Analysis of Death due to Poisoning in Gwangju and Jeollanam-do Areas / 대한법의학회지

This study examined 190 cases of confirmed poisoning, as determined by autopsy findings, as well as alcohol and toxicant concentrations in post-mortem specimens. Judicial autopsies were performed from January 2007 to December 2014 at Department of Legal Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, the National Forensic Service Gwangju Institute, and St. Carollo Hospital. We analyzed the incidence of poisoning according to region and season in terms of year, sex, age, and classification of toxicants. In the regional classification, the number of deaths due to poisoning in Jeollanam-do and Gwangju areas was similar when considering autopsy numbers. The incidence was higher in autumn and spring than in summer and winter, and a large number of deaths occurred in 2008 and 2014. Additionally, the number of male deaths was approximately twice the number of female deaths, with the age of 50-59 being the most common age group. Pesticides comprised the largest number of deaths due to poison, followed by alcoholism, carbon monoxide, treatment drugs, and cyanic acid, in that order.

A new endemic focus of Gymnophalloides seoi infection on Aphae Island, Shinan-gun, Jeollanam-do

A new endemic focus of Gymnophalloides seoi infection has been discovered on Aphae Island (Shinangun, Jeollanam-do), Republic of Korea. This area, which is referred to as Bokyong-ri, is a small seashore village located in the northern portion of the island. Fecal samples were collected from a total of 57 residents and examined by the Kato-Katz and formalin-ether sedimentation techniques. Helminth eggs were detected in 37 samples (64.9%); 33 samples were positive for G. seoi eggs (57.9%), 4 for Pygidiopsis summa (7.0%), 13 for other heterophyids (22.8%), 1 for Clonorchis sinensis (1.7%), and 1 for Trichuris trichiura (1.7%). Women (70.4%) revealed higher rates of G. seoi infection than did men (46.7%), and individuals older than 50 years of age also evidenced higher rates of G. seoi infection than in other age groups (P<0.05). In worm collection from 13 G. seoi egg positive cases, G. seoi (total 86,558 specimens), Heterophyes nocens (278), Stictodora sp. (10), Heterophyopsis continua (3), P. summa (3), and unidentified flukes (42) were collected. Oysters, the source of G. seoi infection, were collected from an area proximal to the village and 50 were examined for metacercariae; 47 (94%) were found infected and the observed metacercarial density was 9.5+/-8.9 per oyster. The results of this study indicate that Bokyong-ri is a new endemic area of G. seoi infection, with high rates of infection in humans and oysters.

A survey of cryptosporidiosis among 2,541 residents of 25 coastal islands in Jeollanam-do (Province), Republic of Korea

In order to determine the distribution and prevalence of human cryptosporidiosis on western and southern coastal islands of Jeollanam-do (Province), fecal samples were collected from 2,541 people residing on 25 islands, 13 in the western coasts and 12 in the southern coasts, during July and August 2000. Fecal smears were prepared following formalin-ether sedimentation of the samples and stained by a modified acid-fast procedure. The presence of Cryptosporidium oocysts was determined by light microscopy. Cryptosporidium oocysts were detected in 38 specimens (1.5%). The oocyst positive rate varied (0-6.0%) according to island; the highest was detected on Oenarodo (6.0%), followed by Naenarodo (5.6%) and Nakwoldo (5.4%). The majority (35 persons, 94.6%) of Cryptosporidium-infected individuals were older than 50 years of age. Men (22/1,159; 1.9%) were infected at a higher rate than women (16/1,382; 1.2%). The results of the present survey indicate that human Cryptosporidium infections (due to Cryptosporidium hominis and/or C. parvum) are maintained at a relatively low prevalence on coastal islands of Jeollanam-do, Republic of Korea.