ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the species and hosts of Paragonimus and its infection rate in eastern part of Zhenghe County, Fujian Province, so as to determine the local foci of Paragonimus. METHODS: The snails, crabs and stools of wild cats were collected for the examinations of cercariae, metacercariae and eggs of Paragonimus. The geographical and environmental conditions of the areas were also investigated. RESULTS: A total of 4 890 Pseudobythinella jianouensis snails and 1 035 Semisulcospira liberlina snails were examined, and the cercariae of Paragonimus were only found in P. jianouensis, with an infection rate of 0.10% (5/4 890). Bottapotamon zhengheensis sp. nov. as the second intermediate host of P. skrjabini, were examined, and the infection rate was 85.29% (29/34) and the average numbers of metacercariae per crab and per gram of crab tissues were 3.85 and 0.62, respectively. Thirty-six Sinopotamun fujianensis crabs, as the second intermediate host of P. westermani, were examined, and the infection rate was 38.89% (14/36) and the average numbers of metacercariae per crab and per gram of crab tissues were 6.43 and 0.03, respectively. The eggs of Paragonimus were detected in 1 of 2 muck specimens of wild cats. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that there is a focus of middle-to-high level of infection caused by P. westermani and P. skrjabini in the eastern part of Zhenghe County.
