Three compounds, including scolosprine C(1), uracil(2) and hypoxanthine(3), were isolated and purified from the ethyl acetate fraction of centipede by silica gel normal-phase column chromatography, reversed-phase medium pressure preparation chromatography, and high-pressure semi-preparative HPLC. The structure was elucidated through a combination of spectroscopic analyses [such as nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR) and mass spectrometry(MS)] and literature review. Among them, compound 1 was a new quinoline alkaloid. In previous reports, we have described the isolation and structure elucidation of one new and two known quinoline alkaloids. In this paper, we would report the isolation and structure elucidation of scolosprine C in detail.
Alkaloids ; Animals ; Arthropods ; Chilopoda ; Quinolines

BACKGROUND: Scrub typhus, severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) and human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA) are important arthropod-borne infectious diseases in Korea and share a common point that they are transmitted by arthropod bites mostly during outdoor activities and there are considerable overlaps of epidemiologic and clinical features at presentation. We investigated the co-infection of these infections. METHODS: The study subjects were patients with laboratory-confirmed scrub typhus who were enrolled retrospectively in 2006. SFTS virus (SFTSV) infection was confirmed by a reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify partial L segment of SFTSV for molecular diagnosis. HGA was confirmed by a nested PCR to amplify 16S rRNA gene of Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Direct sequencing of the positive PCR products was performed. Clinical features of co-infected subjects were described. RESULTS: One-hundred sixty-seven patients with scrub typhus were included in the analysis. Co-infection of A. phagocytophilum was identified in 4.2% of scrub typhus patients (7/167). The route of co-infection was uncertain. The co-infected patients had not different clinical manifestations compared to the patients with scrub typhus only. All the study subjects were negative for SFTSV. CONCLUSION: We found retrospective molecular evidence of the co-infection of scrub typhus and HGA in Korea. HGA may be more prevalent than expected and need to be considered as an important differential diagnosis of febrile patients in Korea.
Anaplasma phagocytophilum ; Anaplasmosis ; Animals ; Arthropods ; Coinfection ; Communicable Diseases ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Fever ; Genes, rRNA ; Humans ; Korea ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Retrospective Studies ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Scrub Typhus ; Thrombocytopenia

Arthropod-borne viruses (Arboviruses) are transmitted by arthropods such as Culicoides biting midges and cause abortion, stillbirth, and congenital malformation in ruminants, apparently leading to economic losses to farmers. To monitor the distribution of Culicoides and to determine their relationship with different environmental conditions (temperature, humidity, wind speed, and altitude of the farms) on 5 cattle farms, Culicoides were collected during summer season (May-September) in 2016 and 2017, and analyzed for identification of species and detection of arboviruses. About 35% of the Culicoides were collected in July and the collection rate increased with increase in temperature and humidity. The higher altitude where the farms were located, the more Culicoides were collected on inside than outside. In antigen test of Culicoides against 5 arboviruses, only Chuzan virus (CHUV) (2.63%) was detected in 2016. The Akabane virus (AKAV), CHUV, Ibaraki virus and Bovine ephemeral fever virus (BEFV) had a positive rate of less than 1.8% in 2017. In antigen test of bovine whole blood, AKAV (12.96%) and BEFV (0.96%) were positive in only one of the farms. As a result of serum neutralization test, antibodies against AKAV were generally measured in all the farms. These results suggest that vaccination before the season in which the Culicoides are active is probably best to prevent arbovirus infections.
Agriculture ; Altitude ; Animals ; Antibodies ; Arbovirus Infections ; Arboviruses ; Arthropods ; Cattle ; Ceratopogonidae ; Ephemeral Fever Virus, Bovine ; Farmers ; Humidity ; Jeollabuk-do ; Korea ; Neutralization Tests ; Palyam Virus ; Ruminants ; Seasons ; Stillbirth ; Vaccination ; Wind

Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) rarely exhibit an exaggerated insect bite-like reaction without a history of an arthropod bite. We report a case of an insect bite-like reaction in a 74-year old man with CLL. The patient presented with a 2-year history of recurrent itchy erythematous patches and blisters on the whole body. He had been diagnosed with CLL 2 years ago, and the skin lesions developed 1 month after remission. The result of a skin biopsy was consistent with insect bite. Immunohistochemical staining of the infiltrated cells showed positive reactions for CD3, CD5 and negative for CD20, CD23. Direct and indirect immunofluorescence revealed negative results. The patient was treated with oral prednisolone and dapsone, under the diagnosis of CLL-associated insect bite-like reaction, and showed marked improvement. Dermatologist should be aware of insect bite-like reaction associated with CLL as a distinct disease entity that is similar to insect bite or bullous pemphigoid.
Arthropods ; Biopsy ; Blister* ; Dapsone ; Diagnosis ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect ; Humans ; Insect Bites and Stings ; Insects* ; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell* ; Pemphigoid, Bullous* ; Prednisolone ; Skin

