The progress on control and research of paragonimiasis in China

Abstract

The progress in control and research on in China was described in three aspects.(1)Pathogenic biology:There have been 21 new species including variant and subspecies of Pragonimus reported since 1949,among which 8 were human pathogenic.The problems of synonyms did not be solved totally,but it has been generally recognized that 3 species:Paragonimus westermani,P.skrjabini and P.heterotremus are definite as human pathogenic species,and all of them are subordinate to the same genus i.e.Paragonimus.(2)Epidemiology:The epidemimic areas are distributed in 24 provinces/municipalities.The distribution of 3 human has been determined,each of them has its unique epidemic areas and mixed with other species too.Many new discoveries on the reservoir,paratenic and intermediate hosts have been reported.The paragonimiasis infected outside of epidemic area has attracted intensive attention.(3) Clinic aspect:According to symptoms the disease had been divided into the intra-lung type and the extra-lung type.In the aspect of diagnosis,lots of progress using new immunological techniques have been achieved.The enzymelinked immunosorbent assay is now in common use and the dot immunogold filtration assay has the potential to be popularized.Praziquantel is the first choice of chemical medicines.In order to deal with the disease up to standard,the diagnosis standard and treatment principle for (draft) has been formulated.In brief,the endemic situation and harm of the disease are relieving gradually and being controlled further,but it is still one of the important public health problems in China at present. Key words: Paragonimus; Paragonimiasis; Prevention and treatment; Research progress