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

The present study was performed to investigate the infection status with helminth in a group of feral cats in Korea. More than 29 helminth species including adults or eggs were detected in visceral and fecal samples of the examined cats. Among these were a host of nematodes, including toxocarids, Ancylostoma sp. and the larva of Anisakis simplex; trematodes, including Clonorchis sinensis, Paragonimus westermani, Eurytrema pancreaticum, Pharyngostomum cordatum, Metagonimus spp., Heterophyes nocens, Pygidiopsis summa, Heterophyopsis continua, Stictodora fuscata, Stictodora lari, Acanthotrema felis, Stellantchasmus falcatus, Centrocestus armatus, Procerovum varium, Cryptocotyle sp., Echinostoma revolutum, Echinostoma hortense, Echinochasmus japonicus, Stephanoprora sp., Plagiorchis muris, Neodiplostomum sp. and diplostomulum. We also detected a variety of cestodes, including Spirometra erinacei, Taenia taeniaeformis and unidentified species of tapeworm. We also found examples of the acanthocephalan, Bolbosoma sp. In our assessment of the stools, we detected at least 12 species of helminth eggs. These findings confirmed that feral cats in Korea are infected with a variety of helminth parasite species. Furthermore, among the helminths detected, E. pancreaticum, S. fuscata, S. lari, A. felis, S. falcatus, C. armatus, P. varium, Cryptocotyle sp., E. revolutum, E. japonicus, Stephanoprora sp., P. muris, Neodiplostomum sp. and Bolbosoma sp. represent helminth fauna which have not been reported previously in feral cats in the Republic of Korea.
Acanthocephala/*isolation & purification ; Animals ; Cat Diseases/*parasitology ; Cats/*parasitology ; Cestoda/*isolation & purification ; Feces/parasitology ; Helminthiasis, Animal/*parasitology ; Korea ; Nematoda/*isolation & purification ; Parasite Egg Count ; Species Specificity ; Trematoda/*isolation & purification

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

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

Total of 2,643 Korean soldiers were examined of their stool for parasitic infections by both cellophane thick smear and formalin-ether concentration techniques from August 1983 to December 1985. Out of them, 73.6% were free from any parasite, 22.6% were ova positive and 4.0% cyst positive. The ova positive rates by species were Ascaris lumbricoides 2.0%, Trichuris trichiura 13.0%, hookworm and Trichostrongylus orientalis 0.08% respectively, Clonorchis sinensis 7.6%, Metagonimus yokogawai 1.1%, Paragonimus westermani 0.08%, Echinostoma hortense 0.04%, Fibricola seoulensis 0.9%, Taenia sp. 0.3%, Hymenolepis nana 0.2% and H. diminuta 0.04%. Most of them (87.3%) were positive by a species, 11.9% by two and 0.8% by 3 species. The cyst positive rates were Entamoeba histolytica 0.6%, E. coli 1.4%, Endolimax nana 1.7%, Iodoameba butschlii 0.04% and Giardia lambla 0.9%. Among the cyst positives, 89.5% were positive by a species, 7.6% by two and 0.5% by 3 species. The intestinal parasite infections among the Korean soldiers decreased distinctly compared with previous data.
parasitology-helminth-nematoda ; trematoda ; cestoda ; protozoa ; epidemiology ; Clonorchis sinensis ; Trichuris trichiura ; Metagonimus yokogawai ; hookworm ; Ascaris lumbricoides ; Diphyllobothrium latum ; Hymenolepis nana ; Entamoeba histolytica ; Giardia lamblia ; Entamoeba coli ; Endolimax nana ; Trichostrongylus orientalis ; Paragonimus westermani ; Echinostoma hortense ; Fibricola seoulensis ; Taenia sp. ; Hymenolepis diminuta

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the present status of intestinal parasitic infection in Seoul area, Korea. During the period from June 1985 to July 1986, a total of 5,251 stool samples were collected in Department of Clinical Pathology, Hanyang University Hospital and examined by formalin-ether sedimentation technique once for helminth ova and protozoan cysts. The results were summerized as follows: The overall egg positive rate of intestinal helminthes was 2.53 per cent ; and 1.43 per cent for Clonorchis sinensis, 0.7 per cent for Trichuris trichiura, 0.13 per cent for Metagonimus yokogawai, 0.06 per cent for hookworm, and 0.02 per cent for Ascaris lumbricoides, Diphyllobothrium latum and Hymenolepis nana, respectively. The overall cyst positive rate of intestinal protozoa was 1.07 per cent. Cyst positive rate was 0.06 per cent for Entamoeba histolytica and 0.13 per cent for Giardia lamblia, respectively. Higher prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection was observed in male and in 21-50 year-old groups. The highest prevalence of Clonorchis sinensis infection was observed in 40th age group(3.4 per cent), and male (2.3 per cent) was more infected than female (0.7 per cent) in general.
parasitology-helminth-nematoda ; trematoda ; cestoda ; protozoa ; epidemiology ; Clonorchis sinensis ; Trichuris trichiura ; Metagonimus yokogawai ; hookworm ; Ascaris lumbricoides ; Diphyllobothrium latum ; Hymenolepis nana ; Entamoeba histolytica ; Giardia lamblia ; Entamoeba coli ; Endolimax nana

