5. Ultrasonographic surveys
The survey of this year is mainly the continuation of the last survey in terms of the survey area and duration. However we were able to cover much more Cambodian people compare with the last survey. We brought the ultrasonographic equipment (Fukuda Denshi UF-4000) with a convex type of probe (FUT-C111A, 3.5MHz 60R) and a video graphic printer (Sony UP-890MD) that belong to the Department of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Dokkyo University School of Medicine, from Japan to the respective fields in two provinces of Cambodia. We were able to conduct ultrasonographic examinations in three villages in Stung Treng province (Koh Sneng, Sdau and Preah Rumkel) and two villages in Kratie province (Sambok, Sambour) and to examine the total of 246 persons with 113 males and 133 females who are in mostly adults in age. We were able to find 35 untreated schistosomiasis patients on the certain stages of Ohmae's classification that is widely used in schistosomiasis japonica. All of them in respected villages were endorsed to the staff physician in provincial health office to be treated by the local team as soon as possible with praziquantel (40mg/kg body weight) just following after diagnosis.
Although the network pattern that was pathognomonic in advanced stage in S. japonicum were not observed at all (Table 4), we can not believe with confidence it is enough data collected to say schistosomiasis mekongi will show no network appearances in any stages through our investigation last 2 years. However, the surveys in the last two years indicate clearly the necessity of the further development for ultrasonographic survey with not only Japanese team but also Cambodian counterparts with technological transfer program.
Acknowledgements
We are grateful to the Honourable Secretary of State for Health, Dr. Mam Bunheng, for permission to conduct these epidemiological surveys. We wish to record our deep appreciation of the encouragement received from Dr. Cleam Saem, Director, Kratie Provincial Health Department, Dr. Nguon Sim An, Director, Kampon Cham Provincial Health Department and Dr. Heng Nhoeu, Director, Stung Treng Provincial Health Department. Special gratitude is expressed to Dr. D. Socheat, Director, National Malaria Centre, Dr. Stefan Hoyer, WHO, Phnom Penh for their valuable advices. Many thanks are due to Dr. Muth Sinuon, CNM, Dr. C. Seng Ly, Kratie Provincial Health Department and Dr. Poly, Stung Treng Provincial Health Department, for joining us during our field survey. We are grateful to the technical staff of Kratie, Kampong Cham and Stung Treng Provincial Health Department, for their help and support. To village leaders and villagers who have extended their kinds of cooperation and hospitality to us we wish to express our special gratitude. It should also be emphasized that the present survey would have been impossible without intimate collaboration with teachers and children in the primary schools we visited.
With best regards,
Sincerely yours,
