Ten adult worms of Pharynogostomum cordatum were recovered from a cat instesine purchased in August 1980 at the Namdaemun Market, Seoul, Korea. It is the first case report of cat pharyngostomiasis in Korea.
parasitology-helminth-trematoda ; case report ; cat ; Pharyngostomum cordatum

To study the basic pathological changes of small intestine in metagonimiasis, light- and electron microscopic studies were made, using a total of 21 cats which were experimentally infected with metacercariae of Metagonimus yokogawai. The metacercariae were obtained from naturally infected sweetfish (Plecoglossus altivelis) by digestion technique. The cats were divided in control, light-infection(10,000 metacercariae infected) and heavy-infection(50,000 metacercariae infected) groups. Cats were killed at the 5th, 10th, 15th day, and 4th, 8th and 10th week after the infection. And the small intestine was prepared for the study. Pathological studies comprised gross examination, worm distribution pattern, light microscopic examination and both transmission and scanning electron microscopic examinations. The results obtained were summarized as follows. Gross morphologic changes were the most marked during the first 2 weeks after infection. The gross abnormalities were severer in the heavily infected animals. The changes were dryness and listlessness of serosal surface due to dehydration, mushy and/or watery intestinal content, effacement of transverse nodes and enlargement of mesenteric lymph folds and Peyer's patches. After 4 weeks of infection, these changes became less marked showing a tendency to return to normal. The sectioned flukes were distributed from duodenum to proximal ileum. However, individual variation was marked in distribution. In the heavy-infection group, the locality of parasitism tended to extend more distally. The locality of M. yokogawai in the intervillous space was mostly in the lower-most portion of intervillous space, where they compressed and eroded epithelial cells probably due to mechanical damage to the structure. Very rarely the worms were found in lumen of Lierberkuehn's crypt, and reaching, in two occasions, into proprial lymphoid tissue. Light-microscopically the lesion was restricted in mucosa: Early mucosal changes were shortening, blunting, fusion, and thickening of the villi, crypt hypertrophy with consequent decrease of villus/crypt ratio, as well as stromal changes of edema, capilliary ectasia and marked inflammatory cell infiltration of lymphocytes and plasma cells. Goblet cells were markedly reduced in number as with depletion of its cytoplasmic content. In the later stages of infection, mucosa restored its normal configuration in spite of persistent parasitism of the worms. At the infection stage of 5-15 days, there was significant shortening of the microvillous height with varible destruction of glycocalyx in electron microscopic examination. With lapse of infection time, microvilli became to restore the normal pattern. With these morphological changes, it appears that diarrhea in experimental metagonimiasis would be related to the decrease of absorptive surface of the small intestine particularly in the early phase of infection. The significant changes seen in villi and microvilli might be due to massive intrusion or invasion of Metagonimus worms into the crypts, causing direct mechanical and possible host-immune response to the small bowel mucosa.
parasitology-helminth-trematoda ; metagonimiasis ; Metagonimus yokogawai ; pathology ; cat-intestine ; edema ; lymphocytes ; plasma cells ; goblet cell

A study was carried out to evaluate the house rats in southern Korea as reservoir host of intestinal trematodes, in 13 different areas: 7 in inland and 6 in brackish-water zones, during the period from August 1980 to August 1981. A total of 170 house rats was captured; 101 rats from inland and 69 from brackish-water zones. They consisted of 129 Rattus norvegicus, 22 R. rattus rufescens, and 19 unidentified. The infection status of the rats were as follows: Total 29 rats (17.1%) were infected by one or more kinds of intestinal trematodes; 27 from inland and 2 from brackish-water zones by areas. Rats in inland were more heavily infected. The intestinal trematodes collected from rats were identified as Echinostoma hortense, E. cinetorchis, Plagiorchis muris, Fibricola seoulensis, Clonorchis sinensis and Metagonimus yokogawai. As a reservoir host, the rats were very important in Echinostoma hortense and E. cinetorchis infection. Rats infected with these trematodes were found widely in southern Korea, and its infection rates were the highest among the discriminated flukes. In this study, no rats were found to be infected with Heterophyes and Pygidiopsis even in endemic areas. The negligible importance of rats as reservoir host of these heterophyid should be reevaluated in the future.
parasitology-helminth-trematoda ; rat- Rattus norvegicus-Rattus rattus rufescens ; zoonosis ; epidemiology ; Echinostoma hortense ; Echinostoma cinetorchis ; Plagiorchis muris ; Fibricola seoulensis ; Clonorchis sinensis ; intestine ; Metagonimus yokogawai

