The duration of infection, frequency of eating raw fresh water fishes, and a series of liver function tests were studied in a group of 23 Korean symptomless cases with Clonorchis sinensis, and compared with those in a control group of uninfected persons. Of 23 lightly infected cases, 11 cases who had been infected for 10 to 20 years was found the highest in percentage(47.8), and 2 had been infected for over 30 years. The frequency of eating raw fresh water fishes ranged from 2 to 35 times. The range of Stoll egg-counts in 23 cases varied from 600 to 8,600 eggs per gram of feces and the average value was approximately 2,800 eggs. A series of liver function tests examined showed normal value in all cases. These results showed no difference in either infected group and its contol group.
parasitology-trematode-Clonorchiasis sinensis, epidemiology ; egg per gram ; liver function test

The prevalence of liver and intestinal fluke infections was determined by surveying inhabitants of Hengxuan, Fusui, and Shanglin villages which were known to be endemic for liver flukes in Guangxi, China in May 2010. A total of 718 people were examined for helminth eggs by the Kato-Katz thick smear technique, ultrasonography, immunoaffinity chromatography, and DNA sequencing. The overall egg positive rate was found to be 59.6% (28.0-70.6%) that included mixed infections with liver and intestinal flukes. Cases showing higher than 20,000 eggs per gram of feces (EPG) were detected between 1.3% and 16.2%. Ultrasonographic findings exhibited overall 28.2% (72 of 255 cases) dilatation rate of the intrahepatic bile duct. Clonorchis sinensis infection was detected serologically in 88.3% (38 of 43 cases) among C. sinensis egg positive subjects by the immunoaffinity chromatography using a specific antigen for C. sinensis. For differential diagnosis of the liver and intestinal flukes, more precise PCR and nucleotide sequencing for copro-DNA were performed for 46 egg positive cases. Mixed infections with C. sinensis and Metagonimus yokogawai were detected in 8 of 46 egg positive cases, whereas 29 specimens were positive for Haplorchis taichui. Ultrasonographic findings and immunoaffinity chromatography results showed usefulness, even in a limited way, in figuring out of the liver fluke endemicity.
Animals ; China/epidemiology ; Chromatography, Affinity ; Clonorchiasis/*epidemiology/parasitology/ultrasonography ; Clonorchis sinensis/genetics/immunology/*isolation & purification ; Coinfection ; DNA, Helminth/chemistry/genetics ; Feces/parasitology ; Female ; Heterophyidae/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Humans ; Intestines/*parasitology ; Liver/*parasitology ; Parasite Egg Count ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevalence ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Trematode Infections/*epidemiology/parasitology/ultrasonography

The endemic status of clonorchiasis and metagonimiasis along the Geum-gang (River) in Okcheon-gun (County) in Korea was examined. From February to December 2000, stools of total 1,081 inhabitants living in 5 villages were examined. Each stool specimen was examined by both the cellophane thick smear method and the formalin-ether sedimentation technique. Egg-positive cases were further analyzed by Stoll's egg-counting technique, and praziquantel was administered to positive cases. The egg-positive rates for Clonorchis sinensis and Metagonimus species were 9.3% and 5.5%, respectively, and the double infection rate was 3.5%. The numbers of eggs per gram (EPG) of feces of C. sinensis and Metagonimus sp. were 918 +/-1.463 and 711+/-947, respectively. The egg-positive rates for C. sinensis and Metagonimus sp. in the riverside area were 14.2% and 8.4%, respectively, which were significantly higher than those of the inland area (3.2% and 1.7%, respectively). The egg-positive rates of C. sinensis and Metagonimus sp. in males (16.7% and 10.0%) were significantly higher than those of females (3.5% and 1.8%). However, there were no significant differences of EPG values between localities and sexes. The prevalence of clonorchiasis and metagonimiasis in this survey was significantly lower than that in the previous reports. However, there is still a high prevalence of infection with C. sinensis and Metagonimus sp. in this region, especially in the riverside area.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Animals ; Child ; Clonorchiasis/*epidemiology/parasitology ; Clonorchis sinensis/isolation & purification ; Feces/parasitology ; Female ; Heterophyidae/isolation & purification ; Humans ; Korea/epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Parasite Egg Count ; Prevalence ; Rural Population ; Sex Factors ; Time Factors ; Trematode Infections/*epidemiology/parasitology