Latent and AsymptomaticToxocaraInfection among Young Population in Northwest Iran: The Necessity of Informing People as a Potential Health Risk

Abstract

Objectives. This study was designed to determine the frequency of anti-Toxocara antibodies in youngsters aging from 2 to 20 years in northwest Iran. Materials and Methods. 397 samples were taken randomly almost equally from four locations in Urmia, west Azerbaijan, during August 2014 to September 2015. Anti-Toxocara IgG antibody assays were done on sera by using ELISA kit (IBL, Germany). In order to prevent cross-reaction, the samples of the patients who are infected with other parasites in stool exam, especially Ascarididae family, were also excluded. SPSS 16.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Results. 12 (3%) of the serum samples were positive for anti-Toxocara IgG. According to the Chi-square analysis, risk factors such as mother's educational level, keeping dogs or cats as pets, and history of coughing were related to Toxocara infection (P < 0.05). There was no relationship between toxocariasis and gender, history of onychophagy, pica, fever, abdominal pain, and anorexia; however, we found a significant relationship between Toxocara infection and chronic coughing (P = 0.045). Conclusion. Toxocariasis in northwest Iran can be considered as a public health problem. This study may also help to increase the awareness about this infection.

Toxocara Seroprevalence and Associated Risk Factors Among Ilam Children, West of Iran

“…According to the results, seropositive cases had significantly higher eosinophilia in comparison with seronegative cases (P = 0.037), however, hypereosinophilia was not observed in any of the seropositive cases. The data are compatible with other data for the epidemiology of toxocariasis in eosinophilic patients (24,31). Cross-reactive antibodies elicited by exposure to other helminths may reduce the specificity of ES antigen for the diagnosis (32).…”

“…In this study, the seropositive rates for Toxocara in children was high compared to other parts of Iran, such as 2% in Isfahan and 5.2% in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province (central) (18,19), 1.39% in Ahvaz (southwest) (20), 8.8% in Hamadan and 8.46% in Kermanshah province (west) (21,22), as well as 2.7% in Zanjan city and 3% in Urmia (northwest) (23,24). However, it was relatively low compared to 25.6% in Shiraz province (southern) (12), 25% in Sari city (north) (14), and 29.46 % in East Azerbaijan province (northwest) (25).…”

Genetic variability and discrimination of low doses of Toxocara spp. from public areas soil inferred by loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay as a field-friendly molecular tool

“…loads was detected and identified by LAMP assay in soil samples of northwest Iran where despite the meaningful increasing sero-prevalence of Toxocara infection (3% to 29.04%) among young population [25-28] here is no inclusive examination on phylo-molecular epidemiology of infected soil samples yet. Up to now, several epidemiological surveys have been focused on contamination rate of public areas to Toxocara egg [29,30].…”

Toxocariasis and Public Health: An Epidemiological Review

“…They can be found in different parts of the body, including the liver, heart, lungs, brain, muscle or eye [1]. The clinical signs and complications which result from infection with this parasite are mostly dependent on the number and migration locations of Toxocara larvae [2]. In human, loss of vision, hypereosophilia, encephalitis and problems involving the liver, lung and the central nervous system are most important complications caused by this parasite [2].…”

“…The clinical signs and complications which result from infection with this parasite are mostly dependent on the number and migration locations of Toxocara larvae [2]. In human, loss of vision, hypereosophilia, encephalitis and problems involving the liver, lung and the central nervous system are most important complications caused by this parasite [2]. Other names applied to toxocariasis include Weingarten's disease, Frimodt-Møller's syndrome, and eosinophilic pseudoleukemia [3], and also nematode ophthalmitis, toxocaral disease, toxocarose, and covert toxocariasis [4].…”