The present study was performed to investigate the infection status of intestinal parasites in pigs and beef cattle in rural areas of Chungcheongnam-do, Korea. From November 2009 to April 2010, a total of 241 fecal samples of pigs and beef cattle (136 and 105, respectively) were examined by direct smear and centrifugal sedimentation methods. The overall positive rates of intestinal parasites among pigs and beef cattle were 73.5% and 4.8%, respectively, and the double-infection rate was 10.3% in pigs. Of 136 specimens from pigs, Balantidium coli, Ascaris suum, and Entamoeba spp. infections were found in 88 (64.7%), 24 (17.6%), and 5 cases (3.7%), respectively. Of 105 beef cattle, Entamoeba spp. infections were detected in 5 cases (4.8%). From these results, it is shown that pigs raised on rural farms in Chungcheongnam-do had a high B. coli infection rate and a moderate A. suum infection rate. These results demonstrate that environmentally resistant cysts or eggs could be widespread on the farms examined, and thus an effective hygienic management system is needed to prevent them from serving as the source of infection for human beings.
Animals ; Cattle ; Cattle Diseases/*epidemiology/parasitology ; Feces/parasitology ; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic/epidemiology/*veterinary ; Korea/epidemiology ; Parasitic Diseases, Animal/*epidemiology ; Prevalence ; Rural Population ; Swine ; Swine Diseases/*epidemiology/parasitology

A weanling Thoroughbred foal was admitted to Equine Hospital, Korea Racing Association with signs of colic. On admission the foal was sweating profusely, appeared anxious and exhibiting signs suggestive of abdominal pain. Clinical examination revealed: tachycardia (90 beats/min), tachypnea (50 breaths/min) and congested and slightly cyanotic mucous membranes. No intestinal sounds were auscultated in all 4 abdominal quadrants. Rectal palpation identified concurrent cecum and large colon impactions. Treatment consisted of intravenous administration of a balanced electrolyte solution, nasogastric siphonage and administration of analgesics. Nasogastric reflux contained ascarids. This treatment failed to alleviate the signs of colic. The foal died 3 hours later following discharge because the owner didn't want laparatomy because of economic constraints. Prior to admission this foal had not received any prophylactic anthelmintic treatment. In necropsy, there were masses of ascarids accumulation in the stomach, small intestine and large intestine. The outcome of this report is to describe the first diagnosed case of gastrointestinal impaction by P. equorum in a Thoroughbred foal in South Korea and indicates the importance of regular anthelmintic treatment.
Animals ; Ascaridida Infections/diagnosis/parasitology/*veterinary ; Ascaridoidea/*isolation&purification ; Fatal Outcome ; Fecal Impaction/diagnosis/parasitology/*veterinary ; Horse Diseases/diagnosis/*parasitology ; Horses ; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic/diagnosis/parasitology/*veterinary ; Korea

The metacercariae of Acanthotrema felis Sohn et al., 2003 (Digenea: Heterophyidae) were discovered in a species of the brackish water fish, Acanthogobius flavimanus, in the Republic of Korea. They were experimentally fed to kittens, and adult flukes were harvested 7 days later. The adults were morphologically characterized by the presence of a bipartite seminal vesicle, the ventral sucker associated with a ventrogenital sac enclosing 3 sclerites (2 long and pointed, and 1 short and thumb-like), and an unarmed gonotyl. The adult flukes were identified as A. felis Sohn et al., 2003, and the brackish water fish A. flavimanus has been verified as one of its second intermediate hosts.
Animals ; Cats/parasitology ; Fishes/*parasitology ; Histocytochemistry/veterinary ; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic/parasitology/pathology/veterinary ; Korea ; Trematoda/anatomy & histology/*growth & development ; Trematode Infections/parasitology/pathology/veterinary

Although Vietnam has a high risk of fishborne zoonotic trematode (FZT) infections for humans, little information exists on the epidemiology of these infections in the country's fish. Because of the importance of cultured catfish and snakehead production in An Giang province, a major production area in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam, a survey for FZTs was carried out in randomly selected fish farms between June 2005 and March 2006. For comparison, wild fish from the same area were also surveyed. A total of 852 cultured fish from 4 districts were collected and examined by pepsin digestion to determine their FZT infection status. In Tra catfish, the prevalence of all types of metacercariae was 2.6%, of which the prevalence of Haplorchis pumilio was 0.7%. The overall prevalence of metacercariae in wild fish was 30.6%, of which 10.3% harbored zoonotic species: H. pumilio (2.8%) and Procerovum sp. (5.6%). The prevalence of Opisthorchis metacercariae, which were diagnosed as O. viverrini, was 1.9%. No metacercariae were found in cultured snakehead fish, although wild-caught snakehead fish had a FZT prevalence of 10.3%: 5.1% were O. viverrini; 2.6% H. pumilio; and 2.6% were Procerovum sp. These are the first reports of H. pumilio, Procerovum sp., and O. viverrini metacercariae in Vietnamese fish. These results indicate that consumption of improperly prepared fish represents a significant risk of acquiring FZTs in this south Vietnam region.
Animals ; Aquaculture ; Fish Diseases/*epidemiology/parasitology ; Fishes ; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic/epidemiology/parasitology/*veterinary ; Liver Diseases, Parasitic/epidemiology/parasitology/*veterinary ; Prevalence ; Trematoda/growth & development/*isolation & purification ; Trematode Infections/epidemiology/parasitology/*veterinary ; Vietnam/epidemiology ; Zoonoses/*epidemiology/parasitology

Although Vietnam has a high risk of fishborne zoonotic trematode (FZT) infections for humans, little information exists on the epidemiology of these infections in the country's fish. Because of the importance of cultured catfish and snakehead production in An Giang province, a major production area in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam, a survey for FZTs was carried out in randomly selected fish farms between June 2005 and March 2006. For comparison, wild fish from the same area were also surveyed. A total of 852 cultured fish from 4 districts were collected and examined by pepsin digestion to determine their FZT infection status. In Tra catfish, the prevalence of all types of metacercariae was 2.6%, of which the prevalence of Haplorchis pumilio was 0.7%. The overall prevalence of metacercariae in wild fish was 30.6%, of which 10.3% harbored zoonotic species: H. pumilio (2.8%) and Procerovum sp. (5.6%). The prevalence of Opisthorchis metacercariae, which were diagnosed as O. viverrini, was 1.9%. No metacercariae were found in cultured snakehead fish, although wild-caught snakehead fish had a FZT prevalence of 10.3%: 5.1% were O. viverrini; 2.6% H. pumilio; and 2.6% were Procerovum sp. These are the first reports of H. pumilio, Procerovum sp., and O. viverrini metacercariae in Vietnamese fish. These results indicate that consumption of improperly prepared fish represents a significant risk of acquiring FZTs in this south Vietnam region.
Animals ; Aquaculture ; Fish Diseases/*epidemiology/parasitology ; Fishes ; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic/epidemiology/parasitology/*veterinary ; Liver Diseases, Parasitic/epidemiology/parasitology/*veterinary ; Prevalence ; Trematoda/growth & development/*isolation & purification ; Trematode Infections/epidemiology/parasitology/*veterinary ; Vietnam/epidemiology ; Zoonoses/*epidemiology/parasitology

