Two rare cases of human infection with parvum (dwarf) type of Diphyllobothrium latum [syn. D parvum (Stephens,1908)], were discovered in Korea. The first case was a 46-year old houseife, from whom a kind of pseudophyllidean tapeworm eggs was detected in the feces. She was treated with praziquantel and purged, and a complete strobila with scolex, 120 cm in total length, was recovered. She recalled that she had eaten raw trouts at a raw-fish restaurant near the Chungju Lake. Another patient was a 22-year old medical student (male), who used to eat raw sea-foods. He discovered a chain of tapeworm proglottids, 15 cm in length, discharged spontaneously in his stool and brought it for identification. The worms from the two cases were compatible with D. parvum (Stephens, 1908) of which the taxonomic significance has long been questioned. After a detailed morphological study and review of literature, we designated the worms as D. latum parvum type. This is the first report on the occurrence of this rare type of D. latum infection in Korea.
parasitology-helminth-cestoda ; Diphyllobothrium latum parvum type ; sea-food ; human ; case report

In order to know the species and frequency of human parasitic infection diagnosed by biopsy, 149 cases (0.18%) of parasitic infection were reviwed, which were selected from 80,947 biopsied materials submitted for routine histopathological examination during a period of 10 years from 1980 to 1989 at Department of Pathology, Chonnam National University Hospital. They consisted of 112 cases of cysticercosis, 17 paragonimiasis, 7 clonorchiasis, 4 amebiasis, 1 sparganosis, 1 enterbiasis, 1 aniskiasis, and 1 fascioliasis respectively. Based on morphological preservation of cysticercus, they could be divided into mild (20.2%), morderate (40.4%), and severe (39.4%) degeneration. Except 2 cases biopsied at the lungs, 15 cases of ectopic paragonimiasis were located at abdominal cavity (8 cases) and central nervous system (7 cases). One case of intrahepatic fascioliasis was observed. This is the 13th human fascioliasis reported in Korea. From the above results, the frequency of parasitic infections found in biopsied specimens was on the decrease as the cysticercosis and ectopic paragonimiasis.
parasitology-helminth-cestoda-nematoda-trematoda ; biopsy ; histopathology ; tissue parasite ; cysticercose ; ectopic ; Enterobius vermicularis ; Taenia solium ; Paragonimus westermani ; Clonorchis sinensis ; Entamoeba histolytica ; Anisakis ; Fasciola sp. ; paragonimiasis ; fascioliasis

A seroepidemiologic observation of anti-Spirometra erinacei plerocerciod (sparganum) antibody (IgG) in serum was made in normal adult and epileptic patients in Korea from February 1987 to September 1990. Sera were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for anti-spaganum antibody together with anti-Taenia solium metacestode, and anti-Paragonimus westermani antibodies. Sera reacted positively to sparganum antigen only were considered. Positive rate for anti-sparganum antibody in 850 normal adults was 1.9% (standardized rate by provincial population was 1.7%). In 2,667 randomly selected patients of epilepsy at 28 local centers of the Changmi Club, positive rate was 2.5%(standardized rate: 2.3%). In both normal adult and patient groups, the higher antibody rates were observed in Kangwon and Chonnam province. Positive rates were 10 times higher in male than in female in normal adults and 4.5 times in male epileptic patients. The rates were elevated especially with age over 30-year. Odd ratio of the antibody was 1.32 which indicated an ambiguous etiologic factor for epilepsy.
parasitology-helminth-cestoda

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

Efficacy of praziquantel (Cesocide injection) by intramuscular (I.M.) route against cestode infections was evaluated. Total 93 domestic or laboratory animals such as dogs, cats, rats, mice, goats, deers and chickens were used. Animals were infected with Dipylidium caninum, Spirometra sp., Taenia pisiformis, Taenia taeniaeformis, Hymenolepis nana, Moniezia expansa, Moniezia sp. or Raillietina sp. A single dose of praziquantel, 6 mg/kg of body weight, was highly effective (97.9%) against cestodes of various kinds disregarding the host species or their intensity of infection. At high dose above 6 mg/kg, the cure rate was 100%. All the cestodes treated were expelled from the host within 48 hours. The discharged proglottids were damaged severely except Hymenolepis nana and Moniezia expansa. Intramuscular injection of this drug evoked a brief pain response in a dog, but no other side reactions were observed.
parasitology-helminth-cestoda ; Dipylidium caninum ; Spirometra sp. ; Taenia pisiformis ; Taenia taeniaeformis ; Hymenolepis nana ; Moniezia expansa ; Moniezia sp. ; Raillietina sp. ; dog ; cat ; rat ; mouse ; goat ; deer ; chicken ; chemotherapy ; praziquantel ; intramuscular injection ; animals ; tapeworms ; cestodes

By affinity chromatography using a monoclonal antibody as ligand, Kim et al. (1986) purified a protein fraction in cystic fluid of Taenia solium metacestodes (CF). In this study, the biochemical properties of the purified protein were characterized. Discontinuous-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (disc-PAGE) of the protein at 4.5~10% separating gel concentration showed its molecular weight (MW) to be 150 kilodalton(kDa) in non-denatured state, while denaturing sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) revealed that it was composed of 3 different subunits with respective MW of 15, 10 and 7 kDa. Subunit of 7 kDa was shown to be linked to other subunits by disulfide bonds. Isoelectric point of the protein was pH 6.8. The protein was relatively heat-stable for immunologic analysis. These properties indicated that the protein, comprising about 70% of total content in CF, had similar biochemical characters with antigen B of Oriol et al.(1971) in hydatid cyst fluid (HF)
parasitology-helminth-cestoda ; Taenia solium ; metacestode ; protein ; antigen ; cysticercus ; biochemistry

