To observe the antigenic protein fractions in saline extract of Spirometra mansoni plerocercoid (sparganum), the crude extract was separated in reducing conditions of sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis(SDS-PAGE). The proteins, transferred by electrophoresis to nitrocellulose paper, were reacted with sera from 15 surgically confirmed sparganosis and 24 cysticercosis patients for immunoblotting. Out of 30 identified protein bands in the extract, bands of 29 and 36 kilodaltons (kDa) were the strongest and the most frequently reacting with specific antibody (IgG) in sparganosis sera. Bands of higher molecular weight also reacted with the sera but their frequency of reactions was lower. Sera of cysticercosis reacted with different protein bands in saline extract of sparganum, but the cross reactions were observed in strong antigenic bands of 29 and 36 kDa.
parasitology-helminth-cestoda ; Spirometra mansoni ; plerocercoid ; sparganum ; antigen ; proteins ; sparganosis ; immunoblot ; immunology ; protein

One hundred and two stray dogs in Ejungbu City of Kyunggi-Do, Korea were examined to reveal out the degree of natural helminthic infection of small intestine. Helminthes were collected at autopsy, by scraping the intestinal contents. The collected worms were classified by their morphological characteristics. Out of 102 examined, 72 dogs were infected with any helminthes. The common helminthes were Dipylidium caninum (47 percent), Ancylostoma caninum (26 percent), Toxascaris leonina (16 percent) and Toxocara canis (13 percent). Taenia pisiformis (9 percent), Echinostoma hortense (4 percent), E. cinetorchis (2 percent), Spirometra mansoni (2 percent) were also found. One dog was incidentally found to be infected with Clonorchis sinensis. The prevalence of Toxascaris leonina was relatively high in this study over Toxocara canis, and its significance was discussed. Dogs were firstly described as the reservoir hosts of Echinostoma hortense and E. cinetorchis in Korea.
parasitology-helminth-nematoda-trematoda ; cestoda ; dog ; epidemiology ; morphology ; Dipylidium caninum ; Ancylostoma caninum ; Toxascaris leonina ; Toxocara canis ; Taenia pisiformis ; Echinostoma hortense ; Echinostoma cinetorchis ; Spirometra mansoni ; reservoir host ; intermediate host