[Prevalence Of Intestinal Parasites In Korea]

A survey of intestinal parasites infection among Korean people has been carried out during July 1969 to December 1970. A total of 2,250 stool specimens (male 1,101, female 1,146) was collected from all the provinces and Seoul city in Korea. The specimens were examined routinely by direct fecal smear, zinc sulfate flotation and formalin-ether sedimentation techniques. The results are summarized as follows: 1. Of 2,250 specimens examined, l,803(80.l %) were positive for intestinal parasites. 2. The positive rates of intestinal helminths were 1,644(73.1 %) among 2,250; Ascaris lumbricoides 46.0 %, Trichocephalus trichiurus 46.8 percent, hookworm 6.8 %, Trichostrongylus orientalis 7.0 percent, Clonorchis sinensis 12.1 percent, Enterobius vermicularis 1.6 %, Hymenolepis nana 0.7 percent, Taenia species 0.3 %, Metagonimus yokogawai 0.04 percent, Fasciolidae 0.04 % and one case of lung fluke Paragonimu westermani. 3. The positive rstes of intestinal protozoa were 786(34.9 %); Entamoeba histolytica 6.4 %, Entamoeba coli 20.5 percent, Endolimax nana 10.0 %, Giardia lamblia 5.1 %, Trichomonas hominis 1.1 percent, Chilomastix mesnili 0.5 percent, Iodamoeba butschlii 0.6 percent, Enteromonas hominis 0.7 percent, Dientamoeba fragilis 0.1 % and one case of Isospora hominis. 4. Sexual distribution of helminths and protozoan infections showed higher rate in female than that of male, except C. sinensis, H. nana, Taenia species or G. lamblia. 5. Infections of T. trichiurus, hookworm, T. orientalis, C. sinensis, Taenia species, E. histolytica, E. coli and E. nana increased with age. Conversely, H. nana and G. lamblia infections were more predominent in younger ages.