Collection of Clonorchis sinensis adult worms from infected humans after praziquantel treatment

A cohort was established for evaluation of cancer risk factors in Sancheong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea. As one of the cohort studies, stools of 947 residents (403 males and 544 females, age range: 29-86 years) were screened for Clonorchis sinensis eggs using both Kato-Katz method and formalin-ether sedimentation technique. The overall egg positive rate of C. sinensis was 37.7% and individual EPG (eggs per gram of feces) counts ranged from 24 to 28,800. Eight egg positive residents voluntarily joined a process of collection of the passed worms after praziquantel treatment. A total of 158 worms were recovered from 5 of the 8 treated persons, ranged from 3 to 108 in each individual. The worms were 15-20 mm x 2-3 mm in size, and showed brown-pigmented, red, or white body colors. This is the first collection record of C. sinensis adult worms from humans through anthelmintic treatment and purgation. The adult worms of C. sinensis may be paralyzed by praziquantel and then discharged passively through bile flow in the bile duct and by peristaltic movement of the bowel.

Organ-specific antigens of Clonorchis sinensis

This study was carried out to find out specific proteins from different organs of Clonorchis sinensis. Crude extract, organ-specific and excretory-secretory (ES) proteins were analyzed by immunoblot with infected human sera. The bands of 7- and 17-kDa were main component of intestinal fluid and ES protein and commonly found in all organspecific proteins. The 17-kDa protein was observed from ES antigen, intestinal fluid, eggs and sperms, 26- and 28- kDa proteins were from the uterus, vitellaria, and ovary, and 34-, 37-, 43- and 50-kDa proteins were mainly from the testis and sperms. Serum of mice immunized with sperms reacted to the 50-kDa protein by immunoblotting and immunohistochemical staining showed a positive reaction at the seminal receptacle and seminiferous tubule. The present results show that the 7-kDa protein is a common antigen of every part or organ of C. sinensis, but different organs express their specific antigenic protein bands.

Characterization of partially purified 8 kDa antigenic protein of Clonorchis sinensis

The 8 kDa antigenic protein of Clonorchis sinensis was partially purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation and subsequently by a column chromatographic steps. The purified protein was separated into 7 and 8 kDa protein bands through SDS-tricine gel electrophoresis, while the protein was found to migrate to a 8 kDa band in 7.5-15% SDS-PAGE. The molecular weight of the antigen was estimated to be 110 kDa by Superose 6 HR 10/30 gel filtration. The purified antigen strongly reacted with the human sera of clonorchiasis. The hyperimmune sera of BALB/c mice immunized against the 8 kDa protein were reacted with both the crude extract and the excretory-secretory product of adult worms, but not with the metacercarial extract. Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated that the protein was distributed to the tegument and subtegumental cells and also to the seminal receptacle. The present findings suggest that the 8 kDa protein is a partition of the multicomplex protein originating from various organs of adult C. sinensis, and that it is composed of several 7 and 8 kDa proteins.

Nervous system of Clonorchis sinensis as revealed by acetylcholinesterase activity.

The gross neuroanatomy of Clonorchis sinensis has been revealed by the localization of acetylcholinesterase, well known to be associated with the nervous system. The central nervous system is composed of two cerebral ganglia situated postero-dorsally to the pharynx and connected by a transverse commissure. These ganglia give off four pairs of nerves anteriorly and three pairs posteriorly. The anterior nerves contribute to the pharynx and to the formation of the circum-oral ring located in the oral sucker. The posterior nerves, of which the postero-ventral nerve cords are the most prominent, contribute to the innervation of the acetabulum, the gut, the reproductive organs and the excretory bladder. All the posterior nerve cords are connected by a number of transverse connections throughout their course forming a complicated nerve net. At least two types of nerve cells, bipolar and multipolar ones, were observed.