Paragonimiasis Incidence in the Shimanto River Area.
10.2185/jjrm.40.42
- VernacularTitle:四万十川における肺吸虫症の実態
- Author:
Shinji Miyahara
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- From:Journal of the Japanese Association of Rural Medicine
1991;40(1):42-46
- CountryJapan
- Language:Japanese
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Abstract:
We investigated the occurrence of paragonimiasis in the area along the Shimanto River and its branches flowing through Nishitosa Village, Kouchi Prefecture, by studying parasitism of metacercariae in Eriocheir japonicus and Geothelphusa dehaani and infection in humans.
A. Investigation of crabs
Fifty nine Eriocheir japonicus were caught at two points of a branches of the Shimanto River, and two (3.4%) were found with metacercariae.
One hundred and seventy eight Geothelphusa dehaani were captured at six points of the branches of the Shimanto River, and 105 (59.0%) were found with metacercariae.
B. Investigation of infection in humans
The first to fifth screenings were conducted on 2, 274 inhabitants of Nishitosa Village ; the first screeing was performed by questionnairing on paragonimiasis, the second intracutaneous reaction, the third chest X-ray, the fourth sputum test, and the fifth serum test. The screenings revealed one subject infected with Westermann paragonimiasis, the source of infection being raw wildboar meat.
The study has confirmed the existence of paragonimiasis in the area along the Shimanto River, and showed to the villagers that eating Eriocheir japonicus and Geothelphusa dehaami raw is dangerous to their health.
