This article briefly reviews parasites transmitted by food materials and their diseases in Korea. They are taxonomically classified into 31 species of helminths, which include nematodes(6 species), trematodes(20), cestodes(6), and 1 species of protozoan. The food materials serving as the source of human infections are fishes, snails, crustacea, amphibia, reptiles, and mammals. These parasites include those that have been veiled by the previously common and well-known parasites such as Ascaris and Trichuris, and those that have been newly identified as human-infecting parasites. For prevention of these infections, avoidance of raw or improperly cooked foods is the most important strategy.
Amphibians ; Ascaris ; Crustacea ; Fishes ; Foodborne Diseases ; Helminths ; Humans ; Korea ; Mammals ; Parasites ; Parasitic Diseases* ; Reptiles ; Snails ; Trichuris

Environmental studies regarding Paragonimiasis have been done in Sulak-Myun, Kapyung-Goon (I district) and Yongmoon-Myun, Yangpyung-Goon (II district), both of which are considered "active" endemic areas, and in Byukje-Myun, Koyang-Goon (III district) an "arrested" area. 1. Paragonimiasis is still active in the Uhmos River, Sulak-Myun, Kapyung-Goon, where 49% of crayfish contained Paragonimus metacecaria. Snails which are the first intermediate host of Paragonimus westermani were moderately present. In the Oonke River, Yongmoon-Myun, Yangpyung-Goon, crayfish which are the second intermediate host of Paragonimus westermani, were found in every area of the river, but snails were not found in any area of either branch of the river. They were caught in areas which are located below the junction. In the Daeja river, Bykje-Myun, Koyang-Goon, crayfish were found only in the upper stream of the river and snails were not caught in any area of the river. 2. The results described above are attributed to the fact that snails, which have minimal mobility and vitality, were complete1y obliterated by the long, unprecedented drought in 1965. In contrust, crayfish with great mobility and vitality survived. Thus without the snail, the life cycle of Paragonimus western1ani become incomplete, and the clinical disease disappeared. 3. Rainfall is very important in maintaining water flow in the river, a necessary factor for the life cycle of Paragonimus westermani. Therefore we have charted tile amount of rainfall in the Seoul and Choonchun areas in 1965, compared with the average of the past 30 years, in order to ascertain the degree of drought which influnced the Paragonimus westermani hosts and cohabitants. 4. Geographic conditions which are also very important in maintaining water flow in small rivers was investigated. The conclusion was drawn, that a long river has an advantage over a short during drought; a tortuous river provides a better opportunity for miracidia of Paragonimus westermani eggs to migrate to snails, and for Pargonimus cercaria to invade crayfish than a straight rapidly flowing river. 5. We must conclude that man may ingest Paragonimus metacercaria by drinking water from shallow wells and streams in areas endemic to paragonimiasis, when we note that one crayfish of four caught in shallow wells in Kapyung-Goon contained many Paragonimus metacercaria. 6. Other factors are the increase in traffic due to the expanding population in Korean farm areas, and the increase in the use of farm chemicals, which seep into the rivers and reduce the number of snails, crayfish and crabs available as potential hosts. 7. In recent years, the wild fauna in the mountains, one of the important terminal hosts of Paragonimus westermani, have been markedly reduced in number. This may have contributed to decreasing paragonimiasis as directly infective to man. 8. Health education on paragonimiasis, informing the people of the dangers of eating raw or inadequately cooked crayfish and crabs, or those soaked less than 10 days in soysauce, and drinking the water from shallow wells and streams, is demonstrated to have decreased the incidence of this disease. 9. Because of the preceding facts, paragonimiasis in Kyunggi-Prvince is being decreased.
Animals ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Crustacea ; *Disease Reservoirs ; *Disease Vectors ; Ecology ; Human ; Korea ; Paragonimiasis/*epidemiology ; Paragonimus/isolation & purification ; Snails

OBJECTIVETo test Candonocypris novaezelandiae (Baird) (C. novaezelandiae), sub-class Ostracoda, obtained from the Nile, Egypt for its predatory activity on snail, Biomphalaria alexandrina (B. alexandrina), intermediate host of Schistosoma mansoni (S. mansoni) and on the free-living larval stages of this parasite (miracidia and cercariae).

