correspondence: Masashi Kobayashi
Masashi Kobayashi
Muneo Yokogawa
Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.
Yasumasa Tongu
School of Health Science, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan.
Mario Roberto
Facultad de Ciencias Medicas, Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala, C. A.
Moriyasu Tsuji
Department of Parasitology, Kyorin University, School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Abstract
An epidemiological survey for parasitic diseases, especially for paragonimiasis, by immunoserological method was carried out in Parcelamiento 46, Plan de Los Amates and Los Cerritos, state of Santa Rosa, Guatemala, in 1994. Out of 412 of children and adults, 10 (2.4%) were positive by intradermal test for Paragonimus mexicanus antigen. The number of positives by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, latex agglutination test and agar double diffusion test performed on interdermal test positives were 6, 6 and 2, respectively. Among them, 2 reacted positively to every test, and were strongly suspected to be patients of paragonimiasis. Stool examinations for helminth eggs were performed on 401 samples with both Kato-Katz and formalin-ether centrifugation (MGL) techniques. Ascaris lumbricoides (28%), Trichuris trichura (53%) and hookworm (43%) were detected at high propotions. Hymenolepis nana and Taenis sp. were also detected, but no Paragonimus sp. egg was found from either stool or sputom. Results of the examination for intestinal protozoan cysts showed the presence of Entamoeba histolytica (6%), Entamoeba coli (33%), Iodamoeba buetshlii (9%) and Giardia intestinalis (6%).
Key words: Paragonimus mexicanus; paragonimiasis; stool examination; enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; agar double diffusion test; Guatemala.