Present Status of Human Paragonimiasis and Intestinal Parasitic Infection in Bokildo (Islet), Korea

Min, Duk Young; Ryu, Jae Sook; Ahn, Myoung Hee; Choi, Han Kyu; Kang, Sung In; Shin, Myeong Heon

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Bokildo (Islet) has been well known as an endemic area of paragonimiasis in Korea, and still crayfishes caught from this area are used as source of intermediate host of experimental paragonimiasis. For the reason, this study was carried out to elucidate the present status of human paragonimiasis in this region and intestinal parasitoses were studied at the same time.
METHODS
From June 9 to June 12, 1999 authors visited Buyong-ri and Buwhang-ri which are located in the endemic area. All possible inhabitants including nursery children, primary and middle school children were examined by intra-dermal skin test with veronal buffered saline (VBS) antigen of Paragonimus westermani and Clonorchis sinensis. Sputa were collected from 22 adults of positive reactors. Stool examination was done for the intestinal parasites, and anal swabs with adhesive tape for the pinworm were carried out simultaneously.
RESULTS
Overall positive rate in skin test was 9.5% in inhabitants, and higher rate was observed in older age groups. On microscopic examination of sputa for pargonimiasis, 2 egg-positive cases from 55-year old man and woman were detected. Prevalence rate of intestinal parasites was 7.8% (26/332) and the most predominant infected parasite was Trichuris trichiura (4.2%). The pinworm infection rate was 29.7% (nursery school children 30.0%, primary school children 29.6%, respectively).
CONCLUSION
Through this study human paragonimiasis was confirmed and the life cycle of Paragonimus westermani was known to be maintained continuously in this region. Meanwhile control of intestinal parasites should be performed, especially in school children.