METHODSThe predatory activity of C. novaezelandiae was determined on B. alexandrina snail (several densities of eggs, newly hatched and juveniles). This activity was also determined on S. mansoni miracidia and cercariae using different volumes of water and different numbers of larvae. C. novaezelandiae was also tested for its effect on infection of snails and on the cercarial production.

RESULTSC. novaezelandiae was found to feed on the eggs, newly hatched and juvenile snails, but with significant reduction in the consumption in the presence of other diet like the blue green algae (Nostoc muscorum). This ostracod also showed considerable predatory activity on the free-living larval stages of S. mansoni which was affected by certain environmental factors such as volume of water, density of C. novaezelandiae and number of larvae of the parasite.

CONCLUSIONSThe presence of this ostracod in the aquatic habitat led to significant reduction of snail population, infection rate of snails with schistosme miracidia as well as of cercarial production from the infected snails. This may suggest that introducing C. novaezelandiae into the habitat at schistosome risky sites could suppress the transmission of the disease.

Animals ; Crustacea ; physiology ; Pest Control ; Pest Control, Biological ; Predatory Behavior ; Schistosoma mansoni ; Schistosomiasis mansoni ; prevention & control ; transmission

Animals ; Biophysics ; history ; Cell Biology ; history ; Cell Proliferation ; Chickens ; China ; Crustacea ; cytology ; History, 20th Century ; Humans ; Models, Theoretical

Human paragonimiasis was endemic in Korea until the 1960's, and nowadays, the prevalence is decreasing. However, it is still one of the important helminthic diseases. Though it is essentially a pulmonary disorder, it may involve brain, muscle, mesentery, genital tract, pleura, peritoneum, spinal cord, spleen, and liver. We experienced two cases of paragonimiasis in a family who had ingested raw crabs together for 7 months. A 57-year-old female patient was admitted due to abdominal pain, diarrhea and tenesmus for 6 months. And, her 35-year-old son complained of cough, chest discomfort and dyspnea. The definite diagnosis for paragonimiasis could be made by the detection of the egg and adult worm from stool, sputum and involved lesion. Neither an egg or worm was detected. However, they were diagnosed based on the food history, laboratory data including serum eosinophilia, ELISA for specific IgG, pleural and peritoneal fluid examination, radiological findings, and intradermal tests. They were treated with praziquantel and their symptoms improved rapidly over 2 days. Both patients were asympromatic at a follow-up visit 2 months later.
Adult ; Animals ; Crustacea/parasitology ; Family Health ; Humans ; Male ; Paragonimiasis/complications/*diagnosis/transmission ; *Paragonimus westermani ; Peritonitis/*complications/diagnosis/parasitology ; Pleurisy/*complications/diagnosis/parasitology ; Shellfish/parasitology

Paragonimus harinasutai metacercariae were found in a species of freshwater crab, Indochinamon ou, collected in a small stream of Namback District, Luang Prabang Province, Lao PDR. Adult flukes were recovered after experimental infection of the metacercariae to dogs. Metacercariae were round or slightly elliptical, 0.666 x 0.626 mm in average size, and had a thin cyst wall of about 20 microm in thickness, a black excretory bladder, convoluted ceca, and some pinkish materials in the body. Adults were somewhat elongated, 95.2 x 36.5 mm in average size, covered with single-tipped tegumental spines, had a smaller oral sucker than the ventral sucker, a moderately branched ovary, and 5-6 lobulated testes. Eggs were ovoid and bilaterally symmetrical in shape, 79 x 45 microm in average size, and had a uniformly thickened shell. By the present study, it has been confirmed that I. ou is a new second intermediate host for P. harinasutai.
Animals ; Crustacea/*parasitology ; Disease Reservoirs/*parasitology ; Dogs ; Female ; *Host-Parasite Interactions ; Humans ; Laos ; Male ; Paragonimiasis/*parasitology ; Paragonimus/anatomy & histology/*isolation & purification/ultrastructure ; Shellfish/*parasitology

