The epidemiological studies on the filariasis in Korea II. Distribution and prevalence of malayian filariasis in southern Korea

ABSTRACT

During 1964 to 1967, a survey of 30,534 persons for filariasis was made on all over the country with the following results: Among 24,816 draftees from all over the country in the army recruitment camp 155(0.63 %) were found infected with Brugia malayi. Cheju Do showed the highest microfilaria rate(3.5 %), North Kyongsang Do(1.4 %) the next and South Cholla Do(1.2 %) the third. Blood films from 2,308 inhabitants were examined and 407(17.6 %) showed microfilaria in Cheju Do. 30(3.1 %) out of 974 inhabitants in North Kyongsang Do were found to be infected. The microfilaria rates were 2.0 per cent for 400 inhabitants of Chindo island in South Cholla Do. However, no positive case of microfilaria was found in the inhabitants of Kokumdo among 1,820 persons examined in South Cholla Do and of Namhae island(among 165 persons examined) in South Kyongsang Do. The mean microfilarial density per 20 cu. mm of blood was 52.6 in the inhabitants of Cheju Do, 12.2 in North Kyongsang Do and 27.3 in Chindo island(South Cholla Do). Any distinct relationship between the incidence of positive cases of microfilariae and age or sex of the cases was not observed in Cheju Do. However, in Norh Kyongsang Do and South Cholla Do the microfilaria rate of the male group is higher than the one of the female group of the inhabitants. From the above survey results it turned out that filariasis was found throughout Southern Korea except Kyonggi Do and South Kyongsang Do. A total 30,534 persons examined, 601(2.0 %) were found to be infected by Brugia malayi. Therefore, it seems that there are some endemic foci of malayian filariasis in three main areas such as North Kyongsang Do, South Cholla Do and Cheju Do.