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.

background

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

Parasitological studies on liver abscess in Cheju Island.

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.

Parasitological studies on liver abscess in Cheju Island.

Citations

Review of Successful Control of Parasitic Infections in Korea

Parasitic amebae in Korea.

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