From discovery to eradication of schistosomiasis in Japan: 1847–1996

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0020-7519(97)00183-5Get rights and content

Abstract

Among the areas in Japan where schistesome infections have occurred for many years, three major areas were Katayama District, Kofu Basin and Chikugo River Basin and three minor areas were Numazu District, Tone River Basin and Obitsu River Bank. The presence of the disease had long been recognised in the Katayama Memoir written by Fujii (1847, in the Chinese Classics). The cause of this endemic disease had been studied by many researchers, and finalty a new treamatode, Schistosoma japonicum, was discovered by Katsurada in 1904 [Tokyo Iji Shinski, Vol. 1371, pp. 13–32]. The route of percutaneous infection was proven by Fujinami & Nakamura (1909) [Kyoto Medical Journal, Vol. 6, pp. 224–252] using 17 calves. Miyairi & Suzuki (1913) [Tokyo Iji Shinshi, Vol. 1836, pp. 1961–1965] determined a small snail, Oncomelania nosophora, as being the intermediate best, and clarified the development of the schistosome in the snail. To kill schistosome eggs, human faecal matter (‘night soil’) was stored for 2 weeks or more before using as fertiliser. Control of the parasite used canstic lime and calcium cyanamide to kill eggs, cercariae and Oncomelania snails. Susceptible cows were replaced with horses, which were more resistant to infection as the animal of burden for agriculture. Ditches around the rice fields were comented for destruction of snail habitats. For snail control, sodium pentachlorophenate (NaPCP) was sprayed extensively. Some wetlands were drained and reclaimed and in selected localities, the river bottom was dredged. Such projects were undertaken with government support and aided by community participation. Epidemiological surveys began in 1910, first at Kofu, and infected people were treated with sodium tartar emetic (Stibnal) after 1921. The total number of cases detected in Japan in 1920 was about 8000. This figure was reduced annually down to 438 by 1970. The last human case of new infection found in Japan was at Kofu in 1977. Although snails were cradicated in most areas by 1983, a limited number of uninfected snails remain at Kofu and Obitsu.

References (80)

  • J. Ito et al.

    Studies on schistosomiasis in Shizuoka Prefecture. II. An epidemiological survey on the new endemic area, Fujikawa-cho

    Japanese Journal of Parasitology

    (1962)
  • A. Fujinami

    Further discussion of the Katayama Disease and its causative parasite

    Kyoto Medical Journal

    (1904)
  • A. Fujinami

    Supplementary report on the description of Katayama Disease

    Kyoto Medical Journal

    (1907)
    A. Fujinami

    Supplementary report on the description of Katayama Disease

    Kyoto Medical Journal

    (1907)
  • K. Fujinami

    On “Katayama-ki” written by Dr. Fujinami 60 years ago

    Chugai Iji Shinpo

    (1909)
  • A. Fujinami et al.

    The route of infection, the development of the parasite of Katayama Disease and its infection in animals

    Kyoto Medical Journal

    (1909)
  • K. Fujinami et al.

    Japanese schistosomiasis and the horse; its infective season to this disease

    Kyoto Medical Journal

    (1910)
  • K. Fujinami et al.

    The preventive measures of Katayama Disease

    Chugai Iji Shinpo

    (1910)
  • Y. Fujinami et al.

    The preventive measures of Japanese schistosomiasis

    Nisshin Igaku

    (1919)
    Y. Fujinami et al.

    The preventive measures of Japanese schistosomiasis

    Nisshin Igaku

    (1919)
  • F. Hirano et al.

    Outbreak of schistosomiasis japonica and its transition after 4 years

    Rinsho Naika Shonika (Clinical Medicine & Pediatrics)

    (1948)
  • Y. Hosaka et al.

    Studies on molluscicide field test of Santobrite (sodium pentachlorophenate) and DN-1 (dinitro-o-cyclohexylphenol) for Oncomelania nosophora

    Medicine and Biology

    (1957)
  • G.W. Hunter et al.

    Studies on schistosomiasis V. Testing protective ointments against schistosomiasis by using Schistosoma producing cercariae

    Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

    (1952)
  • R. Ishimaru

    National Control Program of Filariasis and Schistosomiasis in Japan

  • J. Ito et al.

    Studies on schistosomiasis in Shizuoka Prefecture. V. Surveys on the Fujikawa River basin and the Ukishima-numa district

    Japanese Journal of Parasitology

    (1963)
  • M. Iwata

    Report on the habitat of Oncomelania nosophora

    Osaka Hakubutu Gakkai Shi

    (1937)
  • N. Kajihara et al.

