High endemicity of Metagonimus yokogawai infection among residents of Samchok-shi, Kangwon-do

  • Chai, Jong-Yil (Department of Parasitology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, and Institute of Endemic Diseases, Seoul National University Medical Research Center) ;
  • Han, Eun-Taek (Department of Parasitology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, and Institute of Endemic Diseases, Seoul National University Medical Research Center) ;
  • Park, Yun-Kyu (Department of Parasitology, Inha University College of Medicine) ;
  • Guk, Sang-Mee (Department of Parasitology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, and Institute of Endemic Diseases, Seoul National University Medical Research Center) ;
  • Kim, Jae-Lip (Department of Parasitology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, and Institute of Endemic Diseases, Seoul National University Medical Research Center) ;
  • Lee, Soon-Hyung (Department of Parasitology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, and Institute of Endemic Diseases, Seoul National University Medical Research Center)
  • Published : 2000.03.01

Abstract

A small-scale epidemiological survey was undertaken during 1997-1998 on the residents along the Osib-chon (Stream), Samchok-shi (City), Kangwon-do (Province), to evaluate the status of Metagonimus yokogawai infection. A total of 165 fecal samples was collected and examined by cellophane thick smear and formalin-ether sedimentation techniques. The egg Positive rate of M. yokogawai was 29.7%, showing a remarkable difference between males (46.6%) and females (16.3%). To obtain the adult flukes of M. yokogawai, 11 egg positive persons were treated with praziquantel and purged with magnesium sulfate. A total of 242,119 adult flukes (average 22,010 per person, 367 119,650 in range) was collected from diarrheic stools, all of which were identified as M. yokogawai. The results show that M. yokogawai is still highly endemic in this area.

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