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AbstractThe honey bee is an important pollinator of wild plants and crops and provides various useful products for humans. Infestations by honey bee mites damage the honey bees’ health, decrease their lifespan, and increase their viral susceptibility. In this study, surveys were conducted throughout South Korea in 2019 to investigate the status of honey bee mite infestation. Mite samples were collected for species identification, and estimation of infestation levels from 47 apiaries in 12 regions was conducted. Mite species were identified by morphological characteristics and genetic analysis using cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COX1). The results showed that 93.6% of the apiaries were infested by honey bee mites, of which 85.1% and 76.6% of the apiaries were infested by Varroaspp. and Tropilaelapsspp., respectively. Furthermore, 68.0% were co-infested by both honey bee mites. Additionally, 82.5% of the apiaries with Varroaspp. showed infestation rate with >3 mites per 100 bees, the infestation level could result in winter losses of honey bee colonies. Species identification revealed that all mites from the apiaries in South Korea were Varroa destructorand Tropilaelaps mercedesae. Importantly, these two mite species were determined to be vectors of one to nine honey bee pathogens in real-time polymerase chain reaction detection. The most prevalent pathogen was the deformed wing virus, followed by the Israeli acute paralysis virus and chronic bee paralysis virus. The results of the surveys are important for estimating the economic losses caused by honey bee mites and establishing a possible strategy for controlling mites and mite-borne transmissible pathogens in South Korea.

The small hive beetle (SHB), Aethina tumidaMurray, is a parasite of honey bee colonies and causes the fermentation of honey as well as colony collapse. Outbreaks have been confirmed in Africa, America, Europe as well as Asia, where an outbreak was reported in the Philippines and South Korea in 2014 and 2017, respectively. In South Korea, in September 2016, this honey bee parasite was first identified in apiaries in Miryang, Gyeongnam Province. However, the invasion pathway of SHB has not been identified, and honey bee pathogens harbored by SHB have not been well characterized. Therefore, phylogenetic analysis of SHB with the use of COI gene and detection of fourteen common honey bee pathogens were conducted in this study. The confirmation of the fourteen honey bee pathogens in SHB showed that this beetle carries black queen cell virus and deformed wing virus. Therefore, SHB could have a role in the spread of these viruses. The way of entry of the SHB to South Korea remains undetermined, but the phylogenetic analysis of the COI gene revealed that it was most similar to species found in the USA. There is an urgent need for national-level monitoring and quarantine measures for preventing the spread of SHB infestation in South Korea.

The current prevalence of primary antibiotic resistance of H. pyloriis not known in Korea. This study was done to evaluate the prevalence of primary antibiotic resistance of H. pylori, and to evaluate the effect of point mutations of 23S rRNA on the rate of eradication of H. pylori.

AbstractBackground:Plasmodium vivaxmalaria accounts for more than half of all malaria cases in Asia and Latin America. Despite the high prevalence of disease caused by this parasite, research into its effects (especially its renal effect) has lagged disproportionately. To investigate predictors of vivax malaria-induced nephropathy, we analyzed the cases of vivax malaria-induced nephropathy in young Korean men. Methods:This was a retrospective analysis of P. vivaxpatients with acute nephropathy (all males, n = 75), defined by an absolute increase in serum creatinine of 0.3 mg/dl or more (equal to an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <80 ml/min) (group 1, n = 31) or proteinuria (group 2, n = 44), between January 2004 and December 2007. The eGFR was calculated using a simplified Modification of Renal Disease (MDRD) equation. None of the patients had a history of traveling abroad, drug abuse or blood transfusion. The clinical manifestations, laboratory abnormalities and predictors of nephropathy were reviewed. Results:Out of 398 cases of vivax malaria, 75 patients (all males) suffered from to vivax malaria-induced acute nephropathy. The mean age of the patients who were divided into two groups was 22.8 ± 3.7 and 21.6 ± 1.8 years, respectively (p = 0.089). In group 1, the total serum bilirubin significantly correlated with serum creatinine and eGFR (p = 0.004 and 0.035, correlation coefficient = 0.508 and –0.387, respectively). In group 2, 24-hour proteinuria significantly correlated with hemoglobin (p = 0.004, correlation coefficient = –0.424). Conclusion:Total serum bilirubin (group 1, an absolute increase in serum creatinine of 0.3 mg/dl or more (equal to an eGFR <80 ml/min)) and hemoglobin (group 2, proteinuria) are useful to predict vivax-induced nephropathy.Copyright © 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel