The giant roundworm Ascaris infects pigs and people worldwide and causes serious diseases. The taxonomic relationship between Ascaris suum and Ascaris lumbricoides is still unclear. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the genetic diversity and population genetic structure of 258 Ascaris specimens from humans and pigs from 6 sympatric regions in Ascaris-endemic regions of China using existing simple sequence repeat data. The microsatellite markers showed a high level of allelic richness and genetic diversity in the samples. Each of the populations demonstrated excess homozygosity (Ho < He, Fis > 0). According to a genetic differentiation index (Fst=0.0593), there was a high-level of gene flow in the Ascaris populations. A hierarchical analysis on molecular variance revealed remarkably high levels of variation within the populations. Moreover, a population structure analysis indicated that Ascaris populations fell into 3 main genetic clusters, interpreted as A. suum, A. lumbricoides, and a hybrid of the species. We speculated that humans can be infected with A. lumbricoides, A. suum, and the hybrid, but pigs were mainly infected with A. suum. This study provided new information on the genetic diversity and population structure of Ascaris from human and pigs in China, which can be used for designing Ascaris control strategies. It can also be beneficial to understand the introgression of host affiliation.
Ascaris lumbricoides ; Ascaris suum ; Ascaris ; China ; Gene Flow ; Genetic Structures ; Genetic Variation ; Humans ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Swine

No abstract available.
Ascaris lumbricoides* ; Ascaris* ; Diagnosis*

The histochemical study, especially the demonstration of alkaline phosphatase and acid phosphatase was carried out in order to differentiate ascarides of human and pigs. The experimental material were obtained from naturally contaminated men and pigs. As the histochemical staining methods the Gomori's was applied for acid phosphatase and Takeuchi and Takami's for alkaline phosphatase. The results obtained were summerized as follows : In the pig's ascarides, alkaline phosphatase was richly found in the subcuticular tissue, lateral line, median line, strial zone and epithelial cells of the intestine, epithelial cell and basal membrane of the ovary, the same part of the uterus and also in eggs. Acid phosphatase in the pig's ascarides were distributed in the same part as alkaline phosphatase. It, however, was darker brown in the soft tissue of the lateral line, epithelium of excretory canal, median bundle, whole zone of the intestine and intestinal contents. In the human ascarides, the alkaline phosphatase was distributed in the testes and the parts where the acid phosphatase was found in the pig ascarides. The acid phosphatase in the human ascarides was demonstrated in the subcuticular tissue, soft tissue of lateral line, epithelium of excretory cells, strial zone, transparent zone, granular zone and epithelial zone of esophagus and intestine, ovary, ova in the uterus, epithelial cell and basal membrane of the uterus and in testes. In the pig's ascarides, the area of distribution of alkaline phosphatase was restricted, but that of acid phosphatase was wider. In human ascarides, the area of distribution of alkaline phosphatase and acid phosphatase was not significantly different, but in some part showed slight difference. Above mentioned finding suggest that the distribution of phosphatase could be utilized for the differentiation of ascarides of human and pig.
parasitology-helminth-nematode-Ascaris lumbricoides ; Ascaris suum ; histochemistry ; differentiation ; alkaline phosphatase ; acid phosphatase ; animal ; human ; pig

No abstract available.
Ascaris suum* ; Ascaris* ; Haplorhini* ; Histamine* ; Rhinitis*

Infection with adult Ascaris primarily occurs in the gastrointestinal system, but physical migrationother than this has been reported. To date, only a small number of cases have been reported to involvethe urinary system and no report of Ascariasis migration to the retroperitoneal space.This is a case of a 38-year-old female admitted as a case of perinephric abscess, renal mass right.Patient was initially managed conservatively with broad spectrum antibiotics and tube drainage, butwith the deteriorating condition, an exploratory laparotomy, with retroperitoneal exploration wasdone. During exploration, no colonic fistula was noted. The renal parenchyma was noted to bepinkish with a 1cm opening at the mid lateral pole associated with purulent discharge. Interestingly,a 6cm x 1cm wax-like, moving structure was found in the retroperitoneal space The object wasremoved with Debakey forceps and was determined to be Ascaris lumbricoides by histopathology.Fecal analysis of stool for ova and parasites was negative for Ascaris. The patient then had an uneventfulrecovery.Currently, there are only two theories on how Ascaris lumbricoides can be introduced into the urinarysystem. The first includes fistulation between the GI and urinary system and second by retrogrademigration of the adult worm through the urethra. Given the current data, the authors believe that thepatient experienced retrograde invasion of Ascaris through the urethra, and subsequently migrated tothe retroperitoneal space through fistulation.Ascariasis of the genitourinary tract is a rare condition. This is the first reported case of ascariasis inthe retroperitoneum.
Ascaris lumbricoides

For the purpose of making a comparative study of protein compositions in Ascaris suum by sexes and body parts, extracts were prepared from whole bodies, body walls, genital organs, digestive organs and body fluid, of both sexes. And electrophoretic analysis was conducted using polyacrylamide slab gel in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. The results were as follows: In this study, protein bands of each part were separated in the largest number and most clearly under 8 -12 percent (10 percent) gradient gel condition. The number of bands by body parts was 43 in body walls, 51 in genital organs, 47 in digestive organs, and 34 in body fluid. When examined in terms of sex, the number of bands of whole body was 38 in females and 35 in males. The electrophoretic patterns of body wall protein were in most cases similar with those seen in digestive organs. And the band with a molecular weight of 72,900 was unique to the body wall, and the 122,000 MW band was unique to the female body wall. In genital organ extracts, large molecular weight proteins (more than 80,000) were more frequently met. The molecular weights showed some differences between the two sexes. Of the bands, those having molecular weights of 119,700, 100,500, 88,500 and 86,100 were unique to the female genital organs. On the other hand, the male genital organs showed unique bands having molecular weights of 87,100, 82,800, and 15,500. An unique band common to the genital organs of both sexes was one having 49,300 MW. In the digestive organs evenly distributed protein bands of molecular weights of l0,000-120,000 were observed. The band having 59,800 MW was unique to the digestive organs. The number of bands obtained from body fluid was comparatively small, and the number of bands having less than 30,000 MW was 7, accounting for 55 percent of the total protein amounts. The bands having 47,600 MW and 31,400 MW were unique to body fluid.
parasitology-helminth-nematoda ; Ascaris suum ; biochemistry ; protein

