Seroprevalence of Toxocara canis infection among asymptomatic children with eosinophilia in Croatia

• Published in: Journal of helminthology Vol. 83; no. 4; pp. 369 - 371
• Main Authors: Sviben, M., Čavlek, T.V., Missoni, E.M., Galinović, G.M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.12.2009
• Subjects: Adolescent; Animals; Antibodies, Helminth - immunology; Biological and medical sciences; Blotting, Western; Carrier State; Child; Child, Preschool; Communicable Diseases, Emerging - epidemiology; Communicable Diseases, Emerging - parasitology; Communicable Diseases, Emerging - prevention & control; Croatia; Diseases caused by nematodes; Dog Diseases - epidemiology; Dog Diseases - parasitology; Dog Diseases - prevention & control; Dogs; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Eosinophilia - complications; Female; Helminthic diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Male; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous; Parasitic diseases; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Toxocara canis - immunology; Toxocariasis - epidemiology; Toxocariasis - immunology; Toxocariasis - prevention & control; Europe; Croatia; Human; Toxocara canis; Prevalence; Sex; Parasite; Asymptomatic; Eosinophilia; Infection; Helmintha; Nemathelminthia; Invertebrata; Nematoda; Child; Age
• ISSN: 0022-149X; 1475-2697
• DOI: 10.1017/S0022149X09381213

A total of 142 serum specimens from Croatian children aged 3–18 years, with peripheral eosinophilia and without any clinical symptoms, were tested for the presence of Toxocara canis IgG antibodies using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot method. The overall T. canis seropositivity rate in the samples tested was 31%. There was no statistical difference in the seroprevalence rate between boys (32.1%) and girls (29.7%, χ2 = 0.092, P = 0.761). The T. canis seropositivity varied significantly between age groups both in boys (Fisher's test P < 0.001) and girls (Fisher's test P = 0.007). The highest seroprevalence rate was found in boys aged 11–14 (42.9%) and girls aged 7–10 (44.2%). Our results showed a high seroprevalence rate of T. canis infection among children with eosinophilia. It is important that testing for toxocariasis should be included in a differential diagnosis of eosinophilia, especially in children.