• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.191-197
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• 2012

Seroepidemiological changes of Toxoplasma gondii infection among the residents of the islands of Gangwha-gun, Incheon for 2 years were surveyed and evaluated by ELISA using a crude extract antigen. In 2010, sera of 919 adult residents in Gyodong-myeon and 313 adults in Samsan-myeon were collected and checked for IgG antibody titers, which showed 14.5% (133 sera) and 19.8% (62 sera) positive rates, respectively. In 2011, sera of 955 adults in Gyodong-myeon and 341 adults in Samsan-myeon were examined, which showed an increase of positive rates to 23.8% (227 sera) and 31.7% (108 sera), respectively. Totally, the seroprevalence of the first year was 15.8% and it increased rapidly to 25.8% in the second year. The positive rates of both sexes increased simultaneously with the significant ratio of males to females by 1.7-2.2 fold (P<0.05). In both myeons, 661 sera were collected every year and showed changes in optical density (OD) in 177 sera; newly found as positives in 73 persons (11.0%), negative conversion in 10 persons (1.5%), and maintained or increased in 94 persons (14.2%). This rapid increase in the prevalence of toxoplasmosis in Gangwha islands may be due to in part peculiar changes in the toxoplasmic environment of the islands and presumably the consumption of the pork bred domestically within the islands or imported from high endemic nations. It is necessary to find out symptomatic toxoplasmic patients and confirm the risk factors for further infection in the islands of Gangwha-gun.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.705-715
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• 2014

Acculturation is caused with contact by two different cultures. This study investigates a cultural change of Gangwha society with Hagok confusianism influenced by implantation of methodism. At early periods methodism diffused rapidly and relocated toward marine routes. Lately hierarchical diffusion and contagious diffusion was typical, centering on the Gangwha Jungang Church. This successful acception was influenced with confusianism's acculturation. One of the reason why Gangwha people could accept the Christianity was reinterpretation and selective strategy by Hagok fraction that became one of confusinism, It seemed that several cultural elements of Hagok fraction was coincided with some elements of methodism. However, A methodist church transferred by clan's shrine, which family relationship was coerced, was split into it's members. This segregation other than social intergretation influenced establishment of a or more church per each village.