Prevalence and Risk Factors of Clonorchiasis among Residents of Riverside Areas in Muju-gun, Jeollabuk-do, Korea

Abstract

We evaluated the status of Clonorchis sinensis infection and potential risk factors among residents of riverside areas (Geumgang) in Muju-gun, Jeollabuk-do (Province), Korea. From January to February 2010, a total of 349 (171 males, 178 females) stool samples were collected and examined by the formalin-ether concentration technique. Also, village residents were interviewed using questionnaires to obtain information about C. sinensis infection-related risk factors. Overall egg-positive rate of C. sinensis was 13.2%. Egg-positive rates were significantly higher in males, farmers, and residents who had lived there more than 20 years, and in residents who had eaten raw freshwater fish than in opposite groups, respectively. However, there was no significant difference between age groups, education levels, cigarette smoking, alcohol drinking, health status, past history of infection, and experience of clonorchiasis medication and examination. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine risk factors for clonorchiasis. On univariate analysis, the odds ratios for males, farmers, those who had lived there more than 20 years, and who had eaten raw freshwater fish were 2.41, 4.44, 3.16, and 4.88 times higher than those of the opposites, respectively. On multivariate analysis, the odds ratio of residents who had eaten raw freshwater fish was 3.2-fold higher than that of those who had not. These results indicate that residents living in Muju-gun, along the Geum River, Korea, have relatively high C. sinensis egg-positive rates, and the habit of eating raw freshwater fish was the major factor for the maintenance of clonorchiasis.

Risk factors for Clonorchis sinensis infection transmission in humans in northern Vietnam: A descriptive and social network analysis study

“…Some earlier studies have shown higher infection rates for males compared to females [11, 18, 19]. Our study corroborated these results finding that 22.27% male and 11.4% female participants were infected with the C. sinensis (P=0.001).…”

“…Similar results were shown in other studies [18, 21]. In the cross-sectional study conducted in Keollabuk province, Korea by [19], the rates of drinking in men and women were 56.1% and 20.8% respectively. They also found that more men ate raw fish than women (77.2% versus 46.6%).…”

“…All 14 participants who attend colleges and university were not infected by the worm in this study. In other studies, the associations between the infection rate of worm and education level have also been documented [19, 20, 23]. Similar result was found from in the Northeast of Thailand, where people who had graduated secondary school had lower risk (OR=0.38, 95% CI=0.16–0.91) of infection with O. viverrini (an helminth that has a similar life cycle to that of C. sinensis ), compared to the people who had only primary education [24].…”

Clonorchis sinensis Infection Presenting as Acute Cholangitis and Acute Cholecystitis

“…6 In addition, the metacercariae of C. sinensis are mucilaginous in nature and can result in indirect transmission of C. sinensis through cooking utensils. 7,8 Therefore, infection can also occur occasionally in people who have never lived in endemic areas or in those who have never consumed raw freshwater fish.…”

“…In a recent survey, 4.5% of the participants with C. sinensis infection did not have any history of raw fish ingestion and the discrepancy was attributed to either under-reporting or the possibility of cross-contamination from utensils 6. In recent survey data, indirect infection rates of C. sinensis were higher in women than in men in endemic and non-endemic areas (61.5% vs. 45.0% and 75% vs. 35.7%, respectively),10 which was attributed to the possibility of cross-contamination during the cooking process 7. C. sinensis infection is most serious in elderly people aged 40-60 years,11 C. sinensis infection does not result in the development of a protective immunity in cases of repeated A B C Round filling defect (A, arrows) in a dilated common bile duct on endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography revealed an adult worm of Clonorchis sinensis (B, arrow).…”