In order to estimate the recent pattens of intestinal helminth infections among the residents in Taege City, Korea, a survey based on discovery of helminth eggs by formalin-ether sedimentation and modified Graham's scotch-tape anal swab techniques, were performed during the period from March to September in 1983. A total of 1,697 fecal specimens were collected from 854 male and 843 female residents from 5 villages(Dong), each of whom were selected randomly to represent 1,000 persons referred to the census in 1982. Among the specimens examined, one or more species of helminth parasites were found in 473, revealing the overall positive rate of 27.9 pre cent. Of them, Trichuris trichiura was found most frequently, in 13.2 percent, followed by Enterobius vermicularis in 7.0 per cent. Hookworm was the least prevalent. The sex-specific rate of overall helminth infections was a little higher in females than in males, while in cases of Clonorchis sinensis, Metagonimus yokogawai and Taenia species, the infection rates in males was higher than in females. T.trichiura was most prevalent in the 20~29 age group and showed about the same prevalence in males and females of all age groups. C. sinensis infection rate increased with age while those of Ascaris lumbricoides decreased. Single infections were 82.5 per cent of all positive cases. Of cource, T. trichiura revealed the highest prevalence in 31.7 per cent followed by E. vermicularis in 20.1 per cent and A. lumbricoides in 14.8 per cent. Of the double infections, the percentage of T. trichiura in combination with other intestinal helminths was higher than that of A. lumbricoides. It was concluded that although the infection rates of intestinal helminths among the residents in Taegu City, Korea is still high, eradication of these parasitic diseases seems to be possible with twice-a-year administration of specific anthelmintics, in combination with extensive public health education and improvement of the dietary life.
parasitology-helminth-nematoda-trematoda-cestoda ; epidemiology ; Ascaris lumbricoides ; Clonorchis sinensis ; Enterobius vermicularis ; hookworm ; Megtagonimus yokogawai ; Taenia sp. ; Trichostrongylus sp. ; Trichuris trichiura

A survey on vegetables, which consisted of lettuce (Lactuca sativa), young radish (Raphanus sapivus), and chinese cabbage (Brassica pekinensis) collected from 6 markets in the Taegu city, was conducted for the discovery of helminth eggs and larvae, from July 1982 to June 1983. The results were compared with the data obtained from vegetables collected at the same markets by Lee (1969) and Choi and Lee (1972). Both sides of vegetable leaves were washed carefully with a hard brush, and the species of parasites and the mean number of parasites per 200 g of vegetable were determined. When vegetable were examined, 4 species of parasite eggs (ascarid, Trichostrongylus, liver fluke, and hookworms) and 2 larvae (filariform and rhabditoid larvae) were found. Of the parasite discovered, ascarid egg was found to be highest (4.2 percent), followed by hookworm egg (3.6 percent). The mean number of ascarid egg per 200 grams of vegetable was 0.6 in young radishes, and 0.3 in both lettuces and chinese cabbages. Similarly, the number of filariform larva of hookworm was 0.4 in young radishes, 0.3 in lettuces, and 0.l in chinese cabbages, and the number of rhabditoid larva was 0.2 in young radishes, 0.1 in lettuces, and 0.05 in chinese cabbages. In the results obtained by Lee (1969) and Choi and Lee (1972), the mean number of ascarid egg per 200 grams of vegetable was 7.5 in young radishes, 3.l in lettuces, and 0.5 in chinese cabbages. By contrast, in the present study it was 0.6 in young radishes and 0.3 in both lettuces and chinese cabbages. These results suggest that there has been significant reduction in the incidence of parasite egg and larva on vegetable leaves during the past 10 years.
parasitology-helminth-nematoda-trematoda ; ascarid ; Trichostrongylus ; Clonorchis sinensis ; hookworm ; filariform larva ; rhabditoid larva ; egg ; epidemiology

A total of 2,026 leprosy patients of the National Sorokdo Hospital was examined their intestinal parasites by cellophane thick smear method in January 1983. The egg positive cases of Taenia spp. were treated with bithionol and the segments of Taenia were collected for species identification. The results were as follows: Total egg positive rate of any kind helminth was 78.2 percent and cumulative total was 85.2 percent. The egg positive rate for each helminth was as follow; Taenia spp. 3.4 percent, Ascaris lumbricoides 4.5 percent, Trichuris trichiura 72.l percent, Clonorchis sinensis 2.8 percent and other 0.05 percent. A total of 66 Taenia egg positive cases was treated; out of them proglottids of Taenia were collected from 26 cases. All of the collected worms were identified as T. saginata. The results revealed significantly high egg positive rate of T. trichiura. However, A. lumbricoides was found to be controlled considerably by repeated chemotherapy during past 3 years. If chemotherapeutic agent is replaced with oxantel-pyrantel tablet, better result is expected. No clue was found for prevalence of T. solium from both human and the pig in the island.
parasitology-helmith-nematoda-trematoda-cestoda ; trichuriasis ; Trichuris trichiura ; Taenia spp. ; Ascaris lumbricoides ; Clonorchis sinensis ; taeniasis ; ascariasis ; clonorchiasis ; Taenia saginata ; epidemiology

