• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.46 no.1
• /
• pp.37-40
• /
• 2008

Iron is an essential element for almost all living organisms. The possible role of iron for growth, adherence and cytotoxicity of Entamoeba histolytica was evaluated in this study. The absence of iron from TYI-S-33 medium stopped amebic growth in vitro. However, iron concentrations in the culture media of 21.4-285.6 ${\mu}M$ did not affect the growth of the amebae. Although growth was not retarded at these concentrations, the adhesive abilities of E. histolytica and their cytotoxicities to CHO cell monolayer were correlated with iron concentration. Amebic adhesion to CHO cell monolayers was significantly reduced by low-iron ($24.6{\pm}2.1%$) compared with $62.7{\pm}2.8\;and\;63.1{\pm}1.4%$ of amebae grown in a normal-iron and high-iron media, respectively. E. histolytica cultured in the normal- and high-iron media destroyed $69.1{\pm}4.3%\;and\;72.6{\pm}5.7%$ of cultured CHO cell monolayers, but amebae grown in the low-iron medium showed a significantly reduced level of cytotoxicity to CHO cells ($2.8{\pm}0.2%$). Addition of divalent cations other than iron to amebic trophozoites grown in the low-iron medium failed to restore levels of the cytotoxicity. However, when E. histolytica grown in low-iron medium were transferred to normal-iron medium, the amebae showed completely restored cytotoxicity within 7 days. The result suggests that iron is an important factor in the adherence and cytotoxicity of E. histolytica to CHO cell monolayer.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.52 no.6
• /
• pp.595-603
• /
• 2014

Trichomonas vaginalis secretes a number of proteases which are suspected to be the cause of pathogenesis; however, little is understood how they manipulate host cells. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) regulates cell growth, cell proliferation, cell motility, cell survival, protein synthesis, and transcription. We detected various types of metalloproteinases including GP63 protein from T. vaginalis trophozoites, and T. vaginalis GP63 metalloproteinase was confirmed by sequencing and western blot. When SiHa cells were stimulated with live T. vaginalis, T. vaginalis excretory-secretory products (ESP) or T. vaginalis lysate, live T. vaginalis and T. vaginalis ESP induced the mTOR cleavage in both time-and parasite load-dependent manner, but T. vaginalis lysate did not. Pretreatment of T. vaginalis with a metalloproteinase inhibitor, 1,10-phenanthroline, completely disappeared the mTOR cleavage in SiHa cells. Collectively, T. vaginalis metallopeptidase induces host cell mTOR cleavage, which may be related to survival of the parasite.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.51 no.2
• /
• pp.207-212
• /
• 2013

Chronic diarrhea with a 35 kg weight loss (75 kg to 40 kg) occurred during 2 years in an alcoholic patient was diagnosed with Isospora belli infection in the Republic of Korea. The patient, a 70-year old Korean male, had been a heavy drinker for more than 30 years. He was admitted to the Seoul National University Hospital because of long-standing diarrhea and severe weight loss. He had an increased white blood cell (WBC) count with high peripheral blood eosinophilia (36.8-39.9%) and lowered protein and albumin levels but without any evidence of immunosuppression. A parasitic infection was suspected and fecal examination was repeated 3 times with negative results. Peroral endoscopy with mural biopsy was performed in the upper jejunum. The biopsy specimens revealed villous atrophy with loss of villi together with various life cycle stages of I. belli, including trophozoites, schizonts, merozoites, macrogamonts, and microgamonts. The patient was treated successfully with oral doses of trimethoprim 160-320 mg and sulfamethoxazole 800-1,600 mg daily for 4 weeks. A follow-up evaluation at 2.5 years later revealed marked improvement of body weight (68 kg), increased protein and albumin levels, and normal WBC count with low eosinophils (3.1%). This is the first clinical case of isoporiasis with demonstration of various parasitic stages in the Republic of Korea.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.35 no.2
• /
• pp.127-134
• /
• 1997

Transmission electron microscopy of an ArGnthnmoebo isolate (KA/LS) from a contact lens case revealed bacterial endosymbionts within cytoplasm of the amoebae. The Acnnthamoebn isolate belonged to the morphological group ll. Based on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) - restriction fragment leilgth polymorphism (RFLP) of 185 ribosomal RNA coding DNA (rDNA) , the isolate was identified as A. Iwnunensis. Strain typing by isoenzyme analysis using isorlectric focusing (IEF) and mitochondrial (Ent) DNA RFLP revealed that the isolate was closely related with KA/Ll , the most predominant type of isolates from contact lens storage casas, KA/E2, a clinical isolate, KA/W4, previou:fly reported to host endosymbionts. and L3a strains of A. Iwnunensis. The endosymbionts were similar to those of KA/W4 in a.jpects that they were randomly distributed in both trophozoites and cysts, and were rod-shaped bacteri3 measuring approximately 1.38 x 0.50 ㎛. But the number of endosymbionts per amoeba was significantly lower than that of KA/W4. They were neither limited by phagosomal membranes nor included in lacunae- like stnlcture.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.35 no.2
• /
• pp.317-326
• /
• 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
• /
• v.48 no.3
• /
• pp.247-251
• /
• 2010

