To identify the genotype of the 18S rDNA in Acanthamoeba species isolated from tap water inYanji city of Jilin province, the full genomic DNA sequence of the CJY/W1 strain of Acanthaqmoeba was amplified by PCR and then the amplified products were sequenced. The full-length of DNA sequence was analyzed with Clustal and Genedoe softwares. It was found that the full-length of gene of the Acanthamoeba CJY/W1 strain isolated from tap water was 2252 bps. The 18S rDNA genotype of this strain appeared to be near to the T1 type. But the percentage of the genetic difference between T1 type was 8%. According to the classification criteria of 18S rDNA, the genotype of the CJY/W1 strain might be a new one.

Acanthamoeba castellanii(T4)was cultured with different concentrations of allitridium for 24 hours, and examined by transmission electron microscope. The results showed that the ultrastructure of Acanthamoeba trophozoites was destroyed gently at concentration of 50 ?g/ml allitridium and seriously destroyed under the concentration of 500 ?g/ml, indicating that allitridium is effective in destroying Acanthamoeba.

We investigated a small-scale serological survey to screen tissue-parasitic helminthiases of North Koreans as one of research programs for re-unification of Korea. Soil-transmitted helminthiases were found highly prevalent among North Korean residents at the border with China. ELISA using 4 tissue-parasitic helminth antigens was applied to 137 residents living in Cheongjin-shi, Hamgyeongbuk-do, North Korea and 133 female refugees in South Korea in 2004-2005. Among a total of 270 samples, 31 (11.5%), 25 (9.3%), and 11 (4.1%) were positive for specific IgG antibodies to antigens of Clonorchis sinensis, Taenia solium metacestode, and sparganum, respectively. The overall positive rate was 21.5%; 38.2% in males and 15.8% in females. The present finding suggests that tissue parasites, such as C. sinensis, T. solium metacestode and sparganum are highly prevalent in some limited areas of North Korea. These foodborne tissue-parasitic helminthiases should be considered for future control measures of parasitic diseases in North Korea.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Animals ; Antibodies, Helminth/blood ; Antigens, Helminth/blood ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Clonorchis sinensis/isolation & purification ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Helminthiasis/*epidemiology/*parasitology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G/blood ; Korea/epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Sparganum/isolation & purification ; Taenia solium/isolation & purification