Korean J Parasitol.  2008 Sep;46(3):179-182. 10.3347/kjp.2008.46.3.179.

Skin Test for Paragonimiasis among Schoolchildren and Villagers in Namback District, Luangprabang Province, Lao PDR

• Song HO
• Min DY
• Rim HJ
• Youthanavanh V
• Dalunyi B
• Sengdara V
• Virasacki
• Bounlay P

• KMID: 1720563
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2008.46.3.179

Abstract

As a part of a broader effort to determine the status of Paragonimus species infection in Lao PDR, an epidemiological survey was conducted on villagers and schoolchildren in Namback District between 2003 and 2005. Among 308 villagers and 633 primary and secondary schoolchildren, 156 villagers and 92 children evidenced a positive reaction on a Paragonimus skin test. Only 4 schoolchildren out of 128 skin test-positive cases had Paragonimus sp. eggs in their sputum, all of which was collected on 1 day. Several types of crabs, which were identified as the second intermediate host of the Paragonimus species, were collected from markets and streams in a paragonimiasis endemic area for the inspection of metacercariae. Among the examined crabs, only "rock crabs" (Indochinamon ou) harbored Paragonimus sp. metacercariae, and it is speculated that the life cycle of Paragonimus sp. was maintained via rock crabs in Namback District, Lao PDR.

Keyword

Paragonimus; paragonimiasis; skin test; crab; Lao PDR

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Animals
Brachyura/parasitology
Child
Female
Humans
Laos/epidemiology
Male
Middle Aged
Paragonimiasis/*diagnosis/*epidemiology
Population Surveillance
*Skin Tests