Sarcocystis spp. are common protozoan parasites infecting a wide range of intermediate hosts, including wild cervids. In this study, we investigated the occurrence and molecular characteristics of Sarcocystis infection in wild Korean roe deer (Capreolus pygargus tianschanicus) from Jeju Island, Korea. Sarcocysts were identified in the heart and skeletal muscle of 18 out of 40 examined animals (45.0%) based on histopathological examination. The cysts were oval to spherical in shape, measuring 42.41–340.29 μm in length and 31.62–129.76 μm in width, and were not associated with significant inflammatory responses. Molecular analysis targeting the 18S rRNA gene yielded 2 representative sequences, which showed 99.82% identity and high similarity to Sarcocystis linearis, as well as closely related species including S. taeniata and S. grueneri. Phylogenetic analysis placed these sequences within a clade of ungulate-associated Sarcocystis spp., although species-level resolution was not achieved due to the conserved nature of the marker. These findings provide baseline data on Sarcocystis infection in wild roe deer from Jeju Island and highlight the limitations of 18S rRNA-based identification for closely related Sarcocystis species.
The present study investigated the infection status of digenetic trematode metacercariae (DTM) in freshwater fish from Banbyeon-cheon in Yeongyang-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea. A total of 211 freshwater fish representing 11 species were examined using the artificial digestion method in October 2023. Six taxa of DTM, including Clonorchis sinensis, Metagonimus spp., Centrocestus armatus, echinostomes, Exorchis oviformis, and Metacercaria hasegawai, were detected. The overall prevalence of DTM was 92.4% among the fish examined. The prevalence of C. armatus was the highest (52.8%), followed by E. oviformis (51.6%), M. hasegawai (35.6%), echinostomes (31.0%), C. sinensis (16.1%), and Metagonimus spp. (6.9%) in positive fish species. The infection intensity of C. armatus was 126 metacercariae per infected fish, whereas those of C. sinensis and Metagonimus spp. were 20 and 5.8 per infected fish, respectively. These findings indicate that at least 6 taxa of DTM, including C. sinensis and Metagonimus spp., are prevalent to varying degrees in fish from Banbyeon-cheon in Yeongyang-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea. However, the potential risk of fishborne zoonotic trematodes, particularly C. sinensis, appears to be markedly lower than that reported in previous studies.
The genus Anisakis is among the most significant parasites to public health, as it causes anisakiasis, a parasitic infection in humans resulting from consuming raw or undercooked seafood. Although the infection status of i>Anisakis in second intermediate hosts, such as marine fishes and cephalopods, and humans have been severally reported in Korea, no information about the definitive host in Korean waters is available. In 2014, 2 adult gastric nematodes were collected from a common minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) found in the East Sea, Korea. These worms were identified as A. simplex sensu stricto (s.s.) by comparing the mitochondrial COX2 marker with previously deposited sequences. Phylogenetic and phylogeographic analyses of A. simplex (s.s.) worldwide revealed 2 distinct populations: the Pacific population and the European waters population. This is the first report on adult i>Anisakis and its definitive host species in Korea. Further studies on Anisakis infection in other cetacean species and marine mammals in Korean seas are warrantedi>Anisakis
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Cystic echinococcosis is a zoonotic parasitic disease caused by Echinococcus species. Tanzania is one of the endemic countries with cystic echinococcosis. This study focussed on identifying genotypes of Echinococcus spp. in Tanzania. We collected 7 cysts from cattle in Mwanza municipal (n=4) and Loliondo district (n=3). The cysts from Mwanza were all E. ortleppi and fertile. In contrast, the cysts from Loliondo were all E. granulosus sensu stricto and sterile. Two from the 4 cysts were a new haplotype of E. ortleppi (G5). These results can improve the preventive and control programs for humans and livestock in Tanzania. To our knowledge, this study is considered the first to identify the genotype and haplotype of Echinococcus spp. in Tanzania.
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