Seroprevalence of Toxocara Antibodies in Patients with Adult Asthma

Abstract

Toxocariasis is a common worldwide infection. Asthma, considered to be one of the most common chronic diseases, is a serious global health problem. Toxocara may be a possible etiologic agent of asthma. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is an association between adult asthma and Toxocara seroprevalence. Fifty three adult patients with asthma participated in the study. All patients had an age of disease onset of 20 years or older. Blood samples were tested for the presence of Toxocara antibodies using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We found a 13.2% Toxocara seropositivity for asthma. There was a significant difference in the Toxocara seropositivity between adult asthma patients and our healthy cohort populations. There was no significant difference between Toxocara seropositive asthma and Toxocara seronegative asthma in terms of the risk factors for Toxocara infection. We believe that further research with a large number of asthma patients is warranted and preventive strategies in this patient population are needed.

Toxocara Seropositivity, Atopy and Wheezing in Children Living in Poor Neighbourhoods in Urban Latin American

“…This study was carried out in the context of other chronic helminth infections of childhood that have also been associated with atopy and asthma [6]. After controlling for potential confounding factors, including intestinal helminths, we found that children who were seropositive for anti- Toxocara IgG had more eosinophilia and elevated levels of total and allergen specific IgE, which is consistent with the findings of previous studies [16], [17], [18], [19]. However, we also reported, for the first time in the literature, that Toxocara seropositivity was associated with a reduced prevalence of skin prick test (SPT) reactivity to common aeroallergens and that it may play an important role as an effect modifier in the association between sIgE and SPT.…”

“…Chan and collaborators [15] have previously shown that toxocariasis may increase predisposition to the development of allergic diseases, especially in children. It has also been demonstrated that toxocariasis is associated with elevated levels of specific IgE against aeroallergens (sIgE), serum total IgE, eosinophil counts [16], increased skin sensitivity to aeroallergens [17], atopic asthma in children [18], [19] and decreased lung function [20]. However, not all data support these associations: Zacharasiewicz and collaborators [21] were unable to show an association between Toxocara spp.…”

Toxocariasis and lung function: Relevance of a neglected infection in an urban landscape

“…More recent animal studies have shown compromised lung function in mice infected with other nematodes (Buijs et al 1995;Pinelli et al 2005). Furthermore, results from human studies also support a more specific association between Toxocara infection and asthma in low and middle income countries (Feldman and Parker, 1992;Buijs, 1994;Buijs, 1997;Oteifa, 1998;Chan, 2001;Sharghi, 2001;Kuk, 2006). Finally, a report using the full national sample from NHANES III was the first to show a distinct, independent association between previous Toxocara infection and lung function in a national population-based study, with a 73 mL decreased FEV 1 among the infected participants (Walsh, 2011).…”

“…Instead, more insidious chronic disease involving the lungs, vasculature, and central nervous system may be more prevalent and, thus, of greater public health significance (Hotez and Wilkins, 2009). Diminished lung function has been associated with Toxocara infection in animal models, as have infections with other nematodes whose development includes migration across pulmonary tissues (Pritchard et al 1983;Buijs, 1995;Pinelli, 2005 (Feldman and Parker, 1992;Buijs, 1994;1997;Oteifa, 1998;Chan, 2001;Sharghi, 2001;Kuk, 2006), but how this might translate to a high income country with significant health disparities is unknown. Finally, a previous study examining the NHANES III sample population identified a strong association between Toxocara infection and diminished lung function that was robust to many other contributing factors to both toxocariasis and lung function including gender, ethnicity, and rural residence (Walsh, 2011).…”

Detection of Specific Antibody Reactivity to Toxocara Larval Excretory-secretory Antigens in Asthmatic Patients (5-15 Years)

“…The prevalence of this condition is reported to be 10% in adults and 0-30% in children, worldwide. Considering the diversity of risk factors for asthma, Toxocara infection may be regarded as an important risk factor for asthma in humans [9, 10]. Epidemiological knowledge about Toxocara can potentially assist specialists in patient treatment.…”