Fascioliasis in Korea : a review

한국산(韓國産) 간질(肝蛭)에 관한 연구(硏究)-문헌조사(文獻調査)

The studies on the liver fluke of Korea have been reviewed. The fluke is Fasciola hepatica. Its intermediate host is Lymnaea biridis, whose principal habitats are rice paddies. The first fascioliasis of Korean native(beef) cattle was reported in 1915. Bovine fascioliasis is present throughout the conuntry, including north Korea, with the average prevalence of 30%. The prevalence of the disease is about the same in dairy cattle, which have been imported from other countries since 1960s. The disease was also found in Korea in other species of animals such as sheep, goats, deer of zoo and farms, and guinea pigs of a laboratory. Human fascioliasis was reported ; 35 cases by fecal examination and 11 by both parasitology and pathology. Of the latter 11 cases, 5 were ectopic parasitism. Economic loss due to the reduced carcass weight and milk production, and liver condemnation was great. Almost all flukicides developed in other countries are commercially available in Korea.