Present study was performed to analyze the characteristics of parasitic infections in Gangwon-do based on the data from nationwide survey for the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections in Korea from 1971 to 2004. And then epidemiological survey was also conducted to estimate the exact status of parasitic infections in inhabitants and intermediate hosts in some areas of Gangwon-do.
Total eggs positive rate of Gangwon-do was lower than that of whole country in 1970's, 1990's and 2004 except 1980's. Infection rates for Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura in Gangwon-do were very similar with those in whole country in 1970's and 1980's. However, infection rate of hookworms in Gangwon-do was always higher than that in whole country. Egg positive rate of Clonorchis sinensis of Gangwon-do was higher than that of whole country in 1970's, but it was always lower then that of whole country after 1980's.
A total of 3,919 stool samples (one stool sample per an inhabitant) were colleceted from Chuncheon-shi, Inje-gun, Hongcheon-gun and Gosung-gun, and examined by the formalin-ether sedimentation technic. Helminth eggs and protozoan cysts were detected in 46 inhabitants (1.2%). C. sinensis eggs were found in 31 (0.8%) stool samples, eggs of heterophyid flukes in 4 (0.1%), and Diphyllobothrium latum eggs in 3 (0.08%) persons.
Total 4 kinds of human infecting trematode metacercariae, i.e C. sinensis, Metagonimus spp. Centrocestus armatus and Echinostoma hortense, were detected in freshwater fishes from Inje-gun, Hongcheon-gun and Chulwon-gun.
Metacercariae of C. sinensis were found in only 3 Pungtungia herzi from Chulwon-gun, the average metacercarial number was 2 per infected fish. Those of Metagonimus spp. were detected in Zacco platypus from Inje-gun and Hongcheon-gun, and in 11 species of fish from Chulwon-gun. C. armatus metacercariae were found in Z. platypus, Zacco temminckii and Acheilognathus signifer. E. hortense metacercariae were detected in Coreoperca herzi.
Metagonimus yokogawai metacercariae were detected in 44 (55.7%) out of 79 sweetfish collected from 5 streams in the east coast of Gangwon-do. The average metacercarial density was 116 per infected fish. No metacercariae were found in 14 sweetfish collected from Bukcheon in Gosung-gun. However, they were detected in 2 (13.3%) sweetfish from Mongpacheon in Kosung-gun, in 3 (30.0%) from Ssangcheon in Sokcho-shi, in 20 (100%) from Namdaecheon in Yangyang-gun, and in 19 (95.0%) from Yeonkokcheon in Gangnung-shi.
No helminth larvae, plerocercoid of D. latum and metacercariae of trematode, were found in 81 fishes of 4 species, Hypomesus olidus, Acanthogobius flavimanus, Acanthopagrus schlegelii, and Tribolodon hakonensis, collected from Lake Hwajinpo.
In questionnaire survey for inhabitants in Gosung-gun, 33.0% respondents have been eat raw freshwater fish, 43.5% have been recognize that clonorchiasis is caused by the eating raw freshwater fish, and 59.0% have been know that parasite infections are originated by the consumption of raw freshwater fish.
Lots of respondents did not know that they were infected with parasites in the past. On the other hand, they wanted to be taken antihelminthics regularly.
They did not have awakening on the risk of parasite infections because of opportunities on the mass control program and health education for parasitic diseases were not given to them in the past.
Conclusively, parasitic infections in Gangwon-do are no more public health problems of inhabitants by the following reasons.
Although infection rates of intestinal helminth of Gangwon-do were very similar with those of whole country in 1970' and 1980', they were much lower than those of whole country after 1990's.
The Kangwon-Do area parasite infection far is showing 1.2% low-end infection rate which does not reach in nationwide average, also human body infection and intermediate host investigation of this research is showing a low-end infection rate, about reinfection about management and following management evaluation does not become accomplished point the remedy excellent extermination of insects effect the boy insect column cultivation rate does not decrease is the thing well in spite of on a large scale from the infected district. That about popularity area reexamination at the time of following management the revaluation program development necessity is about education and the treatment for an evaluation, becomes feed.
Parasite infection remains the kindling and to be the same change which is environmental in compliance with the VIP of economy and social unstable etc. the unit only because being the possibility of being floating with the government from the hygienic agency according to fluctuation change of the parasite the infectious disease specialty manpower security will can be committed and infectious disease enterprising budget an evaluation result reflects opens to the public a measurement result about the result and applies a feedback when the result attention budget system which introduces, the many help will become is thought in parasite extirpation.