Tick is one of the most important arthropods in the transmission of vector-borne diseases. In this study, we investigated the abundance and species of ticks associated with swine and their habitats to assess the risk of spread of tick-borne diseases in host species, such as wild boars. Ticks were collected from 24 grazing or traditionally reared domestic pig farms and 8 habitats of wild boars in 8 provinces and 1 city in the Republic of Korea, by using the dragging and flagging methods. Ticks were also collected directly from 49 wild boars by using fine forceps. A total of 9,846 hard ticks were collected, including 4,977 Haemaphysalis longicornis, 4,313 Haemaphysalis flava, 508 Ixodes nipponensis, 1 Ixodes turdus, and 47 Amblyomma testudinarium. A total of 240 hard ticks were collected from 49 wild boars, including 109 H. flava, 84 H. longicornis, and 47 A. testudinarium. A total of 578 hard ticks were collected from areas around domestic pig farms. Only 2 hard tick species, 546 H. longicornis and 32 H. flava, were collected from these areas. A total of 9,028 hard ticks were collected from wild boars of 8 habitats, including 4,347 H. longicornis, 4,172 H. flava, 508 I. nipponensis, and 1 I. turdus. A. testudinarium was collected only from wild boars, and I. nipponensis and I. turdus were collected only from the habitats of wild boars.
Agriculture ; Arthropods ; Ecosystem* ; Ixodes ; Ixodidae ; Republic of Korea* ; Surgical Instruments ; Sus scrofa* ; Swine ; Tick-Borne Diseases ; Ticks*

Chigger mites are parasites of rodents and other vertebrates, invertebrates, and other arthropods, and are the only vectors of scrub typhus, in addition to other zoonoses. Therefore, investigating their distribution, diversity, and seasonal abundance is important for public health. Rodent surveillance was conducted at 6 districts in Shandong Province, northern China (114–112°E, 34–38°N), from January to December 2011. Overall, 225/286 (78.7%) rodents captured were infested with chigger mites. A total of 451 chigger mites were identified as belonging to 5 most commonly collected species and 3 genera in 1 family. Leptotrombidium scutellare and Leptotrombidium intermedia were the most commonly collected chigger mites. L. scutellare (66.2%, 36.7%, and 49.0%) was the most frequently collected chigger mite from Apodemus agrarius, Rattus norvegicus, and Microtus fortis, respectively, whereas L. intermedia (61.5% and 63.2%) was the most frequently collected chigger mite from Cricetulus triton and Mus musculus, respectively. This study demonstrated a relatively high prevalence of chigger mites that varied seasonally in Shandong Province, China.
Animals ; Arthropods ; Arvicolinae ; China* ; Cricetinae ; Cricetulus ; Humans ; Invertebrates ; Mice ; Mites* ; Murinae ; Neptune ; Parasites ; Prevalence ; Public Health ; Rats ; Rodentia* ; Scrub Typhus ; Seasons ; Trombiculidae* ; Vertebrates ; Zoonoses

OBJECTIVES: Tularemia is a zoonotic disease transmitted by direct contact with infected animals and through arthropod bites, inhalation of contaminated aerosols, ingestion of contaminated meat or water, and skin contact with any infected material. It is widespread throughout the northern hemisphere, including Iran and its neighbors to the north, northeast, and northwest. METHODS: In this paper, the epidemiology of tularemia as a re-emerging infectious disease in the world with a focus on Iran and the neighboring countries is reviewed. RESULTS: In Iran, positive serological tests were first reported in 1973, in wildlife and domestic livestock in the northwestern and southeastern parts of the country. The first human case was reported in 1980 in the southwest of Iran, and recent studies conducted among at-risk populations in the western, southeastern, and southwestern parts of Iran revealed seroprevalences of 14.4, 6.52, and 6%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Several factors may explain the absence of reported tularemia cases in Iran since 1980. Tularemia may be underdiagnosed in Iran because Francisella tularensis subspecies holarctica is likely to be the major etiological agent and usually causes mild to moderately severe disease. Furthermore, tularemia is not a disease extensively studied in the medical educational system in Iran, and empirical therapy may be effective in many cases. Finally, it should be noted that laboratories capable of diagnosing tularemia have only been established in the last few years. Since both recent and older studies have consistently found tularemia antibodies in humans and animals, the surveillance of this disease should receive more attention. In particular, it would be worthwhile for clinical researchers to confirm tularemia cases more often by isolating F. tularensis from infected humans and animals.
Aerosols ; Animals ; Antibodies ; Arthropods ; Bacterial Infections ; Communicable Diseases, Emerging* ; Eating ; Epidemiology ; Francisella tularensis ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Iran* ; Livestock ; Meat ; Rodentia ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Serologic Tests ; Skin ; Tularemia* ; Water ; Zoonoses

Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States and Europe, caused by a tick-borne spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi. Life cycle alternation between arthropod and mammals enhanced B. burgdorferi to adapt to two diverse niches. Although B. burgdorferi infection in these reservoir hosts appears asymptomatic, infection in human can typically cause inflammation in the skin, nervous system, musculoskeletal system and heart. In this review, we discuss the basic molecular characteristics and cell biology of B. burgdorferi and provide an overview of spirochete-induced activation of innate and adaptive immunity, resulting in particular immunopathology. Advancing understanding of the immune evasion mechanisms of B. burgdorferi provides important implications for ongoing research and clinical practice of Lyme disease.
Adaptive Immunity ; Arthropods ; Borrelia burgdorferi ; Europe ; Heart ; Humans ; Immune Evasion ; Inflammation ; Life Cycle Stages ; Lyme Disease* ; Mammals ; Musculoskeletal System ; Nervous System ; Skin ; Spirochaetales ; United States

We analyzed 320 clinical samples of parasitic infections submitted to the Department of Environmental Biology and Medical Parasitology, Hanyang University from January 2004 to June 2011. They consisted of 211 nematode infections, 64 trematode or cestode infections, 32 protozoan infections, and 13 infections with arthropods. The nematode infections included 67 cases of trichuriasis, 62 of anisakiasis (Anisakis sp. and Pseudoterranova decipiens), 40 of enterobiasis, and 24 of ascariasis, as well as other infections including strongyloidiasis, thelaziasis, loiasis, and hookworm infecions. Among the cestode or trematode infections, we observed 27 cases of diphyllobothriasis, 14 of sparganosis, 9 of clonorchiasis, and 5 of paragonimiasis together with a few cases of taeniasis saginata, cysticercosis cellulosae, hymenolepiasis, and echinostomiasis. The protozoan infections included 14 cases of malaria, 4 of cryptosporidiosis, and 3 of trichomoniasis, in addition to infections with Entamoeba histolytica, Entamoeba dispar, Entamoeba coli, Endolimax nana, Giardia lamblia, and Toxoplasma gondii. Among the arthropods, we detected 6 cases of Ixodes sp., 5 of Phthirus pubis, 1 of Sarcoptes scabiei, and 1 of fly larva. The results revealed that trichuriasis, anisakiasis, enterobiasis, and diphyllobothriasis were the most frequently found parasitosis among the clinical samples.
Animals ; Arthropods/*pathogenicity ; Cestode Infections/*epidemiology ; Humans ; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic/epidemiology ; Malaria/epidemiology ; Nematode Infections/*epidemiology ; Protozoan Infections/*epidemiology ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Trematode Infections/*epidemiology

A significant-source of allergens come from house dust that contain particles derived from arthropods, molds, and pet dander. This study evaluated mite and booklouse fauna from vacuumed dust samples in Beijing China (a temperate zone). Our survey was carried out in Beijing in the homes of mite allergic patients who visited our Allergy Department. In total, 38 homes were selected for the collection of dust samples by vacuuming, from December 2008 to January 2010. The flotation method was used to isolate mites from house dust. Permanent slides were prepared for mite specimens and mites were identified and counted under a microscope. In total, 1,798 separate mite and insect specimens were found in 345 dust samples taken from 38 homes. A total of 95 individual Dermatophagoides (D) siboney were detected in 35 dust samples from 19 homes (representing 5.3% of all mite and insect species found in house dust); in addition, this mite was found to co-exist with D. farinae (Hughes, 1961) in 33 dust samples. Our results demonstrated the presence D. siboney that co-existed with D. farinae in house dust in Beijing China (a temperate zone).
Allergens ; Arthropods ; China ; Dander ; Dermatophagoides farinae ; Dust* ; Fungi ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Insects ; Mites* ; Pyroglyphidae ; Vacuum*