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7 - East Asian Civilizations

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 March 2023

Piers D. Mitchell
Affiliation:
University of Cambridge
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Summary

In ancient China, Japan, and Korea it is clear that roundworm and whipworm were the most common parasites present. Where data are available to estimate how common these parasites were, they suggest that more than half of the population were infected. Flukes spread by eating raw fish and crustaceans were a significant health risk, but less than half of individuals appear to have been affected. These include Chinese liver fluke, Fasciolopsis, Gymnophalloides, Metagonimus, and Paragonimus. The range of species of flukes present seem to have been higher in Korea and Japan than China, which may reflect the range of species endemic there, or the range of foods traditionally eaten raw in each culture. Oriental schistosomiasis is contracted by wading in still freshwater, so farmers growing rice in paddy fields were at particular risk. Major trade routes such as the Silk Road have been shown to act as conduits for the spread of intestinal parasites across East Asia.

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2023

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  • East Asian Civilizations
  • Piers D. Mitchell, University of Cambridge
  • Book: Parasites in Past Civilizations and Their Impact upon Health
  • Online publication: 30 March 2023
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9780511732386.007
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  • East Asian Civilizations
  • Piers D. Mitchell, University of Cambridge
  • Book: Parasites in Past Civilizations and Their Impact upon Health
  • Online publication: 30 March 2023
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9780511732386.007
Available formats
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To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • East Asian Civilizations
  • Piers D. Mitchell, University of Cambridge
  • Book: Parasites in Past Civilizations and Their Impact upon Health
  • Online publication: 30 March 2023
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9780511732386.007
Available formats
×