EPIDEMIOLOGIC-STUDY ON PARAGONIMUS SP IN SOUTH CAMEROON

A study was carried out in 1993 in south Cameroon in order to assess t he changes in the incidence rate of human paragonimiasis, and to get i nformation on the transmission pattern of Paragonimus sp. Two human ca ses have been recorded, and one dog was found infected in the Ntem Val ley. The results suggest that a decrease of the incidence rate of para gonimiasis occurred in humans and animals. Paragonimus metacercariae w ere found in three species of freshwater crabs: Sudanonautes africanus , S. aubryi et S. granulatus, the latter being a new host. Prevalence of infection in crabs increased southerly, and significant seasonal ch anges were found. Two cats were infested with metacercariae from S. af ricanus, and studies are in progress to identify the parasite(s) at a specific level.