We investigated the sero-prevalence of toxocariasis among healthy Korean adults in 1999. A total of 314 sera from normal inhabitants in Whachon-gun, Gangwondo, Korea was examined for specific antibody levels against excretory-secretory products of second stage larvae of Toxocara (TES). The presence of cross-reactions with other helminthiases such as cysticercosis, paragonimiasis, sparganosis or...

Sparganosis is a rare parasitic disease caused by migrating plerocercoid tapeworm larva of the genus Spirometra. Infection in humans is mainly caused by the ingestion of raw or inadequately cooked flesh of infected frogs, snakes, and chickens. Here, we report a rare case of a 45-year-old man who was admitted to our hospital with left lower chest pain. The chest radiograph and computed tomograph...

In order to identify early specific diagnostic antigens of Spirometra erinaceieuropaei (syn. S. erinacei or S. mansoni) sparganum, soluble proteins were analyzed by two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) and western blotting probed with immune sera from infected mice at 14 days post-infection. From a total of approximately 462 proteins spots mainly distributed in pI range of 5-6.6 and with mole...

The global threat of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) constitutes a public health issue in underdeveloped countries. Zoonotic helminthiases are the most common human NTD agents developing countries sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and Americas, causing burden disease that exceeds more recognized infectious such as malaria tuberculosis. Wild canids well-known mammals act natural reservoirs zoonotic-r...

About two years ago our laboratory received for identification a sparganum of Spirometra sp. (about 10 cm long) removed from a nodule in the knee of a Tanzanian negro by Doctor Knut Saug. About the same time we received for identification two tetrathyridia of Mesocestoides sp. (about 8 cm long) found in the peritoneum of a Norwegian cat. The latter was the first record of tetrathyridia found in...