Diplozoon nipponicum, a monogenean trematode from Cyprinus carpio was described according to the characteristic findings of X-form adult, metrical data, and presence of a pair of sticky glands. It is the first record of the presence of Diplozoon nipponicum in Korea.
parasitology-helminth-trematoda ; case report ; Diplozoon nipponicum ; Cyprinus carpio

Two Korean men who had worked in Saudi Arabia complained of skin ulcers in the right wrist for 5 months or in the face and left forearm for 4 months each. Ulcers accompanying crust was observed in both cases. The characteristic cellular destruction and amastigote in the cytoplasm of histiocyte supported the diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Those are 17th and 18th imported cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Korea(summarized from text).
parasitology-protozoa ; case report ; Leishmania donovani ; leishmaniasis ; Saudi Arabia

A case of thelaziasis in 36 year-old Korean woman who suffered from foreign body sensation of both eyes and itching of conjuctiva, was reported in August 1984. Four thread-like white worms was removed from cojunctival fornix of both eyes. This is the 12th case of thelaziasis in Korea(summarized from text).
parasitology-helminth-nematoda ; case report ; Thelazia callipaeda ; thelaziasis

Boophilus microplus (Canestrini, 1887) female specimens were subjected to scanning electron microscopy for the observation of surface fine structures. Morphological characteristics observed were summarized as follows: The palpi were wider than long, and compressed, ridged dorsally and laterally. There were usually four pairs of ventro-internal setae on the articles. The hypostome dentition was usually 4/4 but occasionally 5/5. The basis capituli were hexagonal dorsally and the porose area was distinct with the holes developed well. There were numerous folds resembling finger prints around the female genital pore. A pair of anal lobes with specified setae on them was also recognized as one of the morphological characteristics.
parasitology ; arthropoda ; electron microscopy ; tick ; Boophilus microplus

The surface fine structures of Ixodes persulcatus (Schulze, 1930) male and female specimens were observed by means of a scanning electron microscope. A brief review on the biology of the ticks and their disease relationships was also presented. The sexual dimorphism of the specimen was marked; the male was quite smaller than the female. The genital groove was well developed and deep, the anal groove was distinct and characteristically extending anteriorly around the anus. The 4th article was much reduced and situated on the top of the 3rd article ventrally. The hypostome dentition was usually 3/3. The bottom of the basis capitulum of the male specimen was strictly straight in shape. This species was regarded as one of the most important vectors for infectious diseases of migrating birds.
parasitology ; arthropoda ; electron microscopy ; tick ; Ixodes persulcatus

A total of 377 pregnant women, 43 pelvic tumor patients and 80 of multiphysic health center persons as controls were examined by indirect latex agglutination test in order to evaluate Toxoplasma antibody titers at Kang-Nam St. Mary's Hospital in Seoul. Throughout this survey, 1:32 or more titers of diluted sera were regarded as positive. The 337 samples of test sera in pregnant women showed negatives in 319 cases (84.6 percent), 1:2 in 44 cases (11.7 percent), 1:4 in 9 cases (2.4 percent), 1:8 in 2 cases (0.5 percent), 1:16 in 1 case (0.3 percent) and 1:32 in 2 cases (0.5 percent) respectively. The 43 samples of test sera in pelvic tumor patients showed negatives in 29 cases (67.4 percent), 1:2 in 8 cases (18.6 percent), 1:4 in 1 case (2.3 percent), 1:16 in 2 cases (4.7 percent), 1:32 in 1 case (2.3 percent) and 1:128 in 2 cases (4.7 percent). The 80 samples of test sera in multiphysic health center persons as controls negatives in 56 cases (70.0 percent), 1:2 in 19 cases (23.8 percent), 1:4 in 3 cases (3.8 percent), 1:8 in 1 case (1.3 percent) and 1:128 in 1 case (1.3 percent). Among total 420 study cases, 5 cases (1.2 percent) showed positives , and they were 2 cases (0.5 percent) of pregnant women and 3 cases (7.0 percent) of pelvic tumor patients. One case (1.3 percent) out of 80 control sera showed positive result.
parasitology-protozoa ; Toxoplasma gondii ; diagnosis ; immunology

This study is to verify the protective ability against experimental Naegleria meningoencephalitis by immunization with Naegleria fowleri in mice. Naegleria fowleri, strain 0359, and Naegleria gruberi, strain EGB, were used in this study, and cultured in CGVS medium axenically. Inbred BALB/c mice, weighing about 20 g, were immunized by three intraperitoneal injection of 1 x 10(6) N. fowleri trophozoites at the interval of one week. This N. fowleri trophozoites antigen was fixed with 5 percent formaldehyde. N. fowleri trophozoites from culture were homogenized with sonicator at 4C as monitored by phase contrast microscopy, and their membrane and cell content preparations were made for the immunization of mice. Their inoculation dose in volume was equivalent to the 1 x 10(6) trophozoites in each injection for immunization. And N. gruberi trophozoites, which was fixed with 5 percent formaldehyde, were also used for immunization. Mice were inoculated intranasally with 5 x 10(4) N. fowleri trophozoites in a 5 microliter suspension under anesthesia by as intraperitoneal injection of about l mg secobarbiturate. Nervousness, rotation or sluggish behaviour were observed in the mice which were infected with N. fowleri. Necrotic lesion was demonstrated in the anterior portion of brain, especially in the olfactory lobe. The inflammatory cell infiltration with numerous N. fowleri trophozoites was noticed. This pathological changes were more extensive in the control than in the experimental groups. Mice were dead due to experimental primary amoebic meningoencephalitis that developed between 8 days and 23 days after inoculation. Mortality rate of the mice was low in the immunized experimental group. Mean survival time, which is the survival duration of mice from the infection to death, was prolonged significantly in the immunized mice except in the mice immunized with N. fowleri membrane. Even in the mice immunized with N. gruberi, survival time was delayed. In summary, the effectiveness of immunization is demonstrated in terms of protective immunity against Naegleria meningoencephalitis in mice.
parasitology-protozoa ; Naegleria fowleri ; meningoencephalitis ; immunology ; mouse ; brain

