Parasites, Hosts and Diseases

"gastrointestinal parasite"

Original Article

Prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in alpacas: A preliminary 1-year longitudinal study on a farm in Jeju, Korea: Seung-Ho Ryu, Eliot Forbes, Heon Woo Lee, Emmnuel Opara, Seongjun Choe; Parasites Hosts Dis 2025;63(4):293-302.
Published online November 19, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3347/PHD.25042

Alpacas (Vicugna pacos), native to South America, were recently introduced to Korea, primarily for tourism-related activities. However, information on their parasitic infections in alpacas within the region are limited. This study aimed to investigate the longitudinal prevalence and diversity of gastrointestinal parasites in an alpaca herd on a single farm in Korea and to assess the potential risks for reinfection and interspecies transmission. Between June 2022 and June 2023 (excluding December 2022 and January 2023), fecal samples were collected monthly from a herd of 61 alpacas housed on a farm on Jeju Island, Korea. Coprological examination of 406 samples was performed using a modified McMaster technique, and parasites were identified morphologically. Six gastrointestinal parasite taxa were identified: strongyles, Trichuris sp., capillarids, Moniezia sp., Eimeria lamae, and Eimeria macusaniensis. The overall gastrointestinal parasite prevalence was 11.3%, with strongyles and Trichuris sp. most frequently identified. No seasonal trends were observed, and mixed infections were present in five animals. The prevalence was markedly lower compared with reports from Japan, Poland, and Australia, reflecting the restricted pasture access implemented by Korea’s alpaca management systems, which are primarily tourism-oriented. Neither Nematodirus spp. nor zoonotic parasites were detected. This is the first longitudinal investigation of gastrointestinal parasites in alpacas in Korea. Although the overall prevalence was low, environmental contamination and the risk of reinfection are ongoing concerns. These findings highlight the need for routine surveillance, targeted parasite control, and consistent veterinary oversight, particularly as alpaca populations expand in Korea.

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Brief Communications

Distribution of Gastrointestinal Parasitic Infection in Domestic Pigs in the Republic of Korea: Nationwide Survey from 2020-2021: Subin Lee, Badriah Alkathiri, Dongmi Kwak, Sang-Myeong Lee, Wan-Kyu Lee, Jae-Won Byun, Seung-Hun Lee; Korean J Parasitol 2022;60(3):207-211.
Published online June 30, 2022; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2022.60.3.207

This study aimed to examine the distribution of gastrointestinal parasitic infections in domestic pigs in the Republic of Korea. From May 2020 to October 2021, 364 pig fecal samples were collected from 75 farms in 7 Provinces and microscopically examined. A total of 170 (46.7%) pigs were infected with at least one of the following parasites: Balantioides coli, strongyles, Ascaris suum, Trichuris suis, and coccidia. By parasite species, B. coli, strongyles, A. suum, T. suis, and coccidia oocysts or eggs were detected in 144 (39.6%), 24 (6.6%), 14 (3.8%), 4 (1.1%), and 1 (0.3%) samples, respectively. One hundred fifty-four, 15, and 1 cases showed single, double, and triple infections, respectively. Of the swine fecal samples from 75 farms, 69 specimens (92.0%) were infected with 1 or more parasites. All surveyed farms across the country exhibited a positive rate of over 30%, among which the highest positive rate was 65.0% in Chungcheongnam-do, and Jeollabuk-do was followed by 61.9%. Winter showed a statistically lower prevalence than other seasons. This study showed that gastrointestinal parasites are prevalent in pigs in Korea, although the diversity of parasites is low.

