Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to S Huh.
We report helminthic infections in the liver and intestine of Rattus norvegicus captured in Chunchon, Korea from April to October, 1994. Out of 43 examined rats, eggs of Capillaria hepatica were found in 11, Hymenolepis diminuta in 14 and Taenia taeniaeformis metacestodes in 28. Those rats can be sources of zoonotic infections in the surveyed area.
A 56 year-old Korean housewife/farmer/goat keeper suffered from right upper quadrant pain and fever with chills. In the abdominal sonogram and computerized tomography, multiple, 2-3 cm, irregular shaped cavities were observed in the right lobe of liver. A liver biopsy revealed extensive central necrosis with Characot-Leyden crystals surrounded by palisading histiocytes, eosinophil-rich inflammatory infiltration. Worm was not observed. However, the serologic test for Fasciola-specific IgG antibody by micro-ELISA was positive. Prior antibody levels did not differ and eosinophilia persisted 6 and 16 months after praziquantel treatment although the cavitary lesions in the liver disappeared 6 months after the treatment. Reported herein is a human case of invasive fascioliasis diagnosed clinically by a combination of radiological, histopathological and serological studies.
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A follow-up stool examination was done to know the status of intestinal parasitic infections in Army soldiers who were stationing in Whachon-gun, Kangwon-do, Korea in 1993. Of 233 examined soldiers, Infections with Clonorchis sinensis (0.4%), Metagonimus spp. (0.9%), Echinostoma hortense (0.4%), Neodiplostomum seoulensis (0.4) and Giardia lamblia (3/233) were found. E. hortense and N. seoulensis infections were each 75th, and 27th cases in Korea. Regular control program of intestinal parasitic infections might be able to contribute to diminish the prevalence rate in young Army soldiers in Korea.
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 housewife, 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.
An epidemiological study for the intestinal trematode infection of the villagers was done in Koje-myon, Kochang-gun, Kyongsangnam-do, Korea in March, 1994. Of 116 stool specimens examined, total helminthic ova positive cases were 13 (11.2%) and cumulative ova positive cases 21 (18.1%): Echinostoma hortense 11 cases (9.5%), Metagonimus sp. 6 cases (5.2%), and Clonorchis sinensis 4 cases (3.4%). After the treatment and purgation, variable numbers of E. hortense, 6 to 227 per person, were collected from 7 echinostome egg positive cases, together with M. takahashii in 6 cases. Three adult flukes of E. cinetorchis were collected from one person and one Stellantchasmus falcatus was recovered from another case. This mountainous village was proved to be one of the endemic foci of echinostomiasis in Korea.
The relationship between the intestinal histopathology and number and position of intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) was observed chronologically in the small intestine of rats experimentally infected with Metagonimus yokogawai. Fifteen Sprague-Dawley rats were orally infected each with 3,000 metacecariae, and 3 were kept uninfected for controls. Three rats each were sacrificed on the day 5, 10, 15, 24 and 70 post-infection (PI) and samples of the small intestine, 5 cm, 10 cm, 20 cm and 70 cm posterior to the pylorus were taken. The samples were processed routinely and stained with Giemsa. The intestinal histopathology was severe during the day 5-15 PI and characterized by villous atrophy, crypt hyperplasia, and decrease of villus/crypt height ratio. After the day 24 PI, the intestinal lesions showed some tendency of recovery. The number of IEL increased at the early stage of infection, but decreased thereafter to a lower level than that of controls, with progression of the pathological changes. Then, the IEL number began to increase again after the day 24 PI. In control rats, the great majority of the IEL were located at the basal region of the epithelium. During the early stage of infection, however, a considerable proportion of IEL was found to have moved to the intermediate or apical region of the epithelium. From the above results, it is suggested that the change of IEL number and position during the course of M. yokogawai infection should be closely related to the progression and recovery of the intestinal histopathology.
