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.