[The problem of opisthorchiasis in Ukraine and current approaches to its treatment].

The opisthorchiasis epidemiological situation in Ukraine and the Sumy Region that has the largest natural focus of invasion has been analyzed. Its morbidity rate is 21.6 per 100,000 population, which is more than 20 times greater than that in Ukraine. The clinical course of the disease in the endemic focus, the attribute of which is the high percentage of its latent form, has been examined. Praziquantel is the most effective drug for the etiotropic therapy of opisthorchiasis.

[Opisthorchiasis at left Dnieper watersheds]. / Opistorkhoz na levykh pritokakh Dnepra.

Present state of opisthorchosis infestation in the Dnieper watershed (rivers Vorskla, Psyol, Khorol, Sula, Seym, Snov, Desna water basins), situated in the Sumy, Chernigov, and Poltava regions of the Ukraine, is assessed. 7909 humans from 37 villages, 94 cats, 1134 carp fishes, 20013 mollusca and 30 soil samples were screened for the presence of Opisthorchis eggs. Opisthorchosis foci with an over 36% infection rate of population remain in the watersheds of the Dnieper left confluents (rivers Desna, Seym, Vorskla and Khorol). Infestation rate varies between various rivers as well as along one and the same river which is due to several ecological and social factors. Opisthorchis circulation is established at all the rivers but in most areas it didn't involve human population. Distribution pattern of human opisthorchosis in evidently focal and patchy which should be taken into account in the planning and implementation of opisthorchosis control measures.

[The epidemiological efficacy of opisthorchiasis control measures in Dnieper River basin foci]. / Epidemiologicheskaia éffektivnost' protivoopistorkhoznykh meropriiatii v ochagakh bacceina Dnepra.

The authors assess the epidemiologic efficacy of wide-scale antiopisthorchiasis measures taken in the basin of the Dnepr River in 1984-1990. The structure of the population morbidity and the time course of this morbidity under the effect of a complex of measures taken were analyzed in low-, medium, and highly-endemic foci of the disease. Hygienic education and adequate detection and treatment of the invaded subjects were found to be the principal factors contributing to sanitation of the population. These measures are the most effective in subjects aged under 40, in whom the share of cured subjects is the highest and reinvasions are the least frequent. Health education detection and chloxyl treatment of the patients helped reduce more than twofold the disease incidence over 5 years even in highly endemic foci and permitted complete sanitation of the children.