We examined the infestation rate of head and/or body lice in patients in a mental hospital, Seoul, Korea on June 27-28, 1988. Of 438 women, 146 (33.3%) were positive with nits or worms of louse. Of 143 men, 22 (15.4%) were positive with those of louse. Regular control programs were necessary to this hospital.
Histopathological changes of the brain were observed in 22 mongrel cats each of which was subjected to intracranial inoculation of 3 or 5 plerocercoids of Spirometra erinacei. The brains were examined at 2 weeks, 1, 3, and 6 months post-inoculation (PI). Grossly, the brain lesion consisted of a mass of worm capsule and/or hemorrhagic tract. Microscopically hypertrophied astrocytes, lymphocytes, plasma cells, RBCs, polymorphonuclear leukocytes, and hemosiderin laden macrophages were found around the worms or tracts in all groups. The number of reactive astrocytes increased mainly in the white matter. In the lesions 3 months PI, the sectioned worms were encircled with fibrous tissue along with numerous RBCs, inflammatory cells, and necrotic debris. Collagenous fibers were also demonstrated. Outside the inflammation, a wide edematous zone developed and numerous neuroglial fibers were also found. The location of the worms or the tracts was random in the brain lobes, but the worm seemed to migrate mainly along the white matter.
The histological change of the biliary mucosa in clonorchiasis is characterized as adenomatous hyperplasia, and cross-sectioned mucosa looks like intestinal mucosa. In addition to the glandular hyperplasia, the metaplasia of mucin secreting cells is also known. The present study investigated the presence of intestinal secretion from the biliary mucosal cells of rabbits and rats with Clonorchis sinensis infection. The rabbit was infected with 300 and the rat was infected with 100 metacercariae of C. sinensis. A part of the animals were followed up after praziquantel treatment. The rabbit livers were prepared for histochemistry to observe any endocrine secretion and the bile duct mucosa of the mice was processed for the activity of brush border membrane (BBM)-bound enzymes of the small intestine. Immunohistochemistry with the polyclonal antibodies and biotin-streptavidin-peroxidase staining kit showed no positive cells for gastrin and secretin, but a few cells were positive for serotonin. The proliferated biliary mucosa of the mice revealed no activity of disaccharidases and aminopeptidase. Only alkaline phosphatase activity was found both in the control and the infected. The hyperplastic biliary mucosal cells showed no gastrointestinal secretory functions. The serotonin secreting cells may be one of the inflammatory cells.
We tried to reveal the prevalence rates of the head louse infestation in school children in Kangwon-do, Korea in December 1990. A total of 912 children in four primary schools was examined. The positive rate for adults and/or nits of Pediculus humanus capitis was 37.2%. One school was followed-up without specific intervention. There was no significant change of the prevalence rate 6 months after the first examination from 66.0% to 57.3%. We could see the persistent infestation rate if there was no intervention. We are emphasizing the significance of worm positive rate because it represents the potentiality of active transmission.
In order to know the enzyme activities of Fibricola seoulensis, an intestinal trematode of human and rodent in Korea, the enzyme histochemical method is applied. Activities of acid phosphatase (E.C.3.1.3.2) and non-specific esterase (E.C.3.1.1) were present in microvilli and glandular cells of tribocytic organ and the epithelium of the caecum.
An epidemiological study of Metagonimus infection was undertaken along the upper reaches of the Namhan River, with special consideration on the species (type) of the worms collected from humans. Eggs of Metagonimus spp. were detected from 15 (9.7%) of 154 people examined in Umsong-gun, and from each infected person (5 cases) 6,015-24,060 worms (mean 13,233) were recovered after treatment with praziquantel (10 mg/kg). Eggs were also detected from 37 (48.1%) of 77 people in Yongwol-gun, from whom (27 cases) 1-4,965 worms (means 1,215) were collected. The worm from Umsong-gun consisted of both Metagonimus Miyata type and Metagonimus takahashii, whereas those from Yongwol-gun consisted of only Metagonimus Miyata type. When the uterine eggs of the two kinds and M. yokogawai (obtained from people in Tamjin River basin) were morphologically compared, it was suggested that the egg size should be a good indicator for discrimination of the species or type. The source of human infection was proved to be fresh water fishes; 49 of 52 Zacco platypus examined, 6 of 8 Hemibarbus longirostris, 13 of 15 Pseudogobio esocinus, 4 of 6 Odontobutis obscura interrupta, and 17 of 18 Carassius carassius were found infected with Metagonimus metacercariae. From the results, it is concluded that the upper reaches of the Namhan River are endemic foci of Metagonimus Miyata type and M. takahashii.
