Status of Intestinal Parasite Infections among 4,137 Residents from Provinces Nationwide and Metropolitan Areas in the Republic of Korea(2004).
- Author:
Jong Yil CHAI
1
;
Jae Hwan PARK
;
Sang Mee GUK
;
Hyo Jin KIM
;
Won Hee KIM
;
Jae Lip KIM
;
Young Suk GU
;
Eun Hee SHIN
;
Hyun Mo PARK
;
Kwang Seon HONG
;
Sung Dae KIM
;
Soon Hyung LEE
Author Information
1. Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea. cjy@snu.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Intestinal parasites;
Trematode;
Fecal examination;
Human;
Korea
- MeSH:
Ancylostomatoidea;
Ascaris lumbricoides;
Busan;
Chungcheongbuk-do;
Clonorchis sinensis;
Daegu;
Echinostoma;
Eggs;
Entamoeba;
Female;
Gangwon-do;
Giardia lamblia;
Gyeonggi-do;
Gyeongsangbuk-do;
Gyeongsangnam-do;
Health Promotion;
Helminths;
Heterophyidae;
Humans;
Incheon;
Isospora;
Jeju-do;
Jeollabuk-do;
Jeollanam-do;
Korea;
Larva;
Male;
Ovum;
Paragonimus westermani;
Parasites*;
Republic of Korea;
Seoul;
Strongyloides stercoralis;
Trichuris;
Zoonoses
- From:
Infection and Chemotherapy
2006;38(4):198-203
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: The status of intestinal parasite infections among the residents of nationwide geographical areas in the Republic of Korea has been little investigated since 1997. The present study was designed to estimate the infection status of intestinal parasites among residents of several geographical areas in the Republic of Korea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fecal samples of 4,137 people (men:2,170, women:1,967) who visited the Korea Association of Health Promotion for a health check-up were collected from July to September, 2004. Specimens were examined for helminth eggs, larvae, and protozoan cysts using the Kato-Katz thick smear, formalin-ether sedimentation, and modified acid-fast staining techniques. RESULTS: Helminth eggs, larvae, and protozoan cysts were found in 322 (7.8%) of the 4,137 specimens examined. The helminth species detected were Clonorchis sinensis (in 259 specimens; 6.3%), Metagonimus sp. (14; 0.34%), Pygidiopsis summa (5; 0.12%), unidentified heterophyids (24; 0.58%), Echinostoma sp. (4; 0.1%), Gymnophalloides seoi (4; 0.1%), Paragonimus westermani (1; 0.02%), Trichuris trichiura (10; 0.24%), Ascaris lumbricoides (1; 0.02%), hookworms (1; 0.02%), and Strongyloides stercoralis (larva positive) (1; 0.02%). The protozoans detected were Entamoeba coli (9; 0.22%), Giardia lamblia (1; 0.02%), and Isospora sp. (1; 0.02%). The parasite positive rate was the highest in Gyeongsangnam-do (38 specimens; 15.3%), followed in decreasing order by Gwangju/ Jeollanam-do (56; 13.9%), Busan (58; 12.3%), Gyeongsangbuk-do (18; 11.2%), Daejeon/Chungcheongnam-do (42; 8.1%), Chungcheongbuk-do (18; 8.0%), Incheon (10; 7.0%), Daegu (22; 6.8 %), Gyeonggi-do (25; 5.0%), Jeollabuk-do (7; 4.4%), Gangwon-do (6; 3.5%), Seoul (20; 2.6%), and Jeju-do (2; 2.0%). The male positive rate (225/2,170; 10.4%) was significantly higher than that of females (95/1,967; 4.8%) (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Fish-borne trematodes including C. sinensis and heterophyids appear to be the major intestinal parasites among residents of the Republic of Korea. Control efforts are required against these fish-borne parasitic zoonoses.
