Korean J Parasitol.  2016 Apr;54(2):215-219. 10.3347/kjp.2016.54.2.215.

Prevalence of Clonorchis sinensis Infection among Residents along 5 Major Rivers in the Republic of Korea

• Jeong YI
• Shin HE
• Lee SE
• Cheun HI
• Ju JW
• Kim JY
• Park MY
• Cho SH

• KMID: 2164021
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2016.54.2.215

Abstract

Clonorchis sinensis is currently the most important parasite affecting public health problems in the Republic of Korea. We investigated the prevalence of C. sinensis infection among residents living along 5 major rivers in Korea. A total of 42,562 individual stool samples were collected from 37 localities and examined using the formalin-ether sedimentation technique. Helminth eggs were detected in 4,052 (9.5%) residents and 3,586 (8.4%) were infected with C. sinensis. The egg positive rate of C. sinensis in Nakdong, Seomjin, Geum, Yeongsan, and Han River was 11.7%, 9.9%, 6.5%, 3.1%, and 1.0%, respectively. The overall prevalence of clonorchiasis by sex was 11.2% in males and 6.2% in females. The age-prevalence was the highest in the 50-59 years band. It has been reconfirmed that the endemicity of clonorchiasis is higher in southern areas of Korea, especially along Nakdong and Seomjin Rivers. A combination of continuous control programs with health education initiatives is urgently required in these highly endemic areas of clonorchiasis in Korea.

Keyword

Clonorchis sinensis; clonorchiasis; prevalence; riverside resident; 5 major rivers; Korea

MeSH Terms

Clonorchiasis
Clonorchis sinensis*
Eggs
Female
Geum
Health Education
Helminths
Humans
Korea
Male
Ovum
Parasites
Prevalence*
Public Health
Republic of Korea*
Rivers*