ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the presence of Bartonella henselae DNA, which is known as an etiologic agent of lymphadenitis, in fleas from dogs. METHODS: The Bartonella henselae infection was investigated in 42 fleas from 22 dogs in Korea. By using seminested PCR targeting pap31 gene, B. henselae DNA was amplified from fleas. RESULTS: B. henselae DNA was detected in seven fleas (7 of 42 fleas, 16.7 percent) from four dogs (4 of 22 dogs, 18.2 percent). To confirm these findings, we performed sequencing and identified the seven PCR products. Sequence analysis revealed that six sequences belonged to Huston-1 genogroup and one sequence to Marseille genogroup. CONCLUSION: These results may suggest that dogs could be an important source of B. henselae infection in children in Korea. This is the first report about the detection of B. henselae in fleas from dogs in Korea.
Subject(s)
Animals , Child , Dogs , Humans , Bartonella henselae , Bartonella , DNA , Genotype , Korea , Lymphadenitis , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Sequence Analysis , SiphonapteraABSTRACT
There have been reports in Korea of imported malaria cases of four Plasmodium species, but there has been no report of imported Plasmodium ovale malaria confirmed by molecular biological methods. We report an imported case of that was confirmed by Wright-Giemsa-stained peripheral blood smear and nested polymerase chain reaction targeting the small subunit ribosomal RNA gene. The amplified DNA was sequenced and compared with other registered P. ovale isolates. The isolate in this study was a member of the classic type group. The patient was a 44-yr-old male who had worked as a woodcutter in Cote d'Ivoire in tropical West Africa. He was treated with hydroxychloroquine and primaquine and discharged following improvement. In conclusion, P. ovale should be considered as an etiology in the imported malaria in Korea, because the number of travelers to P. ovale endemic regions has recently increased.
Subject(s)
Male , Humans , Adult , Sequence Analysis, DNA , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Plasmodium ovale/genetics , Malaria/diagnosis , Genes, rRNAABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Transfusion-transmitted virus (TTV) is a small DNA virus with single-stranded, closed circular, antisense genome infecting humans. The TTV has been classified into five major genomic groups 1-5. There have been a few studies on TTV prevalence in blood donors and blood products in Korea. However there have been no reports on the TTV genomic groups in Korea. The aim of this study was to gain information on TTV genomic groups in blood products in Korea. METHODS: A total of 50 plasma samples from blood products (25 units each of red blood cell and whole blood) were tested. The samples are obtained from the segments of the blood products. TTV DNA was detected using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with two sets of universal primers (A set and B set), and TTV genomic groups were determined using PCR with group specific primer sets. RESULTS: TTV DNA was detected in 96% (48/50) of the blood products: the TTV genomic group 3 was found the most frequently (52%, 26/50), followed by group 4 (46%, 23/50), group 1 (20%, 10/50), group 5 (10%, 5/20), and group 2 (2%, 1/50). There were seven blood products (14%) infected with TTVs but their genomic groups were not identified with group specific primer sets. Among the blood products, 44% (22/50) were infected with a unique TTV genomic group; 38% (19/50) were coinfected with TTV from 2 (28%, 14/50) or 3 (10%, 5/50) genomic groups. CONCLUSIONS: Blood products are frequently infected with TTV and all five known genomic groups are detected in Korea.
Subject(s)
Humans , Blood Donors , DNA , DNA Viruses , Erythrocytes , Genome , Korea , Plasma , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Prevalence , Torque teno virusABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Transfusion-transmitted virus (TTV) and TTV-like mini virus (TLMV) are small DNA virus with single-stranded, closed circular, antisense genome infecting man. TTV and TLMV are trans-missible by transfusion. However there had been a few study about TTV prevalence and no study about prevalence in blood donors in Korea. There has been no study about the TTV and TLMV infection in blood products in Korea. The aim of this study was to gain the prevalence of two viruses in blood products. METHODS: A total of 150 plasma samples from blood products (each 50 units of Red blood cell, whole blood, and platelet concentrate) were tested. The samples are obtained from the segments of the blood products. TTV DNA was detected using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with two sets of primers (A set and B set) and TLMV DNA was detected using nested PCR with primer set C. RESULTS: TTV DNA was detected in 85.3% (128/150) of blood products. TLMV DNA was detected in 41.3% (62/150) of blood products. Either TTV or TLMV was detected in a total of 140 blood products (92.3%) and both TTV and TLMV were detected in 50 products (33.3%). CONCLUSIONS: The blood products are frequently infected with TTV and (or) TLMV in Korea and they can be transmissible by blood products with high probability.