Opisthorchiasis in the Don Basin
Ermolova, R.S.; Kantsan, V.N.; Petlin, V.M.; Uchuatkin, E.A.; Khromenkova, E.N.
Meditsinskaia Parazitologiia i Parazitarnye Bolezni 1987(6): 71-74
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0025-8326 PMID: 3448486 Document Number: 289059
A survey of opisthorchiasis in the River Don basin, USSR, was carried out in 1983-86. 3627 inhabitants in 4 regions were examined serologically (by the ELISA) and parasitologically for ova in the faeces and duodenal contents. 36 domestic dogs, 163 cats, 585 cyprinid fishes and 184 Bithynia inflata were also examined. In the Voronezh region, the prevalence of infection was 0.57 to 0.66% in man, 44.4 to 57.1% in cats, and 28.5 to 44.0% in fishes. In the Rostov region, infection was recorded in 0.57% of humans, in 3.5-32.8% of cats and in 18% of fishes. Only cats were examined in the Volgograd region; 30% were infected. In the lower Don settlements, infection was not detected in humans or fishes but in one area 72.7% of cats were infected. Infection of B. inflata reached 5.6% in some districts and Opisthorchis ova were found in bottom mud (approximately 3/kg mud). No infected dogs were identified. It is suggested that the damming of the Don and the construction of the Tsimylansk reservoir have created conditions unfavourable for B. inflata in the lower reaches of the river, whereas habitats of B. inflata in the Don estuary have remained unaffected.