Citations

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Molecular identification and diversity of gastrointestinal apicomplexan protozoa in pigs in the Republic of Korea
Subin Lee, Sang-Hyup Lee, Badriah Alkathiri, Kyung-Duk Min, Dong Hyeon Kwon, Mi-Hye Hwang, Gyu-Tae Jeon, Bok Kyung Ku, Jae-Won Byun, Seung-Hun Lee
Scientific Reports.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Gastrointestinal parasites in pigs in Brazil: prevalence, risk factors, diagnosis, and extension activities
Camila Souza Carvalho Class, Renan de Souza Ferreira, Ana Luiza Soares de Araujo, Ingrid da Silva Reis, Breno Torres da Silva, Fabiana Batalha Knackfuss, Laís Lisboa Corrêa, José Arcínio de Assis, Marcelo José Milagres de Almeida, Daniel de Castro Trindad
Parasitology Research.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Integrative use of conventional and DNA metabarcoding methods reveals high diversity, prevalence and intensity of gastrointestinal parasites in pigs from Victoria, Australia
Ghazanfar Abbas, Yuet On Lee, Hannah Mitchell, Abdul Ghafar, Mark A. Stevenson, Charles G. Gauci, Leah G. Starick, Regina M. Fogarty, Bernie Gleeson, Dianne E. Phillips, Tao Wang, Robin B. Gasser, Abdul Jabbar
Research in Veterinary Science.2025; 196: 105902. CrossRef
Prevalence and diversity of gastrointestinal parasites on pig farms in Kalasin Province, Thailand
Sirikanda Thanasuwan, Supawadee Piratae, Keattipong Thaowandee, Chalothon Amporn
Veterinary World.2024; : 273. CrossRef
Comparative Analysis of Ascaris suum and Macracanthorhynchus hirudinaceus Infections in Free-Ranging and Captive Wild Boars (Sus scrofa) in Hungary
Csaba Farkas, Alexandra Juhász, Balázs Fekete, Borisz Egri
Animals.2024; 14(6): 932. CrossRef
Parasites burden in peri-urban free-roaming pigs in Gert Sibande District Municipality, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa
P Munzhelele, NPS Sibeko, JW Oguttu, CA Mbajiorgu, FO Fasina
Journal of the South African Veterinary Association.2024; 95(1): 55. CrossRef
Prevalence of intestinal parasites in humans and domestic animals in Jirel community, Dolakha, Nepal
Pitambar Dhakal, Medhavi Dhakal, Dipa Dhakal, Pramita Shakya, Barsha Singh, Rabina Gupta Kalwar, Rekha Shahi, Sophiya Pandey, Darwin Niraula, Anita Karki, Mukesh Kumar Mahato, Semsal Tamang, Basanti Chhetri, Muna Thapa, Rameshwor Parajuli, Janak Raj Subed
Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care.2024; 13(8): 3408. CrossRef

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Paleoparasitology of Merovingian Corpses Buried in Stone Sarcophagi in the Saint-Martin-au-Val Church (Chartres, France): Benjamin Dufour, Emilie Portat, Bruno Bazin, Matthieu Le Bailly; Korean J Parasitol 2019;57(6):613-619.
Published online December 31, 2019; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2019.57.6.613

Abstract
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Paleoparasitological analysis was carried on 4 Merovingian skeletons, dated from the late-5th to the late-9th centuries, and recovered in the church of Saint-Martin-au-Val in Chartres (Center region, France). The corpses were buried in stone sarcophagi, which were still sealed at the time of excavation. Parasite marker extraction was conducted on sediment samples taken from the abdominal and pelvic regions, but also on samples taken from under the head and the feet as control samples. Microscopic observation revealed the presence of 3 gastrointestinal parasites, namely the roundworm (Ascaris lumbricoides), the whipworm (Trichuris trichiura) and the fish tapeworm (genus Diphyllobothrium). This analysis contributes to a better knowledge of the health status and the lifestyle of ancient medieval populations during the Merovingian period, for which very few paleoparasitological data were available, up until now. It demonstrates the presence of the fish tapeworm for the first time during this period.

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Paleoparasitological evidence of helminth infections in individuals from two Late Iron Age necropolises in Northern Italy (3rd-1st c. BCE)
Ramón López-Gijón, Zita Laffranchi, Wolf-Rüdiger Teegen, Matthieu Le Bailly, Salvatore Duras, Kévin Roche, Daniele Vitali, Luciano Salzani, Albert Zink, Marco Milella
International Journal of Paleopathology.2025; 51: 1. CrossRef

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Original Article

Gastrointestinal Parasite Infection in Cats in Daegu, Republic of Korea, and Efficacy of Treatment Using Topical Emodepside/Praziquantel Formulation: Seung-Hun Lee, Younsung Ock, Donghag Choi, Dongmi Kwak; Korean J Parasitol 2019;57(3):243-248.
Published online June 30, 2019; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2019.57.3.243

Abstract
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The purpose of this study was 2-fold: 1) to investigate the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasite infection in cats reared in Daegu, Republic of Korea and 2) to assess the efficacy and safety of a topical emodepside/praziquantel formulation for cats with parasitic infections. The gastrointestinal parasite infections were examined microscopically using the flotation method. Of 407 cats, 162 (39.8%) were infected by at least one gastrointestinal parasite, including Toxocara cati (63.0%), Toxascaris leonina (31.5%), Taenia taeniaeformis (3.7%), and Cystoisospora felis (1.9%). None of the infected animals had multiple infections. When the data were analyzed according to sex, age, and type of cat, stray cats showed statistically higher prevalence than companion cats (P<0.05). On the 5th day after treatment, no parasitic eggs were detected using microscopic examination. In addition, no adverse effects, such as abnormal behaviors and clinical symptoms, were observed in the cats treated with the drug. These results quantify the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in cats in Daegu, Republic of Korea, and show that topical emodepside/praziquantel is a safe and effective choice for treating the parasitic infections in cats.

Citations

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Toxocara cati Infection in Cats (Felis catus): A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Jorge Luis Bonilla-Aldana, Alba Cristina Espinosa-Nuñez, D. Katterine Bonilla-Aldana, Alfonso J. Rodriguez-Morales
Animals.2024; 14(7): 1022. CrossRef
Gastrointestinal parasites of owned cats in three districts of Central Ethiopia: Prevalence and risk factors
Kibruyesfa Bayou, Getachew Terefe, Bersissa Kumsa
Veterinary Parasitology: Regional Studies and Reports.2024; 52: 101053. CrossRef
Emodepside: the anthelmintic’s mode of action and toxicity
Charity N. Njeshi, Alan P. Robertson, Richard J. Martin
Frontiers in Parasitology.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
Survey on the prevalence of intestinal parasites in domestic cats (Felis catus Linnaeus, 1758) in central Nepal
Roshan Babu Adhikari, Madhuri Adhikari Dhakal, Purna Bahadur Ale, Ganga Ram Regmi, Tirth Raj Ghimire
Veterinary Medicine and Science.2023; 9(2): 559. CrossRef
The detection and phylogenetic characterization of Cryptosporidium, Cystoisospora, and Giardia duodenalis of cats in South Korea
Chi Sun Yun, Bo-Youn Moon, Kichan Lee, Su Min Kang, Bok-Kyung Ku, Mi-Hye Hwang
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology.2023;[Epub] CrossRef
Toxocara cati ile Doğal Enfekte Kedilerde Fenbendazol+Pyrantel Pamoate ve Praziquantel Kombinasyonunun Etkinliğinin Belirlenmesi
Hakkı Seçkin Çetin, Ömür Özerhun, Faruk Küçükyıldız
Harran Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi.2022; 11(1): 8. CrossRef
Multicenter randomized, and blinded European field study evaluating the efficacy and safety of Felpreva®, a novel spot-on formulation containing tigolaner, emodepside and praziquantel, in treating cats with mixed infection with intestinal nematodes, cesto
Dejan Cvejić, Norbert Mencke, Gabriele Petry, Hannah Ringeisen, Hannah Hamburg, Klaus Hellmann, Donato Traversa, Simone Morelli, Angela Di Cesare, Anastasia Diakou, Róbert Farkas
Current Research in Parasitology & Vector-Borne Diseases.2022; 2: 100098. CrossRef
Multicenter randomized, and blinded European field study evaluating the efficacy and safety of Felpreva®, a novel spot-on formulation containing emodepside, praziquantel and tigolaner, in treating cats naturally infested with fleas and/or ticks
Dejan Cvejić, Klaus Hellmann, Gabriele Petry, Hannah Ringeisen, Hannah Hamburg, Róbert Farkas, Katrin Blazejak, Norbert Mencke
Current Research in Parasitology & Vector-Borne Diseases.2022; 2: 100099. CrossRef
Multicenter Randomized, and Blinded European Field Study Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of Felpreva®, a Novel Spot-On Formulation Containing Tigolaner, Emodepside, and Praziquantel in Treating Cats with Mixed Infection with Nematodes, Cestodes And/Or
Norbert Mencke, Dejan Cvejić, Gabriele Petry, Hannah Ringeisen, Hannah Hamburg, Klaus Hellmann, Donato Traversa, Simone Morelli, Angela Di Cesare, Anastasia Diakou, Róbert Farkas
SSRN Electronic Journal .2022;[Epub] CrossRef
The Prevalence of Endoparasites of Free Ranging Cats (Felis catus) from Urban Habitats in Southern Poland
Izabela A. Wierzbowska, Sławomir Kornaś, Aleksandra M. Piontek, Kaja Rola
Animals.2020; 10(4): 748. CrossRef

