Human toxocariasis: a seroepidemiological survey in the Amazonian city of Yurimaguas, Peru

Abstract

SUMMARYThe aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of the infection by Toxocara in the general population of the Amazonian city of Yurimaguas, Peru. From March to August 2008, a total of 300 subjects were sampled and tested by means of a Toxocara ELISA-IgG test. A clinical and epidemiological questionnaire was used to assess the symptomatology and risk factors associated with human toxocariasis. The overall rate of seropositivity was 35.66%, with a significant high proportion in children (p < 0.001). The clinical evaluation revealed that 95.33% of the seropositive group had some type of symptomatology: headache (66.36%), respiratory compromise (63.55%), abdominal pain (54.21%), cutaneous signs (40.19%) and ocular manifestations (36.45%), and almost all of them were statistically significant (p < 0.001). Furthermore, 56.07% of the seropositive subjects presented at least one intestinal pathogen parasite with predominance of helminthes, but without significant association (p = 0.334). The analysis of risk factors showed only that the use of public places and geophagia exhibited a significant association with the seropositivity (p < 0.001). Clinical, serological and epidemiological findings associated to infection with Toxocara were observed in the present study and future studies should be done to assess this serious health problem.

Anti-Toxocara spp. antibodies in an adult healthy population: serosurvey and risk factors in Southeast Brazil

“…For instance, while some researchers have verified either an increase of the toxocariasis prevalence in the male population [20,21] , others have shown that females are more closely associated with the zoonosis [8] . No association between gender and an ELISA positive result for toxocariasis has also been observed [22] .…”

“…However, having a pet was not considered a risk/protective factor for toxocariasis. Keeping a dog in a household has been recognised as a risk factor in some [31,32] but not all surveys [21,33] . The influence of cat ownership on a positive ELISA test has been less studied.…”

Toxocariasis in the Americas: Burden and Disease Control

“…These findings correlate with the known risk factors for Toxocara infection such as: contact with contaminated soil, low socioeconomic conditions and poor hygienic habits. In descending order, the most frequent symptoms were: respiratory signs (77.96 %), ocular signs (61.02 %), hepatic compromise (38.98 %), abdominal pain (30.51 %) and cutaneous signs (27.12 %) [2].…”

A case report of ocular toxocariasis

“…These nematodes develop the adult stage in the intestines of cats and dogs, where each female produces 200 000 eggs per day. These eggs are eliminated from the body and become infecting after [2][3][4][5] weeks. After being ingested by humans, the larvae go through the intestinal wall, migrating via the veins into the liver and the rest of the body, where they remain as larvae [1] .…”

“…Among the subjects with positive serology, ocular signs or symptoms ranged from 17.74% to 36.45% [3,4].…”