Helminthic zoonoses are of significant importance to the public health and to the socioeconomic consequences especially in lost-meat, animal products and animal labor. For past several decades in Korea, it has been recognized that endoparasitic infections among domestic animals are extremely common and many of the helminth parasites of man have been acquired from, or are shared with domestic animals. However, there was no survey of a nationwide scale on the prevalence of animal helminthiasis; and control measures are also not satisfactory. Furthermore, because of the remarkable increase in the demand, number of domestic animals and pets is rapidly increasing in these days. Therefore, an extensive study on zoonotic helminths was carried out from July 1980 throughout August 1981 to understand the present status and parasite-host relationship from the epidemiological viewpoont. A total of 13,685 fecal specimens of cattles, sheeps, pigs, dogs and cats was collected from 26 localities in the country. The specimens were examined by formalin-ether centrifugal sedimentation technique. The results are summarized as follows: Of 13,685 specimens examined, 9,808(71.7 percent) were positive for helminth parasites. The positive rates were 99.0 percent in cattles, 86.5 percent on sheeps, 85.4 percent in pigs, 35.4 percent in dogs, 15.1 percent in cats. Single infection showed the highest rate (60.0 percent), and double infection(27.5 percent), triple(8.1 percent), quadruple(2.8 percent), quintuple(1.5 percent) and hexad(0.1 percent) were in decreasing order. In the present study, 18 species zoonotic helminths were found: 11 nematodes, 6 trematodes and 1 cestode. According to province, Cheju revealed the highest rate 84.8 percent, then Kyungnam 77.5 percent, Jeonnam 75.6 percent, Jeonpuk 75.4 percent, Kyonggi 75.2 percent, Chungnam 71.7 percent, Chungpuk 70.6 percent and Kangwon 64.2 percent were in decreasing order and Busan and Seoul showed 70.4 percent and 58.1 percent, respectively. Rural area showed slightly higher rate (74.7 percent) than urban area (68.5 percent), and rates of mountainous area (70.4 percent) and plain area (71.1 percent) are very similar. According to animal, helminths species and positive rates appeared in: Cattles: 6 nematodes and 3 trematodes; Strongyles 26.4 percent, Neoascaris vitulorum 24.1 percent, Trichuris ovis 12.0 percent, Nematodirus sp. 6.3 percent, Srongyloides papillosus 5.1 percent, Capillaria bovis 0.02 percent, Paramphistomum sp. 41.5 percent, Fasciola hepatica 33.2 percent and Eurytrema pancreaticum 29.7 percent. Sheeps: 3 nematodes and 2 trematodes: Strongyles 33.0 percent, S. papillosus 26.9 percent, Nematodirus sp. 14.6 percent, F. hepatica 31.7 percent and E. pancreaticum 19.6 percent. Pigs: 5 nematodes and 2 trematodes: Strongyles 43.1 percent, Ascaris suum 29.0 percent, Metastrongylus apri 20.3 percent, Trichuris suis 14.0 percent, Strongyloides ransomi 12.1 percent, Clonorchis sinensis 1.4 percent and Paragonimus westermani 0.9 percent, Dogs: 4 nematodes and 3 trematodes and 1 cestode: Toxocara canis 14.4 percent, Trichuris vulpis 9.5 percent, Ancylostoma caninum 8.0 percent, Toxascaris leonina 4.0 percent, C. sinensis 2.4 percent, Metagonimus yokogawai 1.3 percent, P. westermani 0.8 percent and Spirometra sp. 0.9 percent, Cats: 2 nematodes, and 3 trematodes and 1 cestode: Toxocara cati 7.7 percent, Ancylostoma tubaeforme 3.1 percent, C. sinensis 1.9 percent, P. westermani 1.4 percent, M. yokogawai 1.2 percent and Spirometra sp. 0.7 percent.
parasitology-helminth-nematoda-trematoda-cestoda ; cattle ; sheep ; pig ; dog ; cat ; epidemiology ; zoonosis ; Fasciola hepatica ; Eurytrema pancreaticum ; Paramphsitomum sp. ; Neoascaris vitulorum ; Trichuris ovis ; Strongyloides papillosus ; Nematodirus sp. ; Capillaria bovis ; Clonorchis sinensis ; Paragonimus westermani ; Ascaris suum ; Trichuris suis ; Strongyloides ransomi ; Metastrongylus apri ; Spirometra sp. ; Metagonimus yokogawai ; Toxocara canis ; Toxocara leonina ; Ancylostoma caninum ; Trichuris vulpis ; Ancylostoma tubaeforme ; Strongyles