Status of intestinal parasitic infections in a remote island, Yondo, Jeonranam-do(province)
Gi Soo Goo,Duk Young Min,Myoung Hee Ahn,Kyong Min Kim,Mi Hyea Leem and Hak Sun Yoon
Department of Parasitology, College of Medicine, Hangyang University, Seoul 133-791, Korea.
Abstract
This study was performed to observe the present status of intestinal parasitic infections in a remote island, Yondo, located in southern part of Jeonranam-do(province), Korea. In February and May 1988, total 1,011 individual stool samples were collected and examined for intestinal helminths and protozoa using formalin-ether centrifugal sedimentation technique. The results are summarized as follows: Of 1,011 ingabitants examined, 398(39.4%) were positive for intestinal parasites. Helminth positives were 372(36.8%), and protozoan cyst positives were 56(5.5%). Ten species of parasites were found. Trichuris trichiura revealed the highest infection rate of 27.5%, Ascaris lumbricoides 17.4%, Taenia sp. 5.8%, Entamoeba coli 3.3%, Giardia lamblia 1.5%, Endolimax nana 0.8%, Hymenolepis nana 0.4%, hookworm 0.2%, Trichostrongylus orientalis 0.2%, and Entamoeba histolytica 0.2%, respectively. The female group showed higher positive rate (44.0%) than males (34.7%). Also, higher positive rates were observed among adults as compared with the group younger than 10 years old. Average value of E.P.G. was 1,876(range 200-17,800) in A. lumbricoides positives, and 327(range 200-1,600) in T. trichiura positive cases. In helminth egg positive cases, single infection was 63.4%, double infection 34.7%, and triple infection 1.9%, respectively. Among protozoan cyst positives, single infection was 94.6%, and double infection was 5.4%. The present study revealed that the prevalence of intestinal parasites among inhabitants in Yondo island is still so high that special control measures should be performed.
Figures
Fig. 1 Yondo lsland, Yochon-gun, Jeonranam-do(Province), Korea.
Fig. 2 E.P.G. distribution of A. lumbricoides egg positive cases by age in Yondo Island.
Tables
Table 1 Prevalence of intestinal parasites among inhabitants in Yondo Island, Jeonranam-do(Province), Korea.
Table 2 Prevalence of intestinal parasites among inhabitants in Yondo Island, Jeonranam-do(Province), Korea.
Table 3 Positive rates of intestinal parasites by age and sex of inhabitants in Yondo Island, Jeonranam-do(Province)
Table 4 Eggs per gram of feces (E.P.G.) of A. lumbricoides in infected cases in Yondo Island, Jeonranam-do(Province)
Table 5 E.P.G. of T. trichiura in infected cases in Yondo Island, Jeonranam-do(Province)
Table 6 Status of multiple infections of 372 helminth egg positive cases in Yondo Island
Table 7 Status of multiple infections of 56 protozoan cyst positive cases in Yondo Island
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