The present study has been designed as a basic study on laboratory diagnosis of giardiasis and to demonstrate a more effective method for the detection of Giardia lamblia cyst with the inherent advantages of minimizing both the number of stool examinations required and the interval of stool collections for estimating the real state of prevalence in the shortest time possible. There were 3 subject groups of 75 children each currently residing in an orphanage in Gunsan city, Jeonbuk province from which stool specimens were collected every day, every other day, and every 3 days. The procedure is as follows: Resuspend the fixed sample after fixation with SAF solution. Centrifuge the sediment for 1 min. at 2,000 rpm after straining through gauze into a tube. Divide the sediment into 3 parts and use them for direct fecal smear, formalin-ether concentration (MGL) and zinc sulfate (ZnSO(4)) floatation techniques. The results are summarized as follows: Overall infection rate after 10 trials showed a 60 percent positive indication. The positive rate among children under 4 years old was significantly higher than the rate in children over 4 years old. No significant difference in rate by sex was observed. The results of examinations by direct fecal smear and MGL techniques appeared more accurate than that obtained by ZnSO(4) floatation method as indicated by a higher positive rate. Of all three methods concerned, combinations of two demonstrated a higher positive rate than that shown by any one alone. In three consecutive examinations under varying conditions such as different days, the cyst detection rate by MGL technique indicated 83 percent. In 5 examinations under the same varying conditions, the indicated rate was 94 percent. The interval of stool collection proved to be insignificant for the cyst detection rate. In conclusion, both MGL method and modified fecal direct smear can provide a good cyst detection rate of G. lamblia provided that more than 3 consecutive examinations of stool under varying conditions are carried out.
parasitology-protozoa ; Giardia lamblia ; diagnosis ; ormalin ; ether ; zinc sulfate

The metabolism of Entamoeba histolytica would be affected by various environmental factors, and alteration of the environment was known to affect the fine structure of E. histolytica. The present study was designed electronmicroscopically to investigate the ultrastructure and enzyme activities in the axenic and conventional strains of E. histolytica. The trophozoites of axenically cultivated HK-9 strain and conventional YS-27 and YS-49 strains of E. histolytica were collected and fixed with 4 percent paraformaldehyde/0.1 M cacodylate buffer (pH 7.4). After washing them by centrifugation, 1 percent warm agar was added in the sediment. Solidified agar with the trophozoites was cut into 1 mm(3) cubes, and incubated in the various substrates to observe enzyme activities. Then, the specimen was post-fixed with 3 percent glutaraldehyde/0.1 M cacodylate buffer (pH 7.4) and 1 percent osmium tetroxide/0.1 M cacodylate buffer (pH 7.4), dehydrated in ascending ethanol series and embedded in epoxy resin. These were sectioned on an ultramicrotome and observed with a transmission electron microscope. The procedures for the observation of the fine structure were same as the above, except for the incubation in the substrate. The sections were stained with uranyl scetate and lead citrate. For the observation of the surface of the amoebae, scanning electron microscopy was carried out. The results obtained in the present study are summarized as follows: The fuzzy coat around double-layered plasma membrane of E. histolytica was more irregularly and densely distributed in the conventional strains (YS-27, YS-49 strains) than in the axenic strain (HK-9 strain). The endosomes, button bodies and chromatin material were surrounded by a double-layered nuclear membrane having scattered nuclear pores. The paranuclear body, mono- or double-layered vacuoles, vacuolar membrane whorls, rosette-like cylindrical bodies, aggregation of cylindrical bodies and helical bodies were found in the cytoplasm of the amoebae. Helical bodies and glycogen granules were generally abundant, while a few smooth endoplasmic reticula were observed in the cytoplasm. Alkaline phosphatase activity was mainly demonstrated in the plasma membrane, limiting membranes of vacuoles and smooth endoplasmic reticula. ATPase activity was observed in the nucleus, limiting membranes of vacuoles and vacuolar membrane whorls. Acid phosphatase activity was commonly demonstrated in the limiting membranes an contents of vacuoles, lysosome-like organelles, plasma membrane and the button bodies in the nucleus. The activity was more weakly demonstrated in the HK-9 strain than in the other conventional strains of E. histolytica. No peroxidase activity was observed in the amoeba strains employed in the present study. With a scanning electron microscope, no distinct structural differences were observed between the amoeba strains. All the trophozoite forms of the amoebae showed crater-like depressions and rugged features on the outer surface.
parasitology-protozoa ; Entamoeba histolytica ; electronmicroscopy ; alkaline phosphatase

An acephalic budding Cysticercus of 1.2 cm long was removed surgically at the abdominal wall of a Korean man. The worm revealed abnormal buds on the bladder wall and absence of suckers and hooklets in the scolex body. The buds were of two histologic types; branching bud covered with normal tegumentum and with subtegumental cells of normal density, and buds of proliferated subtegumental cells with lacunae formation. On the bases of the morphologic features, it was identified as a racemose cysticercus. This case confirms that its extracranial location is possible.
parasitology-helminth-cestoda ; Taenia solium ; cysticercus ; case report