A novel dual luciferase expression vector was designed and its expression characteristics were studied in vitro and in vivo. Firstly, the Gluc and Fluc genes were connected via the TaV 2A sequence by overlaping PCR, and inserted into the expression vector pAAV2neoCAG, obtaining the recombinant plasmid pAAV2neoCAG-Gluc-2A-Fluc. Then pAAV2neoCAG-Gluc-2A-Fluc was transfected into BHK21 cells and the activity of Gluc and Fluc in the supernatant and cell lysates were assayed respectively. Results showed that both Gluc and Fluc were expressed successfully. The Gluc was mainly detected in the culture media while the Fluc was mostly within cells. The activity of Gluc in the supernatant increased gradually with time while the Fluc activity in cells almost kept stable. To investigate the expression of pAAV2neoCAG-Gluc-2A-Fluc in vivo, the plasmid was hydrodynamically injected into BALB/c mice through tail vein. The Gluc activity was assayed in a small volume of blood taken by tail vein at different time points. Results showed that Gluc was expressed stably at least 7 days. Live bioluminescence imaging technology was used to compare the expression characteristics of Gluc and Fluc. Whole body imaging was seen when coelenterazine, a specific substrate for Gluc, was injected, and the imaging signals decreased rapidly within 10 minutes. Liver imaging was showed when Flue specific substrate named D-Luciferin was injected, and the imaging remained stable at least for half an hour. The dual luciferase expression vector pAAV2neoCAG-Gluc-2A-Fluc combines the advantages of the secreted report gene Gluc and the non-secreted report gene Fluc, and will provide a new tool for cell labeling and tracing.
Animals ; Base Sequence ; Cricetinae ; Crustacea ; enzymology ; Fireflies ; enzymology ; Gene Expression ; Genes, Reporter ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Luciferases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Molecular Sequence Data

A new isoprenylated acetophenone, acronyculatin P (1) as well as two known compounds, 3′,5′-diisoprenyl-2′,4′-dihydroxy-6′-methoxyphenylethanone (2) and 3′-isoprenyl-2′,4′,6′-trihydroxyphenylethanone (3) were isolated from the stem bark of Acronychia pedunculata (L.) Miq. The structures were determined by HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR. The inhibitory activity of the isoprenylated acetophenone derivatives against murine leukemia P-388 cells showed compound 1 moderate activity with IC₅₀ 15.42 µM.
Leukemia ; Rutaceae ; Thoracica

Betanodaviruses are the causative agents of viral nervous necrosis (VNN) in cultured marine fish. A total of 237 apparently healthy aquarium fish, marine (65 species) and freshwater (12 species) fishes and marine invertebrates (4 species), which were stocked in a commercial aquarium in Seoul, South Korea, were collected from November 2005 to February 2006. The brains of the fish and other tissues of the invertebrates were examined by reverse transcriptasepolymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and nested PCR to detect betanodavirus. Positive nested PCR results were obtained from the brains of 8 marine fish species (shrimp fish Aeoliscus strigatus, milkfish Chanos chanos, three spot damsel Dascyllus trimaculatus, Japanese anchovy Engraulis japonicus, pinecone fish Monocentris japonica, blue ribbon eel Rhinomuraena quaesita, look down fish Selene vomer, yellow tang Zebrasoma flavesenes), 1 marine invertebrate species (spiny lobster Pamulirus versicolor), and 2 freshwater fish species (South American leaf fish Monocirrhus polyacanthus and red piranha Pygocentrus nattereri). The detection rate in nested PCR was 11/237 (4.64%). These subclinically infected aquarium fish and invertebrates may constitute an inoculum source of betanodaviruses for cultured fishes in the Korean Peninsula.
Animals ; Crustacea ; Fish Diseases/epidemiology/*virology ; Fishes ; Korea/epidemiology ; Nodaviridae/genetics/*isolation & purification ; RNA Virus Infections/epidemiology/*veterinary/virology ; RNA, Viral/chemistry/genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction/veterinary

Mesocyclops were collected from 631 water areas and fresh water containers over 31 provinces and city between 1998 - 1999. It was found 10 species that involved in Mesocyclops gender. Messocyclops distribute widely and are available in fresh water containers in crowded regions. They can reproduce and develop easily under natural conditions. They have high potential in killing Aedes aegypti larvae. Mesocyclops can become an effective biological agent in preventing actively the Dengue fever/Dengue hemorrhage vector in Viet Nam
Copepoda ; Densovirinae