Human toxocariasis: incidence among residents in the outskirts of Campinas, State of São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract

With the aim of estimating the incidence of infection by Toxocara among residents in the outskirts of Campinas (State of São Paulo, Brazil) two serological surveys, using ELISA anti-Toxocara tests, were performed in January 1999 and January 2000, involving, respectively, 138 and 115 individuals, 75 of which examined in both occasions. Among this group 67 individuals did not show the presence of anti-Toxocara antibodies in 1999, and 12 presented seroconversion in the second survey, revealing an annual incidence rate of 17.9%.

Human Toxocariasis in Rural Brazilian Amazonia: Seroprevalence, Risk Factors, and Spatial Distribution

“…In fact, age > 14 years appeared to be a protective factor and the proportion of subjects with hightiter antibodies was lowest in this age group. The seroprevalence in children in our site is comparable to recent estimates obtained for children aged 1-14 years living in urban areas of this country (8.7-39.0%) [12][13][14][15][16][17] ; in the nearby town of Acrelân-dia, we recently found IgG antibodies to Toxocara in 21.5% of the 483 under-5 children examined. 18 The only recent study of Toxocara seroprevalence across different age groups in Brazil, performed in a large city in the southeastern region, found IgG antibodies in 20.5% of subjects aged 15-80 years, compared with 27.7% in those aged < 15 years.…”

“…9,10 However, few comparable data are currently available for rural areas, where human infections are usually most prevalent. 11 Seropositivity rates between 8.7% and 39.0% have been found in different samples of Brazilian children (sample size, 100-483) examined over the past decade, [12][13][14][15][16][17][18] but exposure to Toxocara has been rarely investigated in other age groups and no data are available for rural populations of this country. 19 Here we describe the epidemiology of human toxocariasis in one of the largest agricultural settlements in the Amazon Basin of Brazil, the Pedro Peixoto settlement in the state of Acre.…”

Human toxocariasis: contribution by Brazilian researchers

“…However, in 2003, ANARUMA et al 8 estimated the incidence rate as 17.9% in the outskirts of Campinas, in the State of São Paulo, based on two surveys conducted in January 1999 and January 2000.…”

Frequency and risk factors for toxocariasis in children from a pediatric outpatient center in southeastern Brazil

“…Toxocara canis and T. cati are common ascarid parasites of dogs and cats, and are considered to be the principal etiological agents of the syndrome 4 . Humans become infected after the ingestion of either embrionated ascarid eggs or of tissues from infected paratenic hosts 24 .…”

“…is distributed worldwide and appears in variable frequencies, depending on local factors such as close contact with soil contaminated by dog feces, and low income levels of the exposed community 1,33 . The rate of infection and occurrence of symptoms are more frequent in young children up to the age of 12 years old, mainly in rural areas; however, adults, are also infected 4,17 . The most common signs and symptoms of infection include fever, respiratory complaints and hepatomegaly.…”