Korean J Parasitol.  2002 Mar;40(1):9-16. 10.3347/kjp.2002.40.1.9.

Epidemiological study of clonorchiasis and metagonimiasis along the Geum-gang (River) in Okcheon-gun (County), Korea

• Lee GS
• Cho IS
• Lee YH
• Noh HJ
• Shin DW
• Lee SG
• Lee TY

• KMID: 1384706
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2002.40.1.9

Abstract

The endemic status of clonorchiasis and metagonimiasis along the Geum-gang (River) in Okcheon-gun (County) in Korea was examined. From February to December 2000, stools of total 1,081 inhabitants living in 5 villages were examined. Each stool specimen was examined by both the cellophane thick smear method and the formalin-ether sedimentation technique. Egg-positive cases were further analyzed by Stoll's egg-counting technique, and praziquantel was administered to positive cases. The egg-positive rates for Clonorchis sinensis and Metagonimus species were 9.3% and 5.5%, respectively, and the double infection rate was 3.5%. The numbers of eggs per gram (EPG) of feces of C. sinensis and Metagonimus sp. were 918 +/-1.463 and 711+/-947, respectively. The egg-positive rates for C. sinensis and Metagonimus sp. in the riverside area were 14.2% and 8.4%, respectively, which were significantly higher than those of the inland area (3.2% and 1.7%, respectively). The egg-positive rates of C. sinensis and Metagonimus sp. in males (16.7% and 10.0%) were significantly higher than those of females (3.5% and 1.8%). However, there were no significant differences of EPG values between localities and sexes. The prevalence of clonorchiasis and metagonimiasis in this survey was significantly lower than that in the previous reports. However, there is still a high prevalence of infection with C. sinensis and Metagonimus sp. in this region, especially in the riverside area.

Keyword

Clonorchis sinensis; Metagonimus sp.; epidemiology; epidemiologyOkcheon-gun

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Animals
Child
Clonorchiasis/*epidemiology/parasitology
Clonorchis sinensis/isolation & purification
Feces/parasitology
Female
Heterophyidae/isolation & purification
Humans
Korea/epidemiology
Male
Middle Aged
Parasite Egg Count
Prevalence
Rural Population
Sex Factors
Time Factors
Trematode Infections/*epidemiology/parasitology