A 7-year-old Thoroughbred horse was admitted to the Equine Hospital, Korea Racing Association with signs of colic. Based on the size of impactions, the clinical signs, the results of abdominal paracentesis and medical treatment, the prognosis was poor. The horse died 3 hours later following hopeless discharge. At necropsy, the caecum and large colon were fully filled with fecal contents and there was a rupture (10 cm in dia) in the latero- ventral caecum. The mucosa of the ileo-caecal and caeco- colic valves appeared to the hyperemic, edematous and ulcerous. There were many tapeworms in the affected mucosa. Histopathologically, lesions included hyperaemia, a deep necrotic inflammatory lesion and ulcers in the mucosa and submucosa of ileo-caecal and caeco-colic valves. One hundred thirty four faecal samples were obtained from 16 stables and submitted to parasitic examination. A total of 4 genera of eggs were recovered: Stongylus spp (82.1%), Anoplocephala perfoliata (10.5%), Bovicola equi (0.7%) and Parascaris equorum (1.5%). The major findings in this study are the presence of A perfoliata and its suspected association with the colic which led into an eventual caecal rupture. This study indicates the needs for an epidemiological survey of colic that is associated with Anoplocephala.
Animals ; Cecal Diseases/etiology/pathology/*veterinary ; Cestoda ; Cestode Infections/complications/pathology/*veterinary ; Colic/etiology/*veterinary ; Fatal Outcome ; Fecal Impaction/complications/parasitology/veterinary ; Feces/parasitology ; Horse Diseases/etiology/*parasitology/pathology ; Horses ; Ileocecal Valve/parasitology/pathology ; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic/parasitology/pathology/*veterinary ; Intestinal Mucosa/parasitology/pathology ; Korea ; Parasite Egg Count/veterinary ; Prognosis ; Rupture, Spontaneous/pathology/veterinary

Metagonimus yokogawai (Katsurada, 1912) Katsurada, 1912 (Trematoda: Heterophyidae) is parasitic in the small intestine of mammals including man and birds in Far Eastern Russia, Korea, Japan, China, and Taiwan. In the present study, the metacercariae and adults of M. yokogawai were redescribed to designate a neotype of this fluke together with reviews of previous studies including study histories from the first discovery to now. We particularly, attempted to review the study histories and morphological descriptions of M. yokogawai for the species validity, and compared with the morphological characteristics and life cycles of the closely related species, Metagonimus takahashii and Metagonimus miyatai. Finally, we proposed a differential key for the 8 known Metagonimus species distributed in East Asia. Metacercariae were obtained from the body muscles of sweetfish (Plecoglossus altivelis) collected in the Asahi River at Takebe-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture, Japan. Adults were recovered from the small intestine of Syrian golden hamsters, to which the metacercariae had been fed 14 days before. A neotype was selected out of the present adult specimens. The Asahi River at Takebo-cho became the type locality of M. yokogawai. In conclusion, the present review shows that M. yokogawai, M. takahashii, and M. miyatai are valid and discriminated by means of morphological characteristics.
Animals ; Fish Diseases/parasitology ; Helminthiasis ; Heterophyidae/*anatomy & histology/*classification/isolation & purification ; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic/veterinary ; Japan ; *Life Cycle Stages ; Mesocricetus/parasitology ; Microscopy ; Osmeriformes/parasitology ; Rodent Diseases/parasitology

The present study was performed to know the infection status of intestinal helminths in a most common species of field mice, Apodemus agrarius, from 2 southern regions of Korea. Total 133 and 103 mice were collected by the mouse trap in Hapcheon-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do and Gurye-gun, Jeollanam-do, respectively, from July 2005 to June 2006. The small intestine of each mouse was resected and longitudinally opened with a pair of scissors. The intestinal contents were washed with 0.85% saline until the supernatant became clear. Helminths were collected with naked eyes or under a stereomicroscope from the sediment of the intestinal content. More than 11 species of helminths (4 nematode spp., 5 trematode spp., and 2 cestode spp.) were recovered. Among these, heligmosomoid nematodes (97.5%) was the most highly and heavily infected species. As the members of trematodes, Plagiorchis muris, Brachylaima sp., Echinostoma hortense, Echinostoma cinetorchis, and unidentified echinostome larvae were found in the small intestines of 35 (14.8%), 12 (5.1%), 6 (2.5%), 1 (0.4%), and 1 (0.4%) mice respectively. Two species of tapeworms, Hymenolepis nana and Hymenolepis diminuta were also detected in 79 (33.5%) and 21 (8.9%) mice, respectively. Conclusively, heligmosomoid nematodes were the most prevalent (dominant) species among more than 11 helminth species detected, and Brachylaima sp. fluke is newly added in the list of intestinal trematodes in Korea.
Animals ; Helminthiasis/epidemiology/parasitology ; Helminths/*classification/*isolation & purification ; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic/epidemiology/parasitology/*veterinary ; Korea/epidemiology ; Murinae/*parasitology ; Prevalence ; Rodent Diseases/*epidemiology/parasitology

