Objective: To understand the prevalence, trend and related factors on soil-borne nematode in Danzhou city to provide information for prevention and control of the disease. Methods: According to the guidelines set by the National National soil-borne nematode technical solutions, one village was randomly chosen from every township as the monitoring location, in the east, west, south and north parts of Danzhou city. A total of 200 residents aged 3 years and over were randomly selected in each monitoring site, with modified Kato thick smear and Cellophane tape anal swab used for microscopy. Results: In this survey, we retrospectively analyzed the rates on soil borne nematode infection in five monitoring locations of Danzhou city and the results showed that the overall positive rates of infection was 19.5% (195/1 000). Comparing with the previous surveys, rates on soil-borne parasites infection were decreasing. The main types of soil-borne nematode infection appeared as roundworm, whipworm, hookworm and pinworm in Danzhou city, with rate of hookworm-egg infection ranking the highest (42.5%, 85/200) in Dacheng. The infection rate was seen significantly higher in females than males. People aged over 60 and between 3-10, had a higher rates of infection. Rate on multiple infections reached 16.9%, including 5 triple infection cases. Conclusion: Rates of infection on soil-borne nematodes in Danzhou city showed a decreasing trend from 2013 to 2016 with hookworm and whipworm as the major ones.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Distribution ; Aged ; Animals ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China/epidemiology* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nematoda/isolation & purification* ; Nematode Infections/epidemiology* ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Serogroup ; Soil ; Surveys and Questionnaires

In recent years, root rot diseases of Chinese herbal medicine have been posing grave threat to the development of the traditional Chinese medicine industry. This article presents a review on the occurring situation of the root rot disease, including the occurrence of the disease, the diversity of the pathogens, the regional difference in dominant pathogens,and the complexity of symptoms and a survey of the progress in bio-control of the disease using antagonistic microorganisms. The paper also discusses the existing problems and future prospects in the research.
Animals ; Antibiosis ; Bacteria ; growth & development ; Fungi ; physiology ; Nematoda ; growth & development ; Pest Control, Biological ; methods ; Plant Diseases ; microbiology ; parasitology ; prevention & control ; Plant Roots ; microbiology ; parasitology ; Plants, Medicinal ; microbiology ; parasitology

A 52-yr-old male was referred for progressive visual loss in the left eye. The decimal best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.01. Fundus examination revealed diffuse retinal pigment epithelial degeneration, focal yellow-white, infiltrative subretinal lesion with fuzzy border and a live nematode within the retina. Diffuse unilateral subacute neuroretinitis (DUSN) was diagnosed and the direct laser photocoagulation was performed to destroy the live nematode. During eight months after treatment, BCVA gradually improved to 0.2 along with the gradual restoration of outer retinal layers on SD-OCT. We report on the first case of DUSN in Korea. DUSN should be included in the differential diagnosis of unexplained unilateral visual loss in otherwise healthy subjects.
Animals ; Blindness/diagnosis/parasitology ; Eye Infections, Parasitic/diagnosis/parasitology/*therapy ; Fundus Oculi ; Humans ; Laser Therapy/methods ; Light Coagulation/methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nematoda/*pathogenicity ; Republic of Korea ; Retinal Pigment Epithelium/*parasitology/pathology ; Retinitis/diagnosis/*parasitology/*therapy ; Visual Acuity

A 52-yr-old male was referred for progressive visual loss in the left eye. The decimal best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.01. Fundus examination revealed diffuse retinal pigment epithelial degeneration, focal yellow-white, infiltrative subretinal lesion with fuzzy border and a live nematode within the retina. Diffuse unilateral subacute neuroretinitis (DUSN) was diagnosed and the direct laser photocoagulation was performed to destroy the live nematode. During eight months after treatment, BCVA gradually improved to 0.2 along with the gradual restoration of outer retinal layers on SD-OCT. We report on the first case of DUSN in Korea. DUSN should be included in the differential diagnosis of unexplained unilateral visual loss in otherwise healthy subjects.
Animals ; Blindness/diagnosis/parasitology ; Eye Infections, Parasitic/diagnosis/parasitology/*therapy ; Fundus Oculi ; Humans ; Laser Therapy/methods ; Light Coagulation/methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nematoda/*pathogenicity ; Republic of Korea ; Retinal Pigment Epithelium/*parasitology/pathology ; Retinitis/diagnosis/*parasitology/*therapy ; Visual Acuity

Serine proteases form one of the most important families of enzymes and perform significant functions in a broad range of biological processes, such as intra- and extracellular protein metabolism, digestion, blood coagulation, regulation of development, and fertilization. A number of serine proteases have been identified in parasitic helminths that have putative roles in parasite development and nutrition, host tissues and cell invasion, anticoagulation, and immune evasion. In this review, we described the serine proteases that have been identified in parasitic helminths, including nematodes (Trichinella spiralis, T. pseudospiralis, Trichuris muris, Anisakis simplex, Ascaris suum, Onchocerca volvulus, O. lienalis, Brugia malayi, Ancylostoma caninum, and Steinernema carpocapsae), cestodes (Spirometra mansoni, Echinococcus granulosus, and Schistocephalus solidus), and trematodes (Fasciola hepatica, F. gigantica, and Schistosoma mansoni). Moreover, the possible biological functions of these serine proteases in the endogenous biological phenomena of these parasites and in the host-parasite interaction were also discussed.
Animals ; Cestoda/classification/*enzymology/growth & development/physiology ; Host-Parasite Interactions ; Life Cycle Stages ; Nematoda/classification/*enzymology/growth & development/physiology ; Serine Proteases/genetics/*metabolism ; Trematoda/classification/*enzymology/growth & development/physiology

