Clonorchis sinensis in Kyungpook Province, Korea: 1. Distribution and demonstration of the cercaria of Clonorchis sinensis from snail, Parafossarulus manchouricus Bourgigant.

Studies were conducted in rivers in Kyungpook Province, Korea from July 1970 to September 1974 to determine the stations where Parafossarulus manchouricus, the intermediate snail host of Clonorchis sinensis, are abundant, and the infection rates of these snails with the cercaria of Clonorchis sinensis. Snail collections were made during four consecutive summers(July to September in each year). Ten snail habitats were found. The population density of the snails per square meter of the river bottom ranged from 25 to 250. The highest population of snails was encountered at the Dong-chon station. Cercaria studies by means of the immersing and crushing technics indicated surprisingly low rate of Clonorchis sinensis infection among the snails examined. The proportion of infected snails in Kyungpook Province was 0.8 per thousand of all snails examined. Results indicated that the Parafossarulus manchouricus exists in limited areas within the rivers under study and the infection of the snail with the cercaria of Clonorchis sinensis is very low.