In order to find out a valuable control measure for soil-transmitted parasties, the infectivity in mice of Ascaris eggs irradiated with Cobalt(60) were examined. The results were summarised as follows. In vitro, Ascaris eggs irradiated with larger doses of Cobalt(60) developed poorly, and no difference was found between fresh eggs and those cultured for a few days. Ascaris eggs irradiated with doses of 200,000 rad. developed at the rate of 90 percent after 4 weeks, whereas those irradiated with 1,000,000 rad. developed 28 percent. Ascaris eggs irradiated with Cobalt(60) after 2 weeks of culture were poor in development compared with those of 4 week culture. Eggs cultured for 5 weeks showed weaker infectivity in mice than those cultured for 8 weeks. In the control groups, the infectivity in mice of Ascaris eggs was remained the same between 5 and 8 weeks. The minimum dose of Cobalt(60) irradiation effective for preventing infectivity in mice was estimated to be 200,000 rad.
parasiotology ; radiology ; prevention ; Ascaris suum ; nematode ; Cobalt(60) ; irradiation

In the present study, the effect of primary infection to reinfection with Ascaris suum larvae was experimented in mouse model. Mice were challenged with l,000 infective stage eggs of Ascaris suum. The embryonated eggs were directly introduced into stomach of mice. Reinfection was performed at 50 days after the primary infection with same method as primary infection. Mice were sacrificed 3, 5, 7, 10, 15 and 20 days after infection in both groups respectively. Larvae collected from livers and lungs with Baermann's apparatus were enumerated and measured after sacrifice. Sera of mice were also collected at same time. The results of the experiment were as follows: With antigen prepared from coelomic fluid of adult Ascaris suum and sera collected from mice before reinfection, the production of antibody in experimental mice was confirmed by the gel-diffusion technique. In the livers of reinfected mice, the larvae were recovered up to 10 days after challenge, otherwhile in the primary infected mice, the larvae were observed up to 7 days. The maximum number of larvae were observed in the lungs of primary infected mice on 10 days after inoculation. In the lungs of reinfected mice, maximum number of larvae were recovered on 7 days after, only few larvae were recovered on 10 days after reinfection. As regards the growth of the larvae, the third stage larvae, over 500 micrometer in length, appeared in livers at 5 days after reinfection, but it couldn't be found on 7 days and 10 days after challenge. The third stage larvae continuously developed were observed in lungs of mice from 5 days after reinfection. In conclusion, it was found that development of larvae in livers of immune mice were probably repressed by the immune mechanisms being rised in livers and defence mechanism is also acting by interfering with the process of larval penetration into the lung from the liver.
parasitology-helminth-nematoda ; immunology ; Ascaris lumbricoides ; mouse

The epidemiological status of ascariasis was analyzed in 8 rural villages in Korea, through observation of its epidemiological parameters such as prevalence, worm burden and basic reproductive rate. Total 978 inhabitants were subjected to stool examination and recovery of worms after chemotherapy with pyrantel pamoate. The results were as follows: The worm positive rate in each village was 16.5-79.5%, while the egg positive rate was 9-18% lower, 3.3-66.7%. The average worm burden(among all inhabitants) ranged from 0.21 to 8.44 by villages and the frequency of cases with each worm burden showed negative binomial distributions with 'k' values of 0.38-0.54. The prevalence rates (worm) in each village was almost identical with the theoretical ones from Anderson and May's equation; p=1-(1+M(*)/k)**(-k), where 'p' is worm prevalence and 'M(*)' equilibrium average worm burden. The basic reproductive rate 'R' was calculated from 1.03 to 2.11. It is suggested that, although 'R' in lower endemic areas is approaching to the breakpoint of reinfection (R=1), control programs of ascariasis in Korea should be continued until it becomes below the level nationwidely.
parasitology-helminth-nematoda ; epidemiology ; Ascaris lumbricoides

In Ascaris lumbricoides infection, the faecal examination, undertaking for ova detection, is not always diagnostic. It is just because some of the infected cases has Ascaris worm(s) which do not produce eggs. In the present study, the authors attempted to analyse quantitatively the egg discharging patterns in Ascaris infected cases with low worm burden. The following results were obtained: In 1,861 Ascaris worms collected from 853 cases, the sex ratio was 1: 0.74 (female: male). Sex combinations in each burden of case were always fitted with theoretical values from the binomial distribution; (m+f)(n)= (0.426+0.574)(n). In each worm burden, their sex combination indicated different egg discharging patterns; false negative cases, unfertilized ova passers and fertilized ova passers. When the relative frequency of the above three egg discharging patterns was plotted to worm burden per case, a definite relationship was found. The cases with six or more worms have nil probability to be false negative case or unfertilized ova passer. Out of 853 cases, we found 129 false negative cases. The collected worms from 125 cases were morphologically analysed. It was found that 52% of them were infected with only male worm(s) and 24% were infected with young female worm(s). And in 8.8%, old female(s) with empty uterus were infected. The cause of 15.2% was remained unexplained, even though the collected worms were scrutinized.
parasitology-helminth-nematoda ; Ascaris lumbricoides ; egg ; epidemiology