Toxocariasis: a silent threat with a progressive public health impact

Chen, Jia; Liu, Quan; Li, Guohua; Zheng, Wei; Hong, Sung-Jong; Sugiyama, Hiromu; Zhu, Xing‐Quan; Elsheikha, Hany M.

doi:10.1186/s40249-018-0437-0

Cited by 153 publications

(112 citation statements)

References 125 publications

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“…Human toxocariasis is one of most prevalent parasitic zoonoses worldwide; it is particularly present in subtropical and tropical regions and in developing countries [1]. Toxocariasis is caused by the larvae of Toxocara canis or Toxocara cati, whose definitive hosts are dogs and cats, respectively [2]. The global prevalence of Toxocara infection in dogs is 11.1% [3].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seroprevalence of Toxocara canis infection and associated risk factors among primary schoolchildren in rural Southern Thailand

Phasuk

Punsawad

2020

Trop Med Health

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Background: Human toxocariasis is a parasitic zoonosis caused by a parasite in the genus Toxocara and is transmitted mainly by the accidental ingestion of embryonated Toxocara canis (dog roundworm) or T. cati (cat roundworm) eggs. Several studies reported that children were the main population at risk for T. canis infection. Currently, no reports on the seroprevalence of T. canis infection in Thailand are available, and its status remains unknown among children who live in rural areas of southern Thailand. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the seroprevalence of T. canis infection and its associated risk factors among primary schoolchildren in rural areas of Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, Thailand. Methods: A total of 177 schoolchildren between 6 and 13 years of age were recruited between June and July 2019. Serum anti-T. canis IgG antibodies were detected with a commercial ELISA kit. A questionnaire administered by direct interviews was used to collect demographic and behavioral risk factor data. Results: The overall seroprevalence of T. canis infection was 58.2% (103 of 177). The univariate analysis revealed that schoolchildren who did not practice handwashing before a meal (crude odds ratio (COR) = 3.67, 95% CI 1.93-6.95, P < 0.001), did not practice hand washing after animal contact (COR = 2.89, 95% CI 1.53-5.47, P = 0.001), and drank untreated water (COR = 1.87, 95% CI 1.00-3.48, P = 0.049) had an increased risk of acquiring T. canis infection. However, after adjusting for confounders, only a lack of handwashing before a meal remained a significant risk factor (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.20, 95% CI 1.11-4.34, P = 0.023). Age, sex, owning a dog, and eating fresh vegetables were not significantly associated with T. canis infection in the current study. Conclusions: This is the first serological investigation of T. canis infection among schoolchildren in Thailand. The high rate of Toxocara seropositivity reflected high levels of exposure to T. canis among schoolchildren in rural areas of southern Thailand. The results also provide baseline data regarding modifiable risk behaviors for effective T. canis infection prevention strategies in southern Thailand, especially strengthening hand washing practices among schoolchildren.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seroprevalence of Toxocara canis infection and associated risk factors among primary schoolchildren in rural Southern Thailand

Phasuk

Punsawad

2020

Trop Med Health

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“…In some countries, it is not rare to observe feces of stray dogs or cats, foxes or raccoons, in private gardens, public parks, or even beaches. As stated above, humans might become infected by roundworms or hookworms, and despite infection, it is not completed, serious damage could be provoked attributable to the erratic migration of immature stages across the organism [20]. At this point, it seems necessary to remember that second-stage larvae of Toxocara canis (dog), T. c a t i (cat), Ascaris suum (pig), or Baylisascaris procyonis (raccoon) can cause a visceral larva migrans syndrome after these larvae are released at the gut level.…”

Section: Importance Of Infection By Parasites From the Soilmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advantageous Fungi against Parasites Transmitted through Soil

Malagón¹,

Cazapal-Monteiro²,

Quintero³

et al. 2019

Fungal Infection

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Although many fungal specimens are responsible for human and/or animal infection, other species are advantageous for preventing the infection by soil-transmitted zoonotic parasites. Infection occurs by the accidental ingestion of parasitic stages (cysts, oocysts, eggs, and larvae), their active penetration through the skin or through direct contact. Numerous species of helminths develop an external phase in the soil where the infective stages are attained, thus mammals become infected when grazing, drinking, or accidentally. Ectoparasites as ticks perform also in the soil the phase from egg to larva. Different soil saprophytic fungi that turn into predatory agents when parasitic stages are near have been isolated and described. These species are capable of destroying the pathogens or irreversibly decreasing their viability, providing thus a very interesting and sustainable tool to reduce environmental contamination by pathogenic agents. In the last year, a profound knowledge on the most appropriate fungal species, together with the proper way to disseminate them, has been acquired.

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“…Thus, it is thought that human AE is mainly present in areas with a large prevalence of infected red foxes (Nahorski et al 2013;Schweiger et al 2007). Nematode parasites of the genus Toxocara also cause severe diseases in humans (Chen et al 2018), as people can acquire infection by, among other methods, ingestion of embryonated eggs present in contaminated soil or food. Toxocara spp.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seroprevalence of Echinococcus spp. and Toxocara spp. in Invasive Non-native American Mink

et al. 2020

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Invasive non-native species can become reservoirs of zoonotic pathogens and cause their spread during colonization, increasing the risk of zoonoses transmission to both wild hosts and humans. American mink (Neovison vison) are considered an important invasive mammal species responsible for carrying endoparasites. The aim of our study was to evaluate the role of feral American mink as a possible transmission vector of Echinococcus spp. and Toxocara spp. in wildlife. We analysed the frequency of American mink exposure to both parasites, the spatial distribution in Poland, and the variability over time on the basis of specific antibody presence using ELISA and Western blot. Alimentary tract analyses revealed that American mink do not serve as definitive hosts for these parasites. Altogether, 1100 American mink were examined. The average seropositivity for American mink was 14.2% for echinococcosis and 21.7% for toxocarosis; dualseropositivity was detected in only 6.0%. Seroprevalence of both parasites differed between study sites and significantly increased over time in Toxocara spp. Thus, our study revealed that free-living American mink are exposed to parasites and likely to be involved in the maintenance of both Echinococcus spp. and Toxocara spp.in the wild as paratenic hosts.

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Toxocariasis: a silent threat with a progressive public health impact

Cited by 153 publications

References 125 publications

Seroprevalence of Toxocara canis infection and associated risk factors among primary schoolchildren in rural Southern Thailand

Seroprevalence of Toxocara canis infection and associated risk factors among primary schoolchildren in rural Southern Thailand

Advantageous Fungi against Parasites Transmitted through Soil

Seroprevalence of Echinococcus spp. and Toxocara spp. in Invasive Non-native American Mink

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