A seroepidemiologic observation of anti-Spirometra erinacei plerocerciod (sparganum) antibody (IgG) in serum was made in normal adult and epileptic patients in Korea from February 1987 to September 1990. Sera were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for anti-spaganum antibody together with anti-Taenia solium metacestode, and anti-Paragonimus westermani antibodies. Sera reacted positively to sparganum antigen only were considered. Positive rate for anti-sparganum antibody in 850 normal adults was 1.9% (standardized rate by provincial population was 1.7%). In 2,667 randomly selected patients of epilepsy at 28 local centers of the Changmi Club, positive rate was 2.5%(standardized rate: 2.3%). In both normal adult and patient groups, the higher antibody rates were observed in Kangwon and Chonnam province. Positive rates were 10 times higher in male than in female in normal adults and 4.5 times in male epileptic patients. The rates were elevated especially with age over 30-year. Odd ratio of the antibody was 1.32 which indicated an ambiguous etiologic factor for epilepsy.
parasitology-helminth-cestoda

From 1960 through 1965, 39 cases with epileptic seizure caused by the Cystricercus cellulosae were experienced at Kaejong Mental Hospital, Okku-Gun, Chollapukdo province. The present study was carried on at the area of Chollapukdo province where Cysticercus cellulosae cases were frequently reported. Thrity-nine Cystricercus cellulosae cases(35 male and 4 female) with epileptic seizure visited Kaejong Mental Hospital . Okku-Gun, Chollapukdo during the years of 1960-1965 from various Gun(county): Okku-Gun 13, Kimje-Gun 7, and Soonchang-Gun 6. The high incidence was found at the age group of 20-49 years and the distribution of 214 subcutaneous nodules were as follows: Trunk 56.6 percent, upper extremities 26.6 percent, head and neck 9.3 percent, lower extremities 7.5 percent. According to the address of above 39 cases, taenia infestation of the inhabitants in the area was examined by questionaire form. Plain rural area (Maryong-Ri, Okku-Gun); Among 803 persons interviewed, 4.0 percent or 32 complained the output of Taenia segments. The male group showed higher incidence (6.4 percent) than the female(1.5 percent) . The highest incidence was observed at the age group of 30-39 years. Most of the inhabitants of the area had the eating habit of raw beef and pork. Mountainous rural area(Bok-Heung-Myun, Soonchang-Gun); Among 542 persons interviewed, 33 or 6.1 percent complained Taenia infection. The higher incidence was observed in the male group(8.7 percent) than in the female group(3.1 percent) , and also at the age group of 20-49 years. They had eating habit of raw beef and pork. The species of adult worm were identified by morphological examination. Totally 36 adult worms(Taenia saginata 21, T. solium 15) were obtained from 26 cases, and it was experienced that 5 T. solium were eliminated from one person.
parasitology-helminth-cestoda ; Taenia solium ; cysticercus ; epidemiology

A case of sparganosis was presented. The patient was a 43-year-old Korean male who had a history of having eaten raw flesh of snake and frog in Keoje Island during 1950 to 1952 for the purpose of treatment of arthritis by the oriental custom. In the summer, l959, he had slight itching sensation in the left lower scrotal area. A few months later, he noticed the appearance of a peanut-sized mass in that area. However, the mass enlarged gradually to a hen's egg size during two years. On surgical exploration, the mass was found to be a fibro-connective tissue capsule(3 to 4 cm in diameter) in the lower left scrotal area. From the capsule three larvae(l9 to 28 cm by 2 to 6 mm) were freed by dissection without much difficulty. The sources of infection of some formerly reported sparganosis in Korea were discussed. It is most probable that human sparganosis is acquired by ingestion of raw flesh of snake and frog in this country.
parasitology-helminth-cestoda-sparagnum ; sparganosis ; case report

Ten cases infected with Taenia saginata were treated with Bithionol, 2, 2' thiobis (4,6-dichlorophenol) which is well known as an excellent anthelminthhic against paragonimiasis and their follow-up studies were carried on within 3 to 12 months after treatment. Bithionol, 50 mg dose per kg of body weight was divided into two equal dose and administered orally in 30 minutes intervals. Three hours later, this was followed with a sodium sulfate or magnesium sulfate purge. The strobilas without scolices were found in the stools after the medication and the follow-up studies have shown the complete deworming in all cases. It is well tolerated, toxic effects being uncommon and when present, limited to mild gastro-intestinal disturbances.
parasitology ; helminth ; cestoda ; Taenia saginata ; chemotherapy ; bithionol

