OBJECTIVES: To determine the current status of lymphatic filariasis (LF) in Korea. METHODS: Epidemiological surveys between 2002 and 2006 in areas where LF was previously endemic: remote and coastal areas Jeollanam-do, Gyeongsangnam-do, and Jeju-do, and inland Gyeongsangbuk-do. We took night blood smears from 9426 people for microfilaria testing and assayed samples from 3049 children (10- to 13-year-olds) and 1526 adults for Brugia malayi antibodies. RESULTS: We found two cases (0.01%) with low microfilaria density in their peripheral blood (1-2/20 mul) on the remote island of Jeollanam-do in the southern part of the Korean peninsula. These patients, males over 60-years old, were treated with diethylcarbamazine (DEC). None of the 4575 people surveyed tested positive for specific B. malayi antibodies. CONCLUSION: Lymphatic filariasis appears to have been eliminated in Korea.
OBJECTIVES: To determine the current status of lymphatic filariasis (LF) in Korea. METHODS: Epidemiological surveys between 2002 and 2006 in areas where LF was previously endemic: remote and coastal areas Jeollanam-do, Gyeongsangnam-do, and Jeju-do, and inland Gyeongsangbuk-do. We took night blood smears from 9426 people for microfilaria testing and assayed samples from 3049 children (10- to 13-year-olds) and 1526 adults for Brugia malayi antibodies. RESULTS: We found two cases (0.01%) with low microfilaria density in their peripheral blood (1-2/20 mul) on the remote island of Jeollanam-do in the southern part of the Korean peninsula. These patients, males over 60-years old, were treated with diethylcarbamazine (DEC). None of the 4575 people surveyed tested positive for specific B. malayi antibodies. CONCLUSION:Lymphatic filariasis appears to have been eliminated in Korea.
Authors: Benoit Dembele; Yaya I Coulibaly; Housseini Dolo; Siaka Konate; Siaka Y Coulibaly; Dramane Sanogo; Lamine Soumaoro; Michel E Coulibaly; Salif Seriba Doumbia; Abdallah A Diallo; Sekou F Traore; Adama Diaman Keita; Michael P Fay; Thomas B Nutman; Amy D Klion Journal: Clin Infect Dis Date: 2010-11-01 Impact factor: 9.079
Authors: Sara Lustigman; Roger K Prichard; Andrea Gazzinelli; Warwick N Grant; Boakye A Boatin; James S McCarthy; María-Gloria Basáñez Journal: PLoS Negl Trop Dis Date: 2012-04-24
Authors: Shin Hyeong Cho; Da Won Ma; Bo Ra Koo; Hee Eun Shin; Wook Kyo Lee; Byong Suk Jeong; Chaeshin Chu; Won Ja Lee; Hyeng Il Cheun Journal: Osong Public Health Res Perspect Date: 2012-09