To evaluate the Kato's cellophane thick smear techcique in detection ability of various helminth ova, authors examined 1,843 nationwidely collected stool specimens by the two methods, formalin-ether technique and cellophane thick smear technique. And the results were analyzed. The positive rates of following helminth ova were superior in cellophane thick smear technique to those of formalin-ether technique: Ascaris lumbricoides(62.3% : 51.1%), Taenia species (1.5% : 0.9%). The difference in A. lumbricoides ova detection is highly significant one. The overall positive rate for helminths ova was also higher in Kato's method (92.3% : 90.0%). The positive fates of following helminth ova were infrior in cellophane thick smear technique to those of formalin-ether technique: Hookworm (5.8% : 14.6%), Trichostrongylus orientalis(3.2% : 17.8%), Clonorchis sinensis(8.3% : 11.0%), Metagonimus yokogawai (0.6% : 1.7%) and Hymenolepis nana(0.05% : 0.3%). The positive rate for the ova of Trichocephalus trichiurus by the two methods was incidentally same, 74.1%. The causes of inferior positive rates in some helminth ova by cellophane thick smear technique were shortly discussed and suggests some opinions in improvement of detection ability.
parasitology-helminth-nematoda ; diagnosis ; Ascaris lumbricoides ; Taenia species ; Hookworm ; Trichostrongylus orientalis ; Clonorchis sinensis ; Metagonimus yokogawai ; Trichocephalus trichiurus

The present clinical trial was conducted to determine the efficacy and tolerance of oxantel(CP-14, 445), one of pyrimidine derivative, in the treatment of Trichocephalus trichiurus infection. One hundred eighty two cases who harboured T. trichiurus were treated with oxantel in a single dose of 10 to 25 mg/kg of body weight. For the evaluation, the negative conversion rate and egg reduction rate were calculated before and 22 days after the treatment. The results obtained were as follows: The prevalence rate of T. trichiurus infection in present study was 64.2% by examining 1,536 fecal specimens collected. The overall negative conversion rate was 66.5%, while the highest rate(93.3%) was obtained in the group treated with 20 mg/kg of oxantel (Group III). The lowest rate(56.6%) was observed in Group I (10 mg/kg). The overall egg reduction rate on present study was 90.3%. The highest rate, 100% of egg reduction was also obtained in Group III (20 mg/kg). From the observation of 1,244 expelled worms, it was known that 45.0% of collected worms were expelled on the first of post-treatment day, and male and female worms were about the same in number(1.03 : 1). Average worm burden per capita was 11.1 in this observation. The medication was readily accepted and tolerated by all the treated cases. On the hemograms, urinalysis and liver function tests, no significant differences were noted before and after the drug administration. Side reactions were so mild and transient that none required specific treatment.
parasitology-helminth-nematoda ; Trichocephalus trichiurus ; oxantel ; chemotherapy-trichuriasis ; drug ; hematology ; liver ; urinalysis ; side reaction

A fracture of the femoral neck in a young adult differs from the same fracture in an older patient in the following respects; 1. A relatively uncommon injury. 2. A significant difference in the severity of trauma. 3. A less satisfactory result. At the point of view, we studied the femoral neck fcartures in 15, 20- to 50-year-old patients. The aims were to analyze why these fractures occur in young adults, and what results can be expected after internal fixation. The results were as follows; 1. Common in men (3:1). 2. 80% (12/15 cases) of the fractures were caused by severe trauma. 3. The 3 cases (20%) were associated with the other fractures. 4. The factors infuencing the clinical results and complications in our study; a. Severity of trauma. b. Degree of displacement. c. Existence of posterior comminution. d. Time interval between accident and operation. 5. The multiple pinning got the more rigid fixation and diminished the rate of fixation failure. 6. All cases were achieved good to acceptable reduction. 7. Satisfactory functional results were achieved in 93.3%. 8. The rate of avascular necrosis was 15.4% (2/13 cases). It is concluded that the most of femoral neck fractures in younger patients occur because of the significant trauma. In our study, the incidence of avascular necrosis was not greater than in order patients. Therefore, to get as good a result as possible it seems important to perform the anatomical tion and rigid internal fixation with or without bone graft.
Femoral Neck Fractures ; Femur Neck ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Necrosis ; Transplants ; Young Adult

Deep vein thrombosis is a frequently lethal complication following musculoskeletal surgery and skeletal trauma. For this study on incidence of deep vein thrombosis, we examined the data on 40 patients with contrast venography. Thrombosis limited to the veins in the calf of the leg was shown in 10 patients by venography. None of these patients had clinical symptoms of deep vein thrombosis or indicating embolism. We therefore concluded that the incidence of deep vein thrombosis of the lower extremity after injury or operation in Korea is not so rare as was considered before.
Embolism ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Leg ; Lower Extremity ; Phlebography ; Thrombosis ; Veins ; Venous Thrombosis