The applicability of indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT) was compared with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in sera from 163 cases of confirmed neurocysticercosis, 101 other neurologic and parasitic diseases and 100 normal controls. As antigen, frozen sections of a Taenia solium metacestode from a human brain was used in IFAT and cystic fluid was used in ELISA. For the detection of specific IgG antibody, IFAT was equally sensitive (89. 6%) and specific (85. l%) as ELISA. The antibody titers by IFAT were correspondingly increased with mean absorbance of ELISA. The corresponding rate of positivity in the two techniques was 90.8%. Except for the difficulty in detecting antibodies in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), IFAT was concluded to be very useful for the serodiagnosis of human neurocysticercosis.
parasitology-helminth-cestoda ; Taenia solium ; cysticercus ; enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ; cerebrospinal fluid ; brain ; IgG ; immunofluorescence ; immunology

To determine the source of Cysticercus-specific IgG antibody in cerebro-spinal fluid(CSF), paired samples of serum and CSF were collected from confirmed neurocysticercosis, other neurologic diseases and normal control. The antibody levels in serum and CSF were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). With the measurement of total protein, albumin and IgG concentration in serum and CSF, the contribution of IgG in CSF were calculated in transudation, exudation and intracranial synthesis using the formula of Tourtellotte and Ma (1978). Mean concentrations of total protein, albumin, IgG and proportional IgG levels in CSF by transudation, exudation and intracranial synthesis were elevated in neurocysticercosis. But only the intracranial synthesis of IgG showed a statistically significant correlation with the specific IgG antibody levels in CSF. In CSF from lateral ventricle in the 4th ventricular neurocysticercosis, the protein concentrations were normal and the specific antibody levels were negative. However, in consecutively secured lumbar CSF from the same patients, the former were increased and the latter were positive. These results indicated that, in neurocysticercosis, the specific IgG antibody in CSF was a local product of intracranial synthesis.
parasitology-helminth-cestoda ; Taenia solium ; cysticercus ; enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ; cerebrospinal fluid ; brain ; IgG ; immunology

We studied the serological reaction between various antigenic components from Cysticercus cellulosae and IgG antibodies in sera of cysticercosis, sparganosis, hydatidosis patients and normal humans by ELISA and EITB. In serological tests by ELISA, we recognized cross reaction of Cysticercus antigenic components with IgG antibodies in heterologous sera such as sparganosis and hydatidosis patients or normal humans. The crude antigenic components of Cysticercus showed lower ELISA sensitivity in homologous sera from cysticercosis patients than heterologous sera from hydatidosis patients. A total of 31 polypeptide bands with 260 KDa-22 KDa molecular weights were detected by SDS-PAGE, and 11 of them showed strong intensity. Total 22 components of them were recognized by IgG antibodies in cysticercosis patients sera. However, 12 of them were recognized also by normal human sera, 11 were by sparganosis sera, and 21 were by hydatidosis patients sera. The crude antigenic components of 104 KDa, 82 KDa, 72 KDa, 59 KDa and 34 KDa molecular weights were nonspecific ones, which cross-reacted with sera of either cysticercosis, sparganosis, hydatidosis patients or normal humans.
parasitology-helminth-cestoda ; Spirometra erinacei ; Taenia solium ; cysticercus ; sparganum ; immunology ; antigen

This study was performed to observe the present status of intestinal parasitic infections in a remote island, Yondo, located in southern part of Jeonranam-do(province), Korea. In February and May 1988, total 1,011 individual stool samples were collected and examined for intestinal helminths and protozoa using formalin-ether centrifugal sedimentation technique. The results are summarized as follows: Of 1,011 ingabitants examined, 398(39.4%) were positive for intestinal parasites. Helminth positives were 372(36.8%), and protozoan cyst positives were 56(5.5%). Ten species of parasites were found. Trichuris trichiura revealed the highest infection rate of 27.5%, Ascaris lumbricoides 17.4%, Taenia sp. 5.8%, Entamoeba coli 3.3%, Giardia lamblia 1.5%, Endolimax nana 0.8%, Hymenolepis nana 0.4%, hookworm 0.2%, Trichostrongylus orientalis 0.2%, and Entamoeba histolytica 0.2%, respectively. The female group showed higher positive rate (44.0%) than males (34.7%). Also, higher positive rates were observed among adults as compared with the group younger than 10 years old. Average value of E.P.G. was 1,876(range 200-17,800) in A. lumbricoides positives, and 327(range 200-1,600) in T. trichiura positive cases. In helminth egg positive cases, single infection was 63.4%, double infection 34.7%, and triple infection 1.9%, respectively. Among protozoan cyst positives, single infection was 94.6%, and double infection was 5.4%. The present study revealed that the prevalence of intestinal parasites among inhabitants in Yondo island is still so high that special control measures should be performed.
parasitology-helminth-trematoda ; cestoda-nematoda-protozoa ; epidemiology ; Ascaris lumbricoides ; Taenia sp. ; Entamoeba coli ; Giardia lamblia ; Endolimax nana ; hookworm ; Trichostrongylus orientalis ; Entamoeba histolytica