To know the prevalence of heterophyid trematodes among inhabitants of a southern coastal village, i.e.,
Sacho-ri, Gangjin-gun, Jeollanam-do (Province), 82 stool samples were examined on helminth eggs and protozoan
cysts using Kato-Katz and
formalin-
ether sedimentation techniques. Total 33 people (40.2%) were positive for trematodes (Heterophyes nocens 15 people, Pygidiopsis summa 3, Metagonimus sp.; 4, Clonorchis sinensis 7, Gymnophalloides seoi 6) and/or protozoa (Entamoeba coli 3). Among intestinal trematode egg positive cases, 17 were treated with
praziquantel and their whole diarrheic stools were collected after purgation. Adult flukes of H. nocens (number of specimens = 1,294), P. summa (386), Stellantchasmus falcatus (5), Stictodora lari (4), and Heterophyopsis continua (1) were collected using a stereomicroscope. To know the source of human H. nocens
infections in this village, metacercarial
infections in mullets (10) were examined and most H. nocens metacercariae (101/105, 96.2%) were found in the trunk portion. From above results, the surveyed coastal village has been newly known as an endemic focus of human H. nocens
infection and consuming raw mullets was the presumable source of human heterophyid
infections.