Frequency of human toxocariasis in a rural population from Cajamarca, Peru determined by DOT-ELISA test

Abstract

SUMMARYThe aim of this study was to estimate the frequency of human toxocariasis in Cauday district, Cajamarca, Peru, using a dot-ELISA test. From June to October 2005, a total of 256 adult subjects were studied. Blood samples were collected for serology by a dot-ELISA test and for hematological examination. Parasitological examination was also carried out in stool samples to check cross-reactions in the dot-ELISA. The frequency observed was 44.92%, with a significant higher proportion of positivity in male subjects. From subjects with positive serology, 45.6% had respiratory symptoms, 40.44% abdominal pain, 32.35% hepatic symptoms, 14.7% cutaneous signs, 13.23% ocular manifestations, 43.38% eosinophilia, and all of these were statistically associated to serology. Among the population evaluated, 90.23% (231/256) were parasitized. From subjects with positive serology, 92.17% had at least one intestinal parasite and the most frequent were: Blastocystis hominis (68.38%), Giardia lamblia (28.68%), Hymenolepis nana (20.0%), Ascaris lumbricoides (15.65%), Entamoeba histolytica/E. dispar (13.24%), Cyclospora cayetanensis (4.41%), Cryptosporidium sp. (1.47%), Enterobius vermicularis (0.87%), Strongyloides stercoralis (0.87%), Taenia sp. (0.87%), and Trichuris trichiura (0.87%). The rate of false positives in the dot-ELISA test was improved by serum absorption each with A. suum antigens, with a decrease of cross-reactions. In conclusion, human toxocariasis is highly frequent in this population and some risk factors like dog/cat ownership, presence of pets within house, and previous history of geophagia were observed in the present study.

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

“…This value is among the values of frequency previously found in other places from our country [7][8][9]30,31 and relatively similar with other studies from other Latin American countries 2,3,21,27 .…”

“…In Peru, a few reports have informed of frequencies from 7.8% to 44.92% in rural populations from different places [7][8][9]19,30,31 . However, seroepidemiological studies about human toxocariasis in Peruvian Amazonian populations have not been reported.…”

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] .…”

A Study of The Genetic Variability of Blastocystis hominis Isolates in Hamadan, West of Iran

“…Infections with the organism are spread worldwide and it is often the most frequently isolated protozoan in parasitological surveys (2)(3)(4). In developing countries, B. hominis has higher prevalence (30-50%) in comparison with developed countries (1.5-10%) (5,6).…”