    Field assessment of B-2 as a new molluscicide for the control of Oncomelania nosophora

    Japanese Journal of Medical Science and Biology

    (1979)
  • T. Kanamori

    On a new type of parasite egg

    Tokyo Igakkai Zasshi

    (1898)
  • T. Kashiwado et al.

    The outline of clinical studies on schistosomiasis japonica occurred in Sakura area, Chiba Prefecture

    Journal of the Chiba Medical Society

    (1927)
  • F. Katsurada

    Determination of the cause of a new parasite disease seen in Yamanashi and other prefectures

    Tokyo Iji Shinshi

    (1904)
  • F. katsurada

    On the endemic disease in Yamanashi Prefecture

    Okayama Medical Journal

    (1904)
  • F. Katsurada

    Supplementary report on schistosomiasis japonica

    Tokyo Iji Shinshi

    (1904)
  • F. Katsurada

    Schistosomum japonicum, ein neuer menshlicher Parasit durch welchen eine endemisch Krankheit in verschiedenen Genenden Japans verusacht wird

    Annotationes Zoologicae Japonenses

    (1904)
  • F. Katsurada

    Japanese schistosomiasis its biological aspect

    Nippon Byori Gakkai Shi

    (1911)
  • F. Katsurada

    Schistosomiasis japonica. Centroblatt fÜr

    Baktierologie und Parasitenkunde

    (1913)
    F. Katsurada

    Tropical Diseases Bulletin

    (1914)
  • F. Katsurada et al.

    Research on the development of Schistosoma japonicum

    Okayama Medical Journal

    (1909)
  • B.H. Kean et al.
  • S. Kojima et al.

    Epidemiological studies on schistosomiasis japonica in a newly found habitat of Oncomelania snails in Japan

    American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

    (1988)
  • S. Kojima et al.

    A newly discovered habitat of Oncomelania snails in the Obitu River basin of the central Boso Peninsula Japan

    Japanese Journal of Parasitology

    (1985)
  • Y. Komiya

    On schistosomiasis japonica in Saitama Prefecture

    Chiryo Yakuho

    (1955)
  • Y. Komiya

    The Prevention of Schistosomiasis Japonica

  • Y. Komiya et al.

    On the molluscicidal effect of arsenic compounds of calcium on Oncomelania nosophora, the vector of Schistosoma japonicum

    Japanese Journal of Parasitology

    (1958)
  • T. Kurimoto

    Hypertrophy of liver and spleen endemic in Yamanashi Prefecture

    Tokyo Iji Shinshi

    (1893)
  • R.T. Leiper

    Report on the results of the Bilharzia mission in Egypt, 1915. Part I. Transmission

    Journal of Royal Army Medical Corps

    (1915)
  • R.T. Leiper

    Report on the results of the Bilharzia mission in Egypt, 1915. Part V. Adults and ova

    Journal of Royal Army Medical Corps

    (1918)
  • R.T. Leiper et al.

    Observations on the spread of Asiatic schistosomiasis

    British Medical Journal

    (1915)
  • E. Majima

    A curious case of liver cirrhosis caused by the eggs of a parasite

    Tokyo Igakkai Zasshi

    (1888)
    E. Majima

    A curious case of liver cirrhosis caused by the eggs of a parasite

    Tokyo Igakkai Zasshi

    (1888)
  • U. Matsuura

    Report of investigation concerning the relation between schistosomiasis japonica and dermatitis in the endemic area, and the route of penetration into the human body

    Kyoto Medical Journal

    (1909)
  • D.B. McMullen

    Schistosomiasis and molluscicides

    American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

    (1952)
  • D.B. McMullen et al.

    Results of screening tests on chemicals as molluscicides

    Journal of Parasitology

    (1948)
  • Y. Miyagawa

    Route of migration of Schistosomum japonicum from the skin to the portal vein, and morphology of the young worm at the time of penetrating the skin

    Tokyo Medical Journal

    (1912)
  • Y. Miyagawa

    Ueber den Wanderngsweg des Schistosomum japonicum von der haut bis zum Pfortadersystem, und ueber die Koerperkonstitution der juengsten Wuermer zur Zeit der Hautinvasion

    Centralblatt für Bakteriologie und Parasitenkunde (I)

    (1912)
  • Cited by (101)

    • A comparison of ancient parasites as seen from archeological contexts and early medical texts in China

      2019, International Journal of Paleopathology
      Citation Excerpt :

      This investigation also revealed the presence of Asian schistosoma in the mummy (Wei et al., 1981). Expanding the scope of our considerations to the rest of East Asia, S. japonicum was identified in Japan in the early 20th century, but was eradicated later (Tanaka and Tsuji, 1997). There have been no paleoparasitological findings of S. japonicum in Japan thus far.

    View all citing articles on Scopus
    View full text