Survey of Gymnophalloides seoi Metacercariae in Natural and Cultured Oysters from Several Western Coastal Areas, Korea
10.3347/kjp.2019.57.6.705
- Author:
Taehee CHANG
1
;
Bong Kwang JUNG
;
Hyemi SONG
;
Jaeeun CHO
;
Sooji HONG
;
Keon Hoon LEE
;
Eui Hyug HOANG
;
Jisu KANG
;
Jini LIM
;
Hana LEE
;
Jong Yil CHAI
Author Information
1. Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Korea Association of Health Promotion, Seoul 07649, Korea. mulddang@gmail.com
- Publication Type:Brief Communication
- Keywords:
Gymnophalloides seoi;
natural oyster;
cultured oyster;
metacercarial survey;
western coastal area;
Korea
- MeSH:
Chungcheongnam-do;
Digestion;
Eating;
Humans;
Islands;
Jeollanam-do;
Korea;
Metacercariae;
Methods;
Ostreidae;
Prevalence;
Republic of Korea
- From:The Korean Journal of Parasitology
2019;57(6):705-708
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Gymnophalloides seoi (Digenea: Gymnophallidae) is a human intestinal trematode contracted by eating raw oysters (Crassostrea gigas) in the Republic of Korea (=Korea). It has been known to be highly endemic in Aphae Island, Shinan-gun, Jeollanam-do (Province). However, recent epidemiological status of G. seoi has not been reported since the 1990s. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of G. seoi metacercariae in natural and cultured oysters collected from 3 islands and 2 coastal areas in western parts of Korea. The oysters were examined using the artificial digestion method followed by stereomicroscopy. The overall positive rate of G. seoi metacercariae in natural oysters was 66.0% (99/150), and the oysters collected from Yubu Island showed the highest infection rate (74.0%). However, the metacercarial density per oyster was relatively low (1.5–2.4 per oyster). By contrast, no metacercaria was found in cultured oysters purchased from 2 coastal areas in Chungcheongnam-do. Thus, we could confirm that natural oysters produced from 3 western coastal islands are infected with G. seoi metacercariae, whereas cultured oysters purchased from 2 coastal areas were free from infection.