An epidemiological study on canine intestinal parasites was undertaken to evaluate changes in the prevalence among private household dogs from the Hachinohe region of Aomori prefecture, Japan, in 1997, 2002 and 2007, using the formalin-ethyl acetate sedimentation technique. The risk of zoonotic transmission from household dogs to humans was also discussed. All intestinal parasites detected in the present study (Giardia intestinalis, Isospora spp., Toxocara canis, Ancylostoma caninum, Trichuris vulpis and Strongyloides stercoralis) showed no changes in prevalence over the past 10 years based on analysis considering canine epidemiological profiles. In particular, prevalence of Giardia intestinalis in dogs under 1 year old, derived from pet shops/breeding kennels and kept indoors was unchanged, remaining at a high level of >15.0% at each time point. Toxocara canis also showed no changes in the group of dogs under 1 year old, bred by private owners and kept outdoors, and the prevalence was >10.0% every year. The present results indicate that the prevalence of Giardia intestinalis and other intestinal parasites in private household dogs has not always decreased, and the potential for direct parasitic zoonotic transmission from dogs to humans may be relatively high level, than from the environment (indoors and outdoors). We recommend careful surveillance of intestinal parasites and aggressive use of anthelminthic in private household dogs under considering the epidemiological factors.
Animal Husbandry ; Animals ; Anthelmintics/*therapeutic use ; Dog Diseases/drug therapy/epidemiology/*parasitology ; Dogs ; Giardia lamblia/*isolation & purification ; Humans ; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic/drug therapy/epidemiology/parasitology/*veterinary ; Japan/epidemiology ; Parasitic Diseases, Animal/drug therapy/epidemiology/*parasitology ; Prevalence ; Time Factors ; Zoonoses

To determine geographical patterns of natural parasite infections among wild rodents, a total of 46 wild rodents from 3 different localities in northern Gangwon-do (Province), Korea were examined for intestinal parasite infections. Along with nematodes such as hookworms and Syphacia spp., Plagiorchis muris (2 specimens) (Trematoda) were collected from striped field mice, Apodemus agrarius. In a Korean wood mouse, Apodemus peninsulae, the overall nematode infections were similar to A. agrarius, but an adult worm of Echinostoma hortense (Trematoda) was collected. In addition, 2 species of cestodes, i.e., Hymenolepis nana and Hymenolepis diminuta, were collected from A. agrarius. Through this survey, A. agrarius and A. peninsule were confirmed as the natural definite hosts for zoonotic intestinal helminths, i.e., P. muris, E. hortense, H. nana, and H. diminuta, in northern Gangwon-do, Korea. Considering increased leisure activities around these areas, seasonal and further comprehensive surveys on wild rodents seem to be needed to prevent zoonotic parasite infections.
Animals ; Cestoda/isolation & purification ; Cestode Infections/epidemiology/parasitology/*veterinary ; Geography ; Humans ; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic/epidemiology/parasitology/*veterinary ; Murinae ; Nematoda/isolation & purification ; Nematode Infections/epidemiology/parasitology/*veterinary ; Parasitic Diseases, Animal/epidemiology/*parasitology ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Rodent Diseases/epidemiology/*parasitology ; Trematoda/isolation & purification ; Trematode Infections/epidemiology/parasitology/*veterinary ; Zoonoses