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9 Web of Science
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Brief Communication

Examination of gastrointestinal helminth in livestock grazing in grassland of Bangladesh: M. Motahar-Hussain Mondal, M-Khyrul Islam, Jin Hur, John-Hwa Lee, Byeong-Kirl Baek; Korean J Parasitol 2000;38(3):187-190.
Published online September 30, 2000; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2000.38.3.187

Abstract
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To determine association of grassland with parasitic diseases of livestock in Bangladesh, the 'Tracer' animals (two cow calves and two goats) were released for a month in a grassland used for communal grazing of livestock near school premise in Kanthal, Trishal, Mymensingh, Bangladesh. After slaughtering of the tracer animals, their gastrointestinal tract examination revealed six species of nematode and one cestode. The nematode species were Haemonchus contortus, Trichostrongylus axei, Mecistocirrus digitatus, Oesophagostomum spp., Trichuris spp. and Bunostomum sp. The cestode was one of the genus Moniezia. With this preliminary study, grasslands are thought to be one of the main sources of gastrointestinal parasitic diseases of livestock in Bangladesh.

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Intestinal Parasitic Infections (IPIs) and Contributing Factors in Bovine Calves in Southern Nepal
Dharmraj Kumar Patel, Janak Raj Subedi, Pitambar Dhakal, Rajendra Prasad Parajuli
Veterinary Medicine and Science.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths infection in cattle based on breed, sex, age, location and management system
B.A. Koto, M.M. Adua, I.S. Musa, I. Mallam,
Agricultural Science and Technology.2025; 17(3): 58. CrossRef
Prevalence and burden of gastrointestinal parasites in stray cattle of the Kathmandu Valley
Bigyan Thapa, Rajendra Prasad Parajuli, Pitambar Dhakal
Journal of Parasitic Diseases.2022; 46(3): 845. CrossRef
Gastrointestinal nematode and Eimeria spp. infections in dairy cattle along a rural-urban gradient
A. Pinto, K. May, T. Yin, M. Reichenbach, P.K. Malik, R. Roessler, E. Schlecht, S. König
Veterinary Parasitology: Regional Studies and Reports.2021; 25: 100600. CrossRef
Seasonal coprological survey for assessment of risk factors associated with gastrointestinal parasitism in zoo-housed animals of Punjab, India
Aman Dev Moudgil, Lachhman Das Singla, M. P. Singh
Biological Rhythm Research.2020; 51(8): 1273. CrossRef
Gastro-intestinal nematodes in goats in Bangladesh: A large-scale epidemiological study on the prevalence and risk factors
Anita Rani Dey, Nurjahan Begum, Md. Abdul Alim, Subrota Malakar, Md. Taohidul Islam, Mohammad Zahangir Alam
Parasite Epidemiology and Control.2020; 9: e00146. CrossRef
Natural nodular worm infection in goats induces eosinophil extracellular DNA trap (EET) formation
Anisuzzaman, Abu Anas, Md. Golam Yasin, Sharmin Shahid Labony, Md. Mokbul Hossain, Nurjahan Begum, Takeshi Hatta, Naotoshi Tsuji, Md. Abdul Alim
Parasitology International.2020; 79: 102178. CrossRef
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Aji Winarso
ARSHI Veterinary Letters.2018; 2(2): 25. CrossRef
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Muhammad Asif Raza, Zafar Iqbal, Abdul Jabbar, Muhammad Yaseen
Journal of Helminthology.2007; 81(3): 323. CrossRef