Toxocara Seroprevalence among Clinically Healthy Individuals, Pregnant Women and Psychiatric Patients and Associated Risk Factors in Shandong Province, Eastern China

Abstract

BackgroundToxocarosis is a widespread zoonosis caused by the ascarid nematodes Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati, which primarily infect dogs and cats, respectively. Most human infections with Toxocara are asymptomatic; however, some infected individuals may develop a serious illness and even death. Nevertheless, epidemiological knowledge regarding the prevalence and risks associated with Toxocara infection is limited in China. Therefore, we performed a cross-sectional pilot study and estimated the seroprevalence of Toxocara infection in humans in Shandong Province, eastern China for the first time, from June 2011 to July 2013, involving clinically healthy individuals, pregnant women and psychiatric patients, aiming to attract public attention to Toxocara infection.Methodology/Principle FindingsSeroprevalence of Toxocara was determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay based on a cross-sectional study conducted in Qingdao and Weihai, Shandong Province, eastern China. Factors potentially associated with Toxocara infection were identified by logistic regression analysis. The overall Toxocara seroprevalence among the study population (n = 2866) was 12.25%, and a significantly higher seroprevalence in psychiatric patients (16.40%, 73/445) than that in clinically healthy individuals (13.07%, 187/1431) and pregnant women (9.19%, 91/990) was revealed. Univariate analyses suggested that keeping dogs at home (OR = 0.06, 95% CI 0.05–0.08, P<0.001), contact with cats and dogs (OR = 0.42, 95% CI 0.33–0.53, P<0.001) and exposure with soil (OR = 0.37, 95% CI 0.28–0.49, P<0.001) were risk factors associated with Toxocara infection.Conclusions/SignificanceThe present study revealed, for the first time, that human infection with Toxocara is common in eastern China, posing a significant public health concern. Increasing human and dog populations, population movements and climate change all will serve to increase the importance of this zoonosis. Further studies under controlled conditions are necessary to define potential morbidity associated with Toxocara infection.

Global toxocariasis research trends from 1932 to 2015: a bibliometric analysis

“…Several studies have concluded that the cost of human toxocariasis is underestimated and understanding of its global impact remains poor because of the inadequacy of clinical awareness and an obvious lack of efficacy of laboratory, clinical and treatment interventions [1,2,4,[9][10][11]. To the author's knowledge, to date, no bibliometric studies have assessed Toxocara and toxocariasis research over time at the global level.…”

Molecular mechanism of serine/threonine protein phosphatase 1 (PP1cα–PP1r7) in spermatogenesis of Toxocara canis

“…Significantly, T. canis larvae can migrate throughout the human body and encyst as arrested larvae in the muscles and nervous system causing visceral larva migrans, ocular larva migrans or neural larva migrans (Kayes, 1997;Despommier, 2003;Caldera et al, 2013). Epidemiological studies in some African, Asian and Latin American countries indicated a high prevalence of this zoonotic disease, ranging from 12.3% to 93% (Schoenardie et al, 2013;Macpherson, 2013;Cong et al, 2014;Moreira et al, 2014).…”

Seroprevalence and risk factors for Toxocara infection among children in a rural community in Fars province, southern Iran

“…A study in Serbia revealed a seroprevalence of 13% for Toxocara infection with a significant difference between sex gender (more common in women), but not among the age groups . Yet, a few studies reported that the seropositivity to Toxocara increases by age …”

“…29 Yet, a few studies reported that the seropositivity to Toxocara increases by age. 21,22 The association between Toxocara infection and dog or cat ownership has been documented. Study of Cong et al 22 Jilin provinces in China, the seroprevalence of Toxocara infection among the study population was found to be 19.3% 23 and exposure to soil and keeping dogs at home were among the factors which were associated with Toxocara infection.…”

“…21,22 The association between Toxocara infection and dog or cat ownership has been documented. Study of Cong et al 22 Jilin provinces in China, the seroprevalence of Toxocara infection among the study population was found to be 19.3% 23 and exposure to soil and keeping dogs at home were among the factors which were associated with Toxocara infection. 24 In our study, dogs and cats ownership were not associated with Toxocara seropositivity.…”