Feline intestinal tritrichomoniasis by Tritrichomonas foetus was first recognized in USA in 1999 and has so far been reported from UK, Norway, Switzerland, and Australia, but not from the Far East Asian countries. In November 2008, 2 female and male littermate Siamese cats, 6-month old, raised in a household in Korea were referred from a local veterinary clinic with a history of chronic persistent diarrhea. A direct smear examination of fecal specimens revealed numerous trichomonad trophozoites which were isolated by the fecal culture in $InPouch^{TM}$ TF-Feline medium. A PCR testing of the isolate based on the amplification of a conserved portion of the T. foetus internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions (ITS1 and ITS2) and the 5.8S rRNA gene, and the molecular sequencing of the PCR amplicons confirmed infection with T. foetus. This is the first clinical case of feline intestinal trichomoniasis caused by T. foetus in Korea.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.52 no.4
• /
• pp.355-365
• /
• 2014

The enteric protozoan parasite Entamoeba histolytica is the causative agent of human amebiasis. During infection, adherence of E. histolytica through Gal/GalNAc lectin on the surface of the amoeba can induce caspase-3-dependent or -independent host cell death. Phosphorylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and protein kinase C (PKC) in E. histolytica play an important function in the adhesion, killing, or phagocytosis of target cells. In this study, we examined the role of amoebic PI3K and PKC in amoeba-induced apoptotic cell death in Jurkat T cells. When Jurkat T cells were incubated with E. histolytica trophozoites, phosphatidylserine (PS) externalization and DNA fragmentation in Jurkat cells were markedly increased compared to those of cells incubated with medium alone. However, when amoebae were pretreated with a PI3K inhibitor, wortmannin before being incubated with E. histolytica, E. histolytica-induced PS externalization and DNA fragmentation in Jurkat cells were significantly reduced compared to results for amoebae pretreated with DMSO. In addition, pretreatment of amoebae with a PKC inhibitor, staurosporine strongly inhibited Jurkat T cell death. However, E. histolytica-induced cleavage of caspase-3, -6, and -7 were not inhibited by pretreatment of amoebae with wortmannin or staurosporin. In addition, we found that amoebic PI3K and PKC have an important role on amoeba adhesion to host compartment. These results suggest that amebic PI3K and PKC activation may play an important role in caspase-independent cell death in Entamoeba-induced apoptosis.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.51 no.3
• /
• pp.335-341
• /
• 2013

Balamuthia mandrillaris is one of the 4 amebas in fresh water and soil that cause diseases in humans. Granulomatous amebic encephalitis (GAE), caused by B. mandrillaris, is a rare but life-threatening condition. A 4-year-old, previously healthy, Thai girl presented with progressive headache and ataxia for over a month. Neuroimaging studies showed an infiltrative mass at the right cerebellar hemisphere mimicking a malignant cerebellar tumor. The pathological finding after total mass removal revealed severe necrotizing inflammation, with presence of scattered amebic trophozoites. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) obtained from lumbar puncture showed evidence of non-specific inflammation without identifiable organisms. A combination of pentamidine, sulfasalazine, fluconazole, and clarithromycin had been initiated promptly before PCR confirmed the diagnosis of Balamuthia amebic encephalitis (BAE). The patient showed initial improvement after the surgery and combined medical treatment, but gradually deteriorated and died of multiple organ failure within 46 days upon admission despite early diagnosis and treatment. In addition to the case, 10 survivors of BAE reported in the PubMed database were briefly reviewed in an attempt to identify the possible factors leading to survival of the patients diagnosed with this rare disease.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.35 no.3
• /
• pp.203-210
• /
• 1997

The difrrrenlial display reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (DDRT-PCR) aniilysis roils performed to identify the pathogellir strain specific amplicons. mRNAs were purified from the trophozoites of the pathogenif strain YS-27 and the non-pathogenic strain S 16. respectively. Three kinds of rirsl stranded rDNAs were reverse transcribed from the mRNAs by one base anchored oligo-dT 11M (M: A. C, or G) primers. Each cDNA lemplatr was used for DDRT-PCK analysis. A total of 144 pathogenic strain specific amplicons was observed in DDRT-PCR analysis using primer combinations of the 11 arbitrary primers and the 3 one base anchored oli해-dT11M primers. Of these 31 amplit'tons were verified as the amplirons amplified only from the mRNAs of the pathogenic strain by DNA slots biol llybridizatioil. Furthel cklaracleization of the 31 pathogenic strain sprcifil amplicons by DNA slot blot hybridlnation analysis using biotin labeled Probes or the PCR amplified DNA of rysteine proteinase genes revealed that 21 of them were amplliried from the maNAs of the cysteine proteinase genes. Four randomly selected amplirons out of the rest 10 amplirons were used fur screening of cDNA library followed by immunoscreening and all of them were turned outs to be amplified from the mRNA.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
• /
• v.28 no.4
• /
• pp.367-373
• /
• 2005

Coccidiosis of domestic fowl is a parasitic disease that infects poultry drastically and can cost the pastured poultry producer much in the course of a year. Two hundred forty, day-old-broiler chicks were purchased and were randomly divided in eight groups, containing thirty birds in each group. Decoquinate $6\%$, maduramicin ammonium $2\%$, monensin sodium $13.2\%$, salinomycin sodium $12\%$, a live attenuated vaccine, and trivalent live attenuated vaccine, was provided to the day chicks of six groups, respectively. The chicks of last two groups served as infected non-medicated and uninfected non-medicated, respectively. Feed consumption, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, mortality and oocyst count per gram feces were recorded during the conduction of the experiment. Among treated groups, performance of salinomycin group was significantly better (p<0.05) in all aspects. Salinomycin acts against the sporozoites, trophozoites and first generation schizonts and is highly effective against the economically important species of Eimeria. The present study confirms that use of salinomycin, as an anticoccidial, is a drug of choice.