• 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 agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.66-73
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• 1982

Paragonimus westermani is one of the most popular endemic parasitic diseases in Korea. The nation-wide prevalence survey were carried out by Gobayashi (1921) with sputum examination and by Walton and Chyu (1959) with the intradermal skin test respectively. Recent studies showed the decline of positive rate in intradermal skin test of the local inhabitants and also showed the less distribution of intermediate host. The fact seemed that caused by economic improvement of village people, decrease of intermediate host by increasing use of pesticides, becoming lower water level at streams and rivers and better irrigation and finally by better community health education etc. Gangwha area of Gyeonggi-Do was found out as an endemic area of Paragonimus westermani through some studies in the past, however, in the vicinity area of Gangwha, the study in Kyodong island (myon) was carried out in 1965 by Yun et al. Therefore author carried out the intradermal skin test for 2,380 students of primary, middle and high school in Kyodong island and Samsan island. The results showed as follows : 1) The positive rate of intradermal test for paragonimus westermani infection showed positive in 152 among 1,845 students (8.2%) in Kyodong island, and 21 among 637 students (3.3%) in Samsan island respectively. 2) According to grade levels, 49 among 973 students (5.0%) in primary school, 62 among 962 students (6.4%) in middle school and 53 among 445 students (11.9%) in high school showed positive rate. This showed the higher grade the higher positive rate. 3) Among these total 164 positive cases in the intradermal skin test, only in 3 cases eggs were found in sputum. 4) Finding out the intermediate host, only 28 crayfishes from Kyodong island and 12 from Samsan island were collected and examined for metacercaria infection, however, none of metacercaria was found. 5) As a control group, 2 primary schools from the main island were selected. In these schools from the sixth grade students showed positive rate of 4.8% in Naega primary school and 0% in Hajeom Primary school respectively. Those results showed much decrease than studies carried out in the past. 6) The survey for food habit showed that 15 among 1,274 students (1.2%) had experiences of eating raw intermediate host(crayfish) and 266 among 988 students (27.0%) ate cooked.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.9-17
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• 2000

Epidemic malaria is prevalent in the demilitarized zone and the northern area of Kyonggi province in Korea. Malaria has broken out in Gangwha-Gun since 1997 due to geographical condition. The results obtained from an epidemiological surveillance for the malaria that happened in 1999 were as follows ; Anopheles sinensis collected in UV-light traps in the barn in Wolgogri and Dangsanri of Songhaemyon showed the distribution of 27,156 of 49,280 figures, corresponding to 55.1%, between July and August. The numbers of patients with malaria were 48(32.4%) in July, 36(24.3%) in August, and 38(25.7%) in September with a prevalence with the ages of the twenties to the seventies. Of a total 154 patients, the male were 86(58.1%) and the female were 68(41.8%). The annual parasite index(API) were 6.44, 5.89 and 4.45 in Songhaemyon, Yangsamyon and Kyodongmyon, respectively. A high infection rate was found Particularly in the areas within 2km from the Han river. By the immunofluorescence assays(IFA), 26 cases were positive with an antibody titers of $\geq$ 1 : 32, of 220 residents in Songhaemyon and 336 ones with a potential case and contacted with the patients. By the blood test, there was no significance in alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, total cholesterol, glucose, hemoglobin, hematocrit, white blood cell, red blood cell, and platelet between residents with an antibody titers of $\geq$ 1 : 32 and < 1 : 32 in Songhaemyon.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2003

The aim of this survey was to investigate the characteristics of outbreak farm determined as the classical swine fever(CSF) at Gangwha-gun and Seo-gu, Incheon metropolitan area from October 7 to November 25 in 2002. Sixty pigs in six different farms were confirmed to the CSF and a total of 9,106 pigs containing 3,194 related epidemiologically was slaughtered to stop spreading of the disease. Clinical signs of pigs diagnosed with the CSF were high fever, anorexia, depression, paralysis of hindlimbs, cyanosis, etc and gross lesions were typically represented with hemorrhage of submandibular and superficial lymph node, infarction of spleen, and petechial (ecchymotic) hemorrhage of kidney and skin. But some outbreak farms had not shown remarkable symptoms, so they were confused with other bacterial diseases. White blood cell (WBC) counts, the classical swine fever virus(CSFV) antigen and antibody enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) results about six farms indicated that total 60 pigs were infected with the CSFV. Although the origin and infection route of the CSFV were not clear, but the transmissions between farms were mainly through indirect contact such as the movement of farm personal and vehicles from outbreak farm.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.57-69
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• 2011

This study examined the relationship between Phragmites australis' growth and sediment properties at mud tidal flat of Donggum-ri, Gilsang-myeon, Gangwha-gun, Incheon city. Field survey was carried out from May, 2010 to October, 2010. Water content, soil texture, electric conductivity and water table depth for sediment, density, height, dry weight and flowering for P. australis were examined at several plots from the starting point (the coastal embankment) to the end point of the two populations. The result was as follows. Firstly, the water table increased along distance from the embankment at one line (N-line) but was similar at the other line (S-line) in a P. asustralis population. Water tables were higher out of than within a P. australis population at two populations. Secondary, in N-line, the height and dry weight of P. australis decreased along the distance from embankment but, in S-line, those were similar in its population. P. australis' growth was dependent on electric conductivity at lower layer (water table level) rather than upper one (the surface). Thirdly, density of P. australis changed during growing season and was similar in a population, except for the end point of patch. In summary, the growth and distribution of P. australis were dependent on salt content of tidal flat's sediment (water table level) and this was affected by fresh water of the inland.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.316-323
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• 2008

= ABSTRACT = Objectives : Incheon metropolitan city has set a model program of community partnership for hypertensive or diabetic patients detection and follow-up since 2005. This study examines the effects of the model on the compliance and the control of blood pressure or blood sugar level Methods : Telephone-surveys were done for 140 persons selected from 408 patients who were detected newly as hypertensive or diabetic patients at Gangwha-Gun and Seo-Gu in Incheon between January 1st and August 31th in 2006, and finally completed in 110 patients(78.6%). Survey questionnaires included socio-demographic(age, gender, and educational level), health behavioral (smoking, drinking, physical activity, and diet), and therapy-related (registration state, compliance, blood pressure or blood sugar control) variables. Odds ratio and 95% CI were derived from logistic regression model. Results : Registered group exhibited high compliance and well managed blood pressure or blood sugar level. The odds ratio of registration were 5.55(95% CI:1.83~16.89) for compliance and 3.78(95% CI:1.43~9.99) for blood pressure or blood sugar control after adjusting for age, gender, disease, and area Conclusions : It is independently related to compliance and blood pressure or blood sugar control whether the patient is registered or not. To control hypertension or diabetes mellitus in terms of compliance and control state, a community-based registration program through community partnership could be a powerful tool.