Study on Metagonimus yokogawai (Katsurada, 1912) in Korea

Abstract

An epidemiological observation on the human Metagonimiasis in Hadong Gun (County), South Kyongsang Do (Province), Korea was undertaken. And the following results were obtained: 1) Total 521 people consisting of 292 primary schoolchildren, 67 middleschool students, 102 inhabitants in Hwagae Myon and 60 rural officers and policemen residing all over the Hadong Gun were examined, by the combination of cellophane thick smear technique and formalin-ether technique. Total 221(42.4%) out of 521 were found to discharge the ova of Metagonimus spp. The positive rates sharply increased in the age bracket of 20-29. And the male adults were found to be infected two times more than the females except 0 to 9 year-group. 2) Stoll's dilution egg counting technique was applied to 122 specimens. The figure of E. P. G. (Number of eggs per gram of feces) was revealed with distinct increase in the age 20 to 29 group, and it was also noted that the mean E. P. G. in males is about four times more than that in females. The mean E. P. G. of all examined was 3, 555. 3) The most of the cases detected were found to be infected singly with the Metagonimus spp., who were residing in Hwagae Myon, and among the cases of metagonimiasis in rural officers, the mixed infection with Clonorchis sinensis was found in 45.2 percent. 4) Out of 500 snails (Semisu[ cospira tibertina) collected in a stream in Hwagae Myon in September 1969, 45(9.0%) were found infected with ophthalmo-pleurolophocerclls cercaria and its redia. 5) In order to make specific diagnosis on the basis of adultworrns, 4 cases of metagonimiasis were treated with anthelmintics. All of the collected worms were identified to be Metagonimus yokogaUJai (Katsureda, 1912). 6) The heterophyid ova coIIected from the inhabitants were measured. And some atypical ova differing from those of M yokogawat". were also noticed. Some possibilities of the occurrence of other kinds of heterophyid trematodes in the surveyed area were mentioned.