The methanolic extract obtained from the root portion of Caltha palustris var. alba was evaluated for its anthelmintic efficacy against gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep under both in vitro and in vivo conditions using worm motility inhibition (WMI) assay and fecal egg count reduction (FECR) assay, respectively. The extract was subjected to antimicrobial activity using agar-well diffusion method against different bacterial strains. In addition the extract was evaluated for cytotoxic and antioxidant activity against cultured THP-1(Leukemia), A-549 (Lung), HCT-15 (Colon), Cervix (HeLa) and PC-3(Prostrate) cell lines by SRB and DPPH radical scavenging assays. The extract used resulted in mean %WMI of 94.44%, as observed when the worms were put in lukewarm buffer for 30 min after exposure to different treatments. The mean mortality index of the sample was 0.95. The lethal concentration (LC50) was 0.11 mg·mL(-1). Cell lines were exposed to concentration of 100 μg·mL(-1) of extract for 48 h, which reduced the viability of these cell lines. The same plant extract also showed 55.58% DPPH radical scavenging activity.
Animals ; Anthelmintics ; pharmacology ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Bacteria ; drug effects ; Biphenyl Compounds ; metabolism ; Feces ; parasitology ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; parasitology ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Nematoda ; drug effects ; Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Phytotherapy ; Picrates ; metabolism ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Ranunculaceae ; Sheep ; parasitology

Nowadays various protein medicines are increasingly playing significant roles in the treatment of many diseases, but the bioactive structures of such kinds of protein medicines are unstable because they are heat sensitive. Therefore, it is very important to explore a protective method and to explain the protective mechanism of protein medicines. In the present research, insulin was chosen as a heat-sensitive protein medicine, and a Group 3 late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) protein was chosen as its bioactive protectant during desiccation. The results of replica exchange molecular dynamics simulation suggest that comparing with insulin without any protection, the bioactive 3D structure and secondary structure of the insulin protected by LEA protein were preserved very well. All analyzing results proved that the LEA protein was a good bioactive protectant for heat sensitive protein medicines.
Animals ; Cold Temperature ; Drug Stability ; Freeze Drying ; Helminth Proteins ; chemistry ; Insulin ; chemistry ; Nematoda ; Plant Proteins ; pharmacology ; Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs ; Protein Structure, Secondary

This study describes the first record of Bourgelatia diducta (Nematoda: Chabertiidae) from wild boars in the Republic of Korea (=South Korea). Gastrointestinal tracts of 87 Korean wild boars (Sus scrofa coreanus) hunted in mountains in the south-western part of South Korea between 2009 and 2012 were examined for their visceral helminths. B. diducta, as identified by morphological characteristics of the head and tail, were recovered from the large intestine of 47 (54%) wild boars. The average length of adult female worms was 11.3+/-0.87 mm and the thickest part of the body measured 0.54+/-0.04 mm in maximum width, while those of males were 9.8+/-0.72 and 0.45+/-0.03 mm, respectively. The characteristic J-shaped type II ovejector was observed in females, and the type II dorsal ray with 2 rami on each side of the median fissure was uniquely seen in males. The buccal capsule was small, relatively thin-walled, cylindrical, very short, and ring-shaped. The externodorsal ray arose from a common stem with the dorsal ray. The cervical groove was absent. The anterior extremity was equipped with 20-22 external corona radiata, 4 cephalic papillae and 2 lateral amphids around the mouth. The eggs were 66.0x38.9 microm in average size. By the present study, B. diducta (Nematoda: Chabertiidae) is recorded for the first time in South Korea. Additionally, morphological characteristics and identification keys provided in the present study will be helpful in the faunistic or taxonomic studies for strongylid nematodes related.
Animals ; Female ; Helminthiasis, Animal/*parasitology ; Male ; Nematoda/anatomy & histology/growth & development/*isolation & purification ; Republic of Korea ; Sus scrofa/*parasitology ; Swine ; Swine Diseases/*parasitology

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

Nematode sperm undergo a drastic physiological change during spermiogenesis (sperm activation). Unlike mammalian flagellated sperm, nematode sperm are amoeboid cells and their motility is driven by the dynamics of a cytoskeleton composed of major sperm protein (MSP) rather than actin found in other crawling cells. This review focuses on sperm from Caenorhabditis elegans and Ascaris suum to address the roles of external and internal factors that trigger sperm activation and power sperm motility. Nematode sperm can be activated in vitro by several factors, including Pronase and ionophores, and in vivo through the TRY-5 and SPE-8 pathways. Moreover, protease and protease inhibitors are crucial regulators of sperm maturation. MSP-based sperm motility involves a coupled process of protrusion and retraction, both of which have been reconstituted in vitro. Sperm motility is mediated by phosphorylation signals, as illustrated by identification of several key components (MPOP, MFPs and MPAK) in Ascaris and the characterization of GSP-3/4 in C. elegans.
Animals ; Helminth Proteins ; metabolism ; Male ; Nematoda ; cytology ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; Signal Transduction ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa ; cytology ; growth & development ; metabolism