[The Infection Status Of Sparganum And Gnathostoma In Frogs Of Southern Part Of Korea]

A survey on the infection status of sparganum and Gnathostoma in frogs was carried out in 11 areas in Gyeongsangnam-do and Cheonlanam-do province, a southern part of Korea. 1. Among 626 frogs examined, 4 percent were infected with sparganum, but none with Gnathostoma. The infection rates of sparganum were variable according to the areas. Those from Kimhae, Sunchun, Jinhae, Sachun, Kosung, Keoje, and Hadong were 16 %, 9.1 %, 9.1 %, 4.1 %, 2 %, 2 %, and 1.5 % respectively, but frogs from Hapchun, KwangJu, Namwon and Sanchung were not found infected. 2. Rana nigromaculata was the only species infected with sparganum. Rana rugosa and Bombina orientalis were not infected. 3. Sparganum was mainly found in the legs and the trunk of frog. About 92.5 % of worms were detected in the femoral intermuscular connective tissue. 4. Number per infected frog was in range of one to five, and 2.8 % of frogs were infected by only one worm. 5. The heavier the frog weight, the higher the infection rate of sparganum. In frogs of 51-60 grams, 28.6 % were infected.