A total of 28 patients of confirmed cerebral parenchymal cysticercosis was followed serologically by ELISA(enzyme linked immunosorbent assay) and clinically over 1 year after praziquantel treatment. The subjects were confined to pure cerebral parenchymal form of neurocysticercosis patients in order to evaluate the effect of praziquantel on specific IgG antibody level. The main clinical features were epilepsy and headache and the brain CT showed multiple low densities, cystic rnass, nodule and calcifications. The patients included in this study were categorized into 3 groups according to the follow-up period, namely, group I (1-2 years), group II (2-3 years) and group III(over 3 years). In serum, the post-treatment(last follow-up) anti-body levels were decreased to 71% in group I, 50% in group II and 52% in group III of pre-treatment levels. Also, in CSF, the post-treatment antibody levels were decreased to 81% in group I, 71% in group II and 33% in group III of pre-treatment levels. Eight patients(2 in group I, 3 in group II, 3 in group III) showed negative conversion of IgG antibody in both serum and CSF during follow-up period. All antibody levels in serum and CSF were expected to decline below negative range around 56-57 months after praziquantel treatment by simple linear regression analysis. However, in CSF, it took about 66-67 months for high pre-treatrnent titer patients above 0.8 to convert into negative range and about 34-35 rnonths for low pre-treatrnent titer ones below 0.8. In conclusion. It might be possible to differentiate serologically the early cured from the chronically ill patients uith slowly calcifying lesion by ELISA in neurocysticercosis, :which would be also helpful to determine the next treatment modality.
Brain ; Chronic Disease ; Cysticercosis* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay* ; Epilepsy ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Headache ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Linear Models ; Neurocysticercosis ; Praziquantel*

The authors examined 3,169 fecal specimens from inhabitants of seven localities such as City, Eups and Myons in Cheju Do on July 1970 with cellophane thick smear technique. The results were analysed and summarized as follows: The overall egg positive rate of helminths was 82.2% and it was attributed to high rates of soil-transmitted helminths as in case of other parts in Korea. The infection rates of each species were; A. lumbricoides 44.3%, T. trichiurus 65.6%, hookworm 1.5%, T. orientalis 0.8%, C. sinensis 0.2%, P. westermani 0.4%, M. yokogawai 0.9%, Taenia sp. 12.7% and H. nana 1.4%. The infection rates of soil-transmitted helminths were relatively lower than those of mainland Korea especially in case of hookworm and T. orientalis. The proportion of unfertilized ova passers among the Ascaris infected case was 22.1%. The ova of heterophyids, most probably Metagonimus yokogawai were detected in lower percentage but discovered throughout the localities surveyed and in all age groups. It is certainly presumed that Metagonimus infection is autochthonous. The most interesting results were obtained in Taenia sp. infection and the higher rates were shown in rural area than in urbanized areas. The positive rates were within 5% in childhood and adolescence but abruptly increased up to 36.4 % in adults.
parasitology-helminth-nematoda-trematoda-cestoda ; Ascaris lumbricoides ; Trichuris trichiura ; hookworm ; Trichostrongylus orientalis ; Clonorchis sinensis ; Paragonimus westermani ; Metagonimus yokogawai ; Taenia sp. ; Hymenolepis nana

PURPOSE: It is important to diagnose paragonimiasis in early active stage because it can be dured by chemotherapy. However, it is difficult to make a correct diagnosis of cerebral paragonimiasis in the early active stage, and the radiographic findings of cerebral paragonimiasis have been rarely reported. Thus, this experimental study was designed to produce early active cerebral paragonimiasis and to demonstrate radiologic-pathologic correlations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 8 cats, 7-8 metacercariae of Paragonimus westerrnani were directly introduced into the brain parenchyma of each cat's after trephination of the skull. In anogher 16 cats, the juvenile worms and the adult worms that had developed for varying periods (2 weeks, 4 weeks, 6 weeks, 8 weeks and 12 weeks) in the lunges of another cats were introduced into the brain parenchyma of each cat's with the same procedures described above. Follw-up MR images and chest radiographs were obtained at 2 days, 1 weeks, 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 8 weeks after innoculation. The autopsies and histopathological examinations of the cat's brain were undertaken in 22 cats. In 9 cats that were suspected with pulmonary lesions on chest radiograph, the soft tissue radiographs of inflated-fixed lungs were obtained. RESULTS: In one cat with innoculation of adult worm, acute suppurative inflammation of the brain parenchyma was demonstrated. But the other cats with innoculction of adult worm or juvenile worm and the cats with innoulation of metacercaris did not reveal any evidence of acute cerebral paragonimiasis. More than half of the introduced metacercariae(5 out of 8 cats) were found in the lung parenchyma, while only 25%(4 out of 16 cats) of the adult worm innoculated cats were. CONCLUSION: Acute suppurative inflammation suggesting acute stage cerebral paragonimiasis was obtained in one case of adult worm innoculated cat. Most of the innoculated metacercariae and some of the juvenile worms or adult worms were migrated to the lungs.
Adult ; Animals ; Autopsy ; Brain ; Cats* ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Lung ; Metacercariae ; Paragonimiasis* ; Paragonimus ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Skull ; Trephining