Paragonimiasis in Japan: A Twelve-year Retrospective Case Review (2001-2012)
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- Nagayasu Eiji
- Division of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases, Graduate School of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Japan
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- Yoshida Ayako
- Division of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases, Graduate School of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Japan
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- Hombu Amy
- Division of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases, Graduate School of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Japan
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- Horii Yoichiro
- Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitic Diseases, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Japan
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- Maruyama Haruhiko
- Division of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases, Graduate School of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Japan
Bibliographic Information
- Other Title
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- Paragonimiasis in Japan: a twelve-year retrospective case review (2001−2012)
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Abstract
Objective Paragonimiasis, or lung fluke infection, is a food-borne parasitic disease caused by infection with trematodes belonging to the genus Paragonimus. Although paragonimiasis was once considered successfully controlled in the 1970s, new cases began to emerge in the late 1980s. To apprehend the current-day situation of the re-emergent cases of paragonimiasis in Japan, we conducted a retrospective review of 443 patients who were referred to our laboratory and diagnosed as having paragonimiasis during 2001-2012.<br> Methods Patients were diagnosed as having paragonimiasis based primarily on immunodiagnostic methods in addition to clinical, laboratory, and radiographic findings. Patient data were extracted from consultation sheets from attending physicians and were analyzed.<br> Results Majority of the patients were residents of Kyushu Island. However, a substantial number of cases were also from other parts of Japan. Immigrants (mostly from China, Thailand, and Korea) accounted for a quarter of the cases. Native Japanese contracted paragonimiasis by consuming wild boar meat or freshwater crabs, whereas immigrants contracted the infection almost exclusively by consumption of freshwater crabs. Eosinophilia and elevated serum IgE levels were found in around 80% of the patients. Parasite egg detection was documented only in 11.7% of the cases, showing the reliance on serological tests for diagnosing paragonimiasis in current clinical practice.<br> Conclusion Paragonimiasis remains a public health issue in Japan, and the situation should be closely monitored.<br>
Journal
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- Internal Medicine
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Internal Medicine 54 (2), 179-186, 2015
The Japanese Society of Internal Medicine