Korea had been one of hyperendemic countries of human parasitic infections until 1970s. In 1966, the Law for the Prevention of Parasitic Diseases was enacted, and the nationwide anti-parasitic control program began in 1969. The initiation of the national program was supported financially by Japan. The program included screening of whole students in Korea and treatment of all egg positive cases twice a year, and ended in 1995. In addition to student program, deworming campaign was run in the community, and 8 national status surveys were implemented from 1971 to 2012. Whole helminth egg positive rate was 84.3% in 1971 and decreased to 2.6% in 2012. Ascaris and other intestinal nematodes, Paragonimus, Taenia, and intestinal protozoa had decreased significantly throughout the country, but Clonorchis sinensis and intestinal trematodes are still prevalent locally in endemic areas. Lymphatic filariasis had been endemic in Jeju-do and other southern islands but elimination was endorsed in 2008. The control of parasitic infection in Korea was successful with statistical prevalence data, which can be a benchmarking model. In conclusion, the successful control in Korea could be achieved by social agreement of the priority, professional guidelines and systematic approach with good anthelminthics supply, and simultaneous economic growth.

https://www.icjournal.org/Synapse/Data/PDFData/0086IC/ic-52-e58.pdf

Review of Successful Control of Parasitic Infections in Korea

This review dealt with biology, host-parasite relationship, symptomatology, epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment of Entamoeba histolytica infection and free livng amoeba.

/pdf/parasitic-amebae-in-korea-fjvbjfw3n8.pdf

Parasitic amebae in Korea.

The Trichomonas immobilization-agglomeration reaction was studied using the sera from women with vaginal trichomoniasis and from rabbits inoculated with cultures of T. vaginalis. It was found that the greatest amount of immobilization occurred at 25 to 30 minutes, and that inactivation of the sera did not affect the results. An evidence of antigenic differences between T. vaginalis, T. hominis and C. albicans was confirmed. The immobilization reaction was positive in 80.3% of the 71 T. vaginalis positive cases, but in only 7.7% of the 77 persons of T. vaginalis negative cases. From the above results, it is suggested that immobilization reaction is a useful tool for the diagnosis of T. vaginalis infection.

[Immobilization-Agglomeration Reaction For The Diagnosis Of Trichomonas Vaginalis Infection]

A series of experiments on various factors which induce optimal in vitro excystation of the metacercariae of Metagonimus yokogawai isolated from the fish, Plecoglossus altivelis was conducted and the following results were obtained. 1)The metacercariae used in this experiment were isolated by the digestion technique therefore all of them were pretreated with the acid-pepsin solution before being applied to the various tests. 2)No excystation occurred when the metacercariae were placed in a salt solutions such as physiological saline, Tyrode solution and Veronal, Tris buffers alone or in combination. 3)The metacercariae underwent complete excystation in the trypsin and pancreatin solution in Tris buffer within an hour at 38 degrees C. The best results were obtained in 0.8-0.9% trypsin solutions, pH 8.0-8.6 and at 38-40 degrees C, approximately one hundred per cent excystation occurred in 40 minutes. Not only temperature but also hydrogen ion concentration played an important role causing excystation of the metacercariae in trypsin-Tris buffer solution. However, bile salts were not responsible for the excystation. 4)Agitation effect on the excystation was tested as a mechanical stimulus and it was found that the shaking stimulus accelerated the excysting mechanism, compared with the metacercariae on which it was not imposed. It is concluded that the metacercariae pretreated in the acid pepsin solution demonstrates an essential requirement for the enzyme solution such as trypsin or pancreatin, provided with the optimum conditions of temperature and hydrogen ion concentration in excysting medium.

Study On Metagonimus Yokogawai (Katsurada, 1912) In Korea: II. The In Vitro Excystation Of Metacercariae.

Parasitological studies on liver abscess in Cheju Island.

Total 9 cases of extraintestinal amoebiasis, amebic liver abscess and amebic lung abscess, were treated with metronidazole. The diagnosis and progress check were done by (1) stool examination, (2) size and pain of liver, (3) hematological examination, (4) urinanalysis, (5) X-ray or liver scanning (6) examination of aspirated pus from liver and (7) immobilization test of E. histolytica. Results are summarized as follows: 1. Amebic hepatitis: Metronidazole was given to 3 cases with daily dose of 0.9-1.2 gm for 3-7 days. Clinical symptoms were completely restored by the treatment. 2. Amebic lung abscess: One case was treated with metronidazole for 3 days with the daily dose 1.2 gm. X-ray findings showed remarkable improvement by the treatment. An additional administration of the drug for 6 days resulted complete resolution of the pneumonic changes. 3. Amebic liver abscess: Four cases were treated with metronidazole. The daily doses were 0.4-2.4 gm and continued for 2-10 days. Aspiration of the abscess for 1-10 times or continuous drainage of pus were performed during the course supplementarily. All cases were recovered to normal by the combining treatment. No remarkable side effect was noticed by the drug administration, and no relapse was experienced up to date.

Soon Ok Hong

Papers

Parasitological studies on liver abscess in Cheju Island.

[Metronidazole In Amoebiasis: 1. The Use Of Metronidazole On The Treatment Of Hepatic And Pulmonary Amoebiasis]