Abstract

A field study to investigate the correlation between the Clonorchis sinensis infestation and the peripheral blood eosinophilia and liver functioning was performed examining the presenece of parasite eggs in stool, EPG for Clonorchis sinensis, total WBC count and eosinophils in peripheral blood, serum alkaline phosphatase and SGOT with the subjects of 607 women in Kim Hae, the endemic area of C.S. infestation, and 74 women in Choon Sung as a control group. The results were as follows; 1. The infestation rate of Clonorchis sinensis in Kim Hae area was 52% (316/607 cases). 2. In the clonorchiasis group, the mean values ±2 S.D. were, WBC total count 5527± 2069/mm3 eosinophil percentage 13.64±12.52%, SGOT 27.82±11.07 unit, and serum alkaline phosphatase 58.42±33.43mIU/m1 respectively. These results were significantly high comparing with the results of the group without any parasitic infestation in Kim Hae area except serum alkaline phosphatase value. 3. In the control group without clonorchiasis in Choon Sung area, the mean values ±2 S.D. were, WBC total count 4633±1280/mm3, eosinophil percentage 4.77± 4.14%, SGOT 25.77±11.08 unit, and serum alkaline phosphatase 51.47±13.72mIU/m1 respectively, These results were significantly low comparing with the clonochiasis group in Kim Hae area except SGOT value. 4. In the clonorchiasis group in Kim Hae area, the mean values of WBC total count and eosinophil percentage were significantly high comparing with the group of other parasitic infestation in Kim Hae area and the control group in Choon Sung area. The serum alkaline phosphatase was significantly high in the clonorchiasis group in Kim Hae area comparing with the control group in Choon Sung area, however no significant difference was observed between the former and the group of other parasitic infestation in Kim Hae area. 5. There was no correlation between eosinophil percentage of peripheral blood and EPG of C1onorchis sinensis. Summerizing the overall results, in clonochiasis, we observed significantly increased peripheral blood eosinoptil, WBC total count and serum alkaline phosphatase except SGOT.