude extract were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacylamide gel electrophoresis(SDS.PAGE) in reducing conditions. The separated protein fractions were transferred to nitrocellulose paper on which 20 sera from human paragonimiasis were reacted and immunoblottrd. Out of 15 stained protein bands in SDS-PAGE, 7 reacted with infected sera while 8 did not. Additionally, 7 unstained protein bands in SDS-PAGE reacted with the sera. Of 14 reacted bands, 30 kilodalton(kDa) band was the most frequently reacted (95%) and was a strong antigen. Protein bands of 23 and 46 kDa were also strong antigens. Bands of over 150 kDa, 120 kDa, 92 kDa, 86 kDa, 74 kDa, 62 kDa, 51 kDa, 32 kDa, 28 kDa, 16.5 kDa and 15.5 kDa were also reactive but their frequencies of the reaction were variable. Key words: Paragonimus westermani, human paragonimiasis, antigenic proteins, SDS-PAGE/ immunoblot

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.95-99
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• 2008

Eosinophil degranulation plays a crucial role in tissue inflammatory reactions associated with helminth parasitic infections and allergic diseases. Paragonimus westermani, a lung fluke causing human paragonimiasis, secretes a large amount of cysteine proteases, which are involved in nutrient uptake, tissue invasion, and modulation of hos's immune responses. There is, however, limited information about the response of eosinophils to direct stimulation by cysteine proteases (CP) secreted by P. westermani. In the present study, we tested whether degranulation and superoxide production from human eosinophils can be induced by stimulation of the 2 CP (27 kDa and 28 kDa) purified from excretory-secretory products (ESP) of P. westermani newly excysted metacercariae (PwNEM). A large quantity of eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN) was detected in the culture supernatant when human eosinophils isolated from the peripheral blood were incubated with the purified 27 kDa CP. Furthermore, the 27 kDa CP induced superoxide anion production by eosinophils in time- and dose-dependent manners. In contrast, the purified 28 kDa CP did not induce superoxide production and degranulation. These findings suggest that the 27 kDa CP secreted by PwNEM induces superoxide production and degranulation of human eosinophils, which may be involved in eosinophil-mediated tissue inflammatory responses during the larval migration in human paragonimiasis.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.189-194
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• 2018

To determine that Paragonimus sp. is actively transmitted in a tropical area of the Pacific region of Ecuador where human cases of pulmonary paragonimiasis have recently been documented, a total of 75 freshwater crabs were collected from 2 different streams in the Pedernales area of $Manab\acute{i}$ Province, Ecuador. All collected crabs were identified as Hypolobocera guayaquilensis based on morphological characteristics of the male gonopods. The hepatopancreas of each crab was examined by compressing it between 2 glass plates followed by observation under a stereomicroscope. Excysted Paragonimus metacercariae were detected in 39 (52.0%) crabs and their densities varied from 1 to 32 per infected crab. There was a positive relationship between crab size and metacercarial density. Sequences of the second internal transcribed spacer region of the ribosomal RNA gene of the Paragonimus metacercariae obtained in this study were identical to those of Paragonimus mexicanus deposited in the DDBJ/EMBL/GenBank database. Thus, the present study is the first to confirm that the crab species H. guayaquilensis is the second intermediate host of P. mexicanus in $Manab\acute{i}$ Province, Ecuador. Because this crab might be the possible source of human infections in this area, residents should pay attention to improper crab-eating habits related with a neglected parasitic disease, i.e., paragonimiasis.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.40-45
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• 1980

Paragonomiasis is a common trematodiasis of medical importance and one of public health. problems in many araes af southern part of Korea. Authars carried out the survey for human paragonimiasis in Ung Chi Myun, Bo Sung Gun during 1968 to 1979 by the use of intradermal screening test with veronal buffered saline antigens. In 1968 and 1978, inhabitants of all age groups in Ung Chi Myun were examined. In 1979, 1, 119 consisting of primary school children and middle school students in Ung Chi Myun and 521 high school students in Beol Gyo Eup were examined. The following results were obtained in this survey. 1) In 1968, 136 inhabitants were showed 61.0% positive reaction (66.3% in male, 53.6% in female). The positive rates were similar in each age groups. 2) In 1978, 207 Inhabitants were showed 32.9% positive reaction (36.3% in male, 29.4% in female). The positive rate was shown as high as 30% in the age groups of over 10 years old. 3) In 1979, primary school children and middle school students in Ung Chi Myun were showed 15.8% positive reaction and high school students in Beol Gyo Eup were showed 6.9% positive reaction.