We examined stools of 113 soldiers of Korean Army in Whachon-gun, Korea in 1992. The eggs of Clonorchis sinensis (7/113) and Metagonimus sp. (3/113), and cysts of Giardia lamblia (4/113) were detected. No eggs of soil-transmitted helminths were found. Most of the Clonorchis-infected soldiers (6/7) were recruited from Kyongsangnam-do.
We observed ultra-structure of the tribocytic organ of Fibricola seoulensis with transmission electron microscope. Microvilli are observed on the surface of the tribocytic organ. Below the muscle layer, we can find three types of cells. Type I cell has electron lucent cytoplasm with a few granules, while type II cell shows electron dense cytoplasm and the particulate granules. Type III cell's electron dense cytoplasm possesses many granules. Of the above three cells, Type I and II cells are believed as tegumental cells. Type III cells are thought as glandular cells specific to the tribocytic organ. This finding can also explain the secretory function of the tribocytic organ of F. seoulensis.
Fecal samples of cats purchased in Seoul were examined for helminth ova or protozoan oocysts from December 1987 to March 1988. Out of the 41 samples, 31 (75.6%) were positive and 60 (146.3%) were cumulative positive for parasites. The followings were identified in the samples: Eggs of Toxocara cati, Clonorchis sinensis, Metagonimus sp., Pharyngostomum cordatum, Spirometra erinacei, Taenia taeniaeformis and oocysts of Isospora sp. From nine autopsied cats, larvae of Anisakis simplex, adults of C. sinensis, M. yokogawai, P. cordatum, S. erinacei and T. taeniaeformis were identified. This is the first report on the detection of Anisakis larvae from cats in Korea. The possible role of cats as a source of human infection with each parasite was discussed.
The prevalence of intestinal parasite infections in inhabitants at the reaches of the Hantan River, Chorwon-gun, Korea, was observed from August 12 to September 14, 1993. Of 465 people observed by cellophane thick smear and formalin-ether concentration method, 2 Ascaris lumbricoides (unfertilized), 1 Trichuris trichiura, 39 Clonorchis sinensis and 16 Metagonimus egg positive cases were found. After treatment, the Metagonimus egg positive cases passed out flukes of Metagonimus Miyata type. Of 68 fish caught in the Hantan River, 14 (20.6%) were infected with metacercariae of Metagonimus, while no metacercaria of C. sinensis was found. At this area, soil-transmitted nematodes are very low, but clonorchiasis and metagonimiasis are prevalent by modernate endemicity.
To establish an animal model of intracranial sparganosis, the fate and behavior of the experimentally inoculated spargana were observed. A total of 102 scolices of spargana were injected into 22 cat brains, and the cats were sacrificed at 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months after the inoculation. Neurosparganosis was established in 77% of the cats. Of 43 recovered worms, 19 (44%) were located in the subdural or subarachnoid space, 16 (37%) in the brain parenchyme, and 2 (5%) in the lateral ventricle. One was detected at the diploic space of the skull and 5 were outside the cranial cavity. All but one were alive, and had grown tails. They were distributed in the brain parenchyme randomly. There was no place which they could not invade. No adult was found in the intestine. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was collected before inoculation, 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months after inoculation. The level of anti-sparganum IgG antibody in CSF measured by ELISA began to increase above the criteria of positivity 1 month after inoculation. Three months after inoculation, the values markedly increased. The present findings reveal that intracranial inoculation of spargana into the brains of cats would be a good animal model of experimental neurosparganosis.