Current status of the elimination project on intestinal parasitic diseases in endemic areas with food-borne trematodiasis


Ju Jung-Won, Lee Myoung-Ro, Shin Hee-Eun, Kim Yu-Jung, Lee Sang-Eun, Kim Hyun-Jung, Bahk Sun-Ok, Lee Young-Joo, Cho Shin-Hyeong
Division of Vectors and Parasitic Diseases, Center for Laboratory Control of Infectious Disease, KCDC

Background: Clonorchis sinensis is the highest contributor to infection rates of intestinal parasites in Korea. It is estimated that a million individuals have been infected with C. sinensis, based on the results of the 8th nationwide survey of the intestinal parasites in 2012.
Current status: The results of the survey, which was carried out in highly endemic areas in 2017, showed that the infection rate of intestinal parasites was 5.0%, comprising 3.9% of Clonorchis. sinensis, 0.8% of Metagonimus. yokogawai, and 0.1% of Trichuri trichiura. To eliminate food-borne intestinal parasitic diseases, we have focused on decreasing the infection rate of C. sinensis. Despite the recent declining trend of C. sinensis infections, it is necessary to strengthen education and promotion of infection prevention and to develop more effective diagnostic tools. In the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the elimination project of intestinal parasitic diseases, including education and promotion strategies tailored to inhabitants’ needs, has been conducted around high prevalence areas.
Future perspective: To eliminate intestinal parasitic diseases in highly endemic areas, we will carry out efforts to improve diagnostic accuracy and to develop effective educational systems, simultaneously. Materials for public awareness campaigns should be developed and widely distributed in C. sinensis endemic areas. Simple and accurate diagnosis methods that can be applied directly in the field should be available.

Keywords: Clonorchis sinensis, Parasites, Intestinal parasitic diseases, Prevalence, Diagnosis