Review of the control of clonorchiasis in Shandong Province, China from 1962 to 2015.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemic scope, epidemic pattern and degree of damage of clonorchiasis as well as to summarize the diagnosis and control effect of clonorchiasis in Shandong Province, China.

METHODS

A retrospective study was conducted to summarize the research on the dynamic epidemiology and the prevention and treatment measures of clonorchiasis in Shandong Province, China from 1962 to 2015.

RESULTS

After unremitting efforts and three nationwide surveys on the distribution and infection of human parasites, the infection rate of clonorchiasis decreased from 1.51% (1,500, 000) in the1960s to 0.16% in 1991, 0.04% in 2000 and 0.007% in 2015, respectively. The infection rate for villages with perennial water accumulation and rainy season water accumulation was higher than that of villages with rainy season water accumulation and non-water accumulation. The egg flotation in 70% potassium iodide solution method was applied to accurately test the specific proportion of C. sinensis eggs, which was 1.42. Using the modified Kato thick smear method, the detection rate of eggs was over 98%; hexachloroparaxylene yielded satisfactory therapeutic effects with slight adverse reactions, it is effective in the treatment of clonorchiasis.

CONCLUSIONS

After 50 years of active prevention and treatment, the disease has been successfully controlled in Shandong Province and had been used for reference in other endemic areas of clonorchiasis in China.