Human helminthiasis has been highly endemic in Korea for a long time. In the past, it was distributed along most major river basins over the country. A rapid decrease in the overall prevalence of intestinal parasites during the past decade is attributed by continuous efforts for nationwide control programs undertaken by the Korean government to reduce the prevalence of soil-transmitted nematode infections and to improve hygiene and sanitary conditions of Koreans. However, despite this remarkable control of soil-transmitted nematode infections, the prevalence of fish-borne trematode infections such as with C. sinensis and Metagonimus spp. has maintained at relatively high levels, particularly in riverside areas [1].

Clonorchiasis is endemic in East Asian countries with estimated infections of 35 million people [2]. National surveys revealed egg positive rates of C. sinensis in general population as 4.6% in 1971, 1.8% in 1976, 2.6% in 1981, 2.7% in 1986, 2.2% in 1992, 1.4% in 1997, and 2.9% in 2004 [3]. The infection of C. sinensis is contracted by eating undercooked fishes which harbor the metacercariae. Contaminated fishes are mainly found from streams and rivers where the freshwater snails, Parafossarulus manchouricus thrive. Especially, many endemic foci of C. sinensis were located along the 7 major rivers of South Korea. In 1981, the egg positive rates of people living in those river basins differed considerably; 40.2% in Nakdong-gang (= river), 30.8% in Yeongsan-gang, 17.3% in Seomjin-gang, 15.7% in Han-gang, 15.9% in Tamjin-gang, 12.0% in Geum-gang, and 8.0% in Mangyeong-gang [4]. The liver fluke in the biliary passage provokes severe pathological changes therein, such as bile duct dilatation, ductal wall thickening, ductal inflammation, biliary mucosal hyperplasia, and biliary cirrhosis [1]. C. sinensis was found to induce cholangiocarcinoma in experimental hamsters as a promoter [5]. Clonorchiasis has been recognized as one of risk factors of development of cholangiocarcinoma in humans [6-8].

The present survey on the prevalence and distribution of human clonorchiasis endemic in Korea is one of the prerequi-sites for the government to implement its national control measures. Although some local data are previously available on this issue, no nationwide surveys have been conducted to determine the breadth of the problem. In this study, we evaluated the prevalence and distribution of clonorchiasis in a large scale survey and compared the endemicity among the endemic areas scattered in the southern part of Korean Peninsula.

The present study recognized that the overall prevalence of intestinal parasites was 14.3%, and 3,117 individuals were infected with trematodes, 42 with nematodes, 4 with cestodes and 283 with protozoa. This result is considerably higher than that of a previous nationwide survey previously performed in 2004 [3]. KCDC and KAHP (2004) surveyed intestinal helminth infections nationwidely, and observed a 4.3% egg positive rate [3]. The nationwide survey in 2004 included subjects according to a statistical stratified sampling method upon population census, however, the present study subjected all available residents in villages where clonorchiasis is endemic or suspected. That is the main reason of the higher egg positive rate (11.1%) of C. sinensis of the present study than that (2.9%) of the nationwide survey in 2004. In this context, it is more reasonable to compare the present results with those of Seo et al. (1981). That is because Seo et al. (1981) recovered helminth eggs from residents along the major rivers in Korea.

In 1981, the egg positive rate of C. sinensis was 15.7% at theriver basin of Han-gang, 12.0% at the Geum-gang river basin,8.0% at the Mangyeong-gang river basin, 30.8% at the Yeongsan-gang river basin, 17.3% at the Seomjin-gang river basin, and 40.2% at the Nakdong-gang river basin [4]. The egg positive rate of the present study was 4.6% at the Geum-gang river basin, 5.5% at the Yeongsan-gang river basin, 11.2% at the Seomjin-gang river basin, and 17.1% at the Nakdong-gang river basin. The egg positive rates at the individual river basins decreased remarkably compared with those at the same river basins in 1981 [4]. However, clonorchiasis is regarded as a persisting helminthiasis in Korea because almost all of other past prevalent helminthiases have disappeared throughout the country [1]. Especially the river basins of Nakdong-gang and Seomjin-gang are still endemic.

The average egg positive rate of C. sinensis among males was 13.6% which ranged from 0.4% to 36.5% by riverside areas, and that among females was 8.9% with a range from 0.5% to 25.0%. The age-specific egg positive rate increased as age increased, reaching a maximum of 12.8% in the 50-59 yr group. The egg positive rate of C. sinensis in men was more remarkable that of whole population, highest in 50-59 yr (12.8%), fol-lowed in order by 60-69 (12.6%), 40-49 (11.5%), and 70-79 (9.9%). The prevalence of C. sinensis by age showed one peak at the age of 40-49 or 50-59 yr in the past [9]. In every endemic area under natural equilibrium of clonorchiasis, the egg positive rate and the infection intensity increase linearly by age up to the 50s or 60s and make a peak, and then rapidly decrease afterwards. Since the life span of C. sinensis is known 30 yr or more, the peak is explained as an accumulation effect of life-long re- or super-infection with age. Human body develops no protective impact to re- or super-infection. However, the egg positive rate decreases after the peak in spite of the cumulative effect in the aged groups of 60s or more. This decreasing phenomenon in senior groups may suggest the possibility of shorter life span of residents with clonorchiasis than that of uninfected ones at the endemic areas [10]. Our data updated recent status of clonorchiasis in endemic areas of Korea as reduced egg positive rate and lower intensity of infection compared with those of previous reports [4,9,11,12]. Whole and age-specific egg positive rates have decreased, and the age-specific peak moves to 60s from 40s or 50s. This movement is an outcome of low endemicity by praziquantel medication. In other words, clonorchiasis in the endemic area in Korea is under continuous anthelminthic intervention, and the intervention makes the peak movement. The intervention has reduced also frequencies of complications of clonorchiasis as well as egg positive rate and intensity of infection [13].

Our findings reveal several other helminth eggs than C. sinensis, such as heterophyids, Gymnophalloides seoi, Echinostoma spp., Fasciola hepatica, A. lumbricoides, T. trichiura, hookworms, T. orientalisand D. latum. These various helminths have been prevalent in whole Korea in the past but most of them are now rapidly disappearing. In most of the southern parts of Korea, however, especially the fish-mediated helminths are still remaining as well as C. sinensis [14]. The localities of the helminthic infections are agricultural areas and the environment is well-preserved with minimum pollution.

In conclusion, we confirmed the presence of light to moderate endemicity of clonorchiasis and also observed other intestinal helminths in southern localities of Korea in 2006. Continuous and repeated praziquantel medication is necessary in the endemic areas in Korea.