Studies on the current epidemiological situation of brugian filariasis in endemic areas of Korea

, Paik, Yung Han; , Cho, You Jung; , Koo, Do Seo; , Ree, Han Il; , Shim, Jae Chul

doi:1988.26.4.255

Korean J Parasito > Volume 26(4):1988 > Article

Original Article


Korean J Parasitol. 1988 Dec;26(4):255-262. English. Published online Mar 20, 1994. http://dx.doi.org/10.3347/kjp.1988.26.4.255
Copyright © 1988 by The Korean Society for Parasitology


Studies on the current epidemiological situation of brugian filariasis in endemic areas of Korea
Yung Han Paik,You Jung Cho,Do Seo Koo,Han Il Ree and Jae Chul Shim
Department of Parasitology, Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Kyung-Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Korea.
Department of Parasitology, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul 120-752, Korea.
Department of Medical Entomology, National Institute of Health, Seoul 122-040, Korea.


Abstract
An epidemiological study on brugian filariasis was carried out in endemic areas including Cheju Island in Korea, with a brief review of literatures.The results showed that the incidence among residents has remarkably decreased in Cheju Island, which was the main endemic area. Reviewing available informations on the prevalence of filariasis reported in recent years and also judging from the present socio-economic conditions which enable people to practice personal protection against mosquitos, it can be said with confidence that filariasis has almost disappeared from Cheju Island and inland areas. The disease is considered to remain at a low level of endemicity in Hugsan Islands. Certainly mass diethylcarbamazine (DEC) treatment carried out in Cheju Island in the 1960s and 1970s and remarkable economic growth followed by improved living standard and altered life-style of inhabitants could all have combined effects on the disappearance of this mosquito-borne diseae in this island. If the present trends go on, the possibility of resurgence of filariasis in Cheju Island is hardly postulated.

Figures


	Fig. 1 Map of South-Western sector of Korean peninsula and Cheju Island, showing the study villages(*).

Tables


	Table 1 The number of blood smears taken by age-group and sex in Docho Island


	Table 2 The number of blood smears taken by age-group and sex in Cheju Island


	Table 3 The number of blood smears taken by village in Cheju Island


	Table 4 Human biting collections indoors and outdoors at Taehung-Ri, Cheju Island in early September 1988 (average of two night collectinos)


	Table 5 Daytime indoor resting place collections of mosquitos at Taehung-Ri on 2 September, 1988


	Table 6 The results of a survey on life style of inhabitants in Taehung-Ri, Cheju Island


	Table 7 Summarized records of microfilaria rates obtained from the selected three villages


	Table 8 Comparison of Ae. togoi collection in two villages

References


1.	Kim DC, et al. Yonsei Rep Trop Med 1977;8:9–22.

2.	Kim DC, et al. Rep NIH Korea 1980;17:395–404.

4.	Kim JS, No BU, Lee WY. Brugian filariasis: 10-year follow-up study on the effectiveness of selective chemotherapy with diethylcarbamazine on Che Ju island, Republic of Korea. Bull World Health Organ 1987;65(1):67–75.

8.	Lee OY, et al. Rep NIH Korea 1985;22:241–253.

9.	Paik YH. [Efrect of diethylcarbamazine against Brugia malayi infection on Cheju Island, evaluated in 1965]. Korean J Parasitol 1986;24(2):201–204.

*10.*	Paik YH, Ree HI, Shim JC. Malaria in Korea. Jpn J Exp Med 1988;58(2):55–66.

*11.*	Ree HI, et al. Yonsei Rep Trop Med 1987;18:17–23.

*12.*	Senoo T, Lincicome RD. Malayan filariasis; incidence and distribution in Southern Korea. U S Armed Forces Med J 1951;2(10):1483–1489.

*13.*	Seo BS, Rim HJ, Seong SH, Park YH, Kim BC, Lim TB. [The Epidemiological Studies On The Filariasis In Korea: I. Filariasis In Cheju-Do(Quelpart Island)]. Korean J Parasitol 1965;3(3):139–145.

*14.*	Seo BS, Rim HJ, Lim YC, Kang IK, Park YO. The Epidemiological Studies On The Filariasis In Korea: II. Distribution And Prevalence Of Malayian Filariasis In Southern Korea. Korean J Parasitol 1968;6(3):132–141.

*15.*	Seo BS. Seoul J Med 1976;17:83–95.

*16.*	Seo BS. Malayan filariasis in Korea. Korean J Parasitol 1978;16 Suppl:5–108.

*17.*	Wada Y, et al. Jpn J Trop Med Hyg 1973;1:197–210.