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Eliminación de la filariasis linfática en la República de Corea: estudio epidemiológico en áreas previamente endémicas, del 2002 al 2006
Author(s) -
Cheun HyeongIl,
Lee JongSoo,
Cho ShinHyeong,
Kong Yoon,
Kim TongSoo
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
tropical medicine and international health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1365-3156
pISSN - 1360-2276
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3156.2009.02240.x
Subject(s) - microfilaria , lymphatic filariasis , brugia malayi , diethylcarbamazine , epidemiology , filariasis , elephantiasis , medicine , helminthiasis , veterinary medicine , helminths , immunology
Summary Objectives To determine the current status of lymphatic filariasis (LF) in Korea. Methods Epidemiological surveys between 2002 and 2006 in areas where LF was previously endemic: remote and coastal areas Jeollanam‐do, Gyeongsangnam‐do, and Jeju‐do, and inland Gyeongsangbuk‐do. We took night blood smears from 9426 people for microfilaria testing and assayed samples from 3049 children (10‐ to 13‐year‐olds) and 1526 adults for Brugia malayi antibodies. Results We found two cases (0.01%) with low microfilaria density in their peripheral blood (1–2/20 μl) on the remote island of Jeollanam‐do in the southern part of the Korean peninsula. These patients, males over 60‐years old, were treated with diethylcarbamazine (DEC). None of the 4575 people surveyed tested positive for specific B. malayi antibodies. Conclusion Lymphatic filariasis appears to have been eliminated in Korea.