The migration and distribution pattern of spargana in mouse body was observed after experimental infection through mouth. The spargana were obtained from the snake, Natrix tigrina lateralis, caught in Hoengseong-gun, Kangwon-do. A total of 28 male mice (ICR strain), 21-25g in body weight, were fed each with 5 scolices (and necks) of spargana and killed after 10 minutes to 14 days. Systemic autopsy was performed on each mouse to recover the spargana. The results are as follows: The spargana were found to penetrate into the stomach or duodenal wall of mice as early as 10 minutes after infection. They completed the penetration within 30 minutes and appeared in abdominal cavity. It was observed that spargana did not migrate tangentially along the gut wall but directly perforated the wall. After 1 hour to 1 day the majority of spargana distributed in abdominal cavity of mice except few which migrated to muscles or subcutaneous tissues. It was within 7 days that nearly all of the spargana migrated to subcutaneous tissues. Out of total 28 in number found from subcutaneous tissues, 13 distributed around neck region, 12 around trunk and other 3 on head of mice and the most common sites were submandibular and subscapular areas. There was nearly no host tissue reaction to migrating spargana. The initial length of spargana given was 4 mm in average but it increased to 12 mm after 7 days and to 35 mm after 14 days. The results suggest that spargana orally given to mice penetrate the gut wall within 30 minutes followed by escaping into abdominal cavity, and after passing through thoracic cavity or abdominal wall they finally localize in subcutaneous tissues chiefly around neck region within 7 days.
parasitology-helminth-cestoda ; sparganosis ; sparganum ; mouse ; migration

An electron microscopic study was performed to know the basic tegumental structure of Cysticercus cellulosae. The scolex and bladder portions of cysticerci (human and porcine strains) were prepared for transmission and scanning electron microscopy by conventional procedures. In general, the tegument of C. cellulosae showed the basic ultrastructure of cestode tegument on electron micrographs. The teguments of both scolex and bladder portions consisted of such components i.e., an outer vesicular layer with numerous microtriches and inner fibrous layer. Below the fibrous layer, there were layers of muscle bundles and tegumental cells. The microtriches which covered the surface of cysticercus revealed two distinctly different shapes. The characteristic bladder-like, elongated pyramid shaped 'tetrahedral form' was observed on the surface of the scolex portion, whereas the elongated cylindrical 'filamentous form' was distributed on the surface of bladder portion. In spite of the difference of isolated host and location, the cysticerci showed the same result. But dimensional variations of the tegument according to topography of the worm were observed. The possibility of application in making differential diagnosis from other larval cestodes and possible functions of this larval tegument were discussed.
parasitology-helminth-cestoda ; Taenia solium ; cysticercus ; electronmicroscopy

There has been no report on human infection of Hymenolepis diminuta in Korea until the first 3 cases were reported by our members after the identification of those eggs in stool in 1964. However, the distinct differentiation between H. diminuta and H. nana would often be difficult by the shape of eggs without adult worm. In 1965, authors found the additional case revealed the eggs in stool and succeeded to obtain three adult worms of H. diminuta from 10 years old boy in Pusan. The characteristic morphology of egg and adult worm were discussed to compare to those of H. nana. Conclusively, the first human infection of H. diminuta in Korea was reported after the identification both the eggs and adults worms
parasitology-helminth-cestoda ; Hymenolepis diminuta ; case report

A total of 60 patients with Hymenolepis nana infection were treated with a single oral dose of praziquantel in two different dose levels. Twenty-nine cases treated with praziquantel in a single dose of 15 mg/kg body weight produced a 100% cure rate. On the otehr hand, 30 out of 31 patients who received a single dose of 25 mg/kg body weight cured completely, but only one case had counts of 200 EPG of feces in each tests on the 20th and 21st days after treatment. The cure rate was 96.8% and the mean egg reduction rate of 99.8 per cent was obtained. Side effects were mild and transitory. In a few cases, abdominal pain, vertigo, headache and diarrhea were complained in a few hours after medication. Clinial hematology, serum biochemistry and urinalysis were performed immediately before and the next day after treatment in all cases. There were no significant abnormalities detected in these tests.
parasitology-helminth-cestoda ; Hymenolepis nana ; chemotherapy-praziquantel

The infection with tapeworm of the Mesocestodes sp. has been rarely reported and only 8 cases of human infection were found in the world up to date. This is to report the first case of human infection with this tapeworm belonged to Cyclophyllidea in Korea. In January 1967, a 45 years old man visited to the out clinic of St. Mary's Hospital with the complaints of intermittent indigestion and abdominal distension nearly for 1 year. Laboratory findings appeared almost normal except increased eosinophils up to 14 per cent. The characteristic ova of Mesocestoides sp. were found by the serial stool examinations, which contained hexacanth larva inside the egg shell without operculum as in Cyclophyllidea. It was failed to reveal the scolex by the first evacuation, but one among 3 worms evacuated by the treatment with atabrine and enough purgations 2 months later, has been found the characteristic scolex. They were 85 cm to 136 cm long and the scolex had 4 distinct suckers but no rostellum, the matured proglottid had numerous testes bilaterally and ovary with yolk glands in central parts, and in the gravid proglottid spiral uterus was opened to uterine pore and characterized by the spherically distended uterine capsules. The patient had the history of ingestion of 15 snakes as raw about 1 year ago as usually seen in Japanese cases.
parasitology-helminth-cestoda-Mesocestodes sp. ; case report

Ptychobothrium nayarensis n. sp. has been described from two hill-stream fishes, Barilius bola(Ham.) and Schizothorax richardsonii(Gray) at 325-750 mASL. The new species has been compared with close species. Taxometric evaluation of the new species has been done on available data.
parasitology-helminth-cestoda ; Ptychobothrium nayarensis ; taxonomy ; morphology