Detection of antigens and anti‐Toxocara canis antibodies in children with different asthma severities

• Published in: Immunity, Inflammation and Disease Vol. 9; no. 2; pp. 435 - 442
• Main Authors: Sandra Guadalupe, Bautista‐García, Mario Noé, Martínez‐Gordillo, Gustavo Esteban, Peralta‐Abarca, Norma Yvett, González‐Bobadilla, Karina, Clavijo‐Sánchez, Alma Leticia, Chávez‐Zea, Alan Eduardo, Hernández‐Saavedra, José Guadalupe, Huerta‐López, Álvaro, Pedroza‐Meléndez, Alejandro Gabriel, González‐Garay, Martha, Ponce‐Macotela
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.06.2021; John Wiley and Sons Inc; Wiley
• Subjects: active larva migrans; Antibodies; Antigens; Asthma; Biometrics; children; chronic infection; Developing countries; Enzymes; Immunology; Infections; LDCs; Original Research; Parasites; Parasitic diseases; Patients; Pediatrics; Questionnaires; recent infection; Serology; seroprevalence; Spirometry; Sulfuric acid; T. canis secretory‐excretory antigens; Toxocara canis; Mexico; Toxocara canis; children; chronic infection; seroprevalence; asthma; T. canis secretory-excretory antigens; active larva migrans; recent infection
• ISSN: 2050-4527; 2050-4527
• DOI: 10.1002/iid3.403

Introduction Toxocara canis can produce or exacerbate asthma, and the detection of anti‐T. canis immunoglobulin G (IgG) does not discriminate between recent infection or active larva migrans. In this study, we searched for T. canis third‐stage larval antigens (L3TES) and anti‐T. canis antibodies in children with different severities of asthma, controlled or uncontrolled. Methods A total of 145 patients with asthma who were previously diagnosed using the Global Initiative for Asthma guidelines were included. The asthma control was evaluated with the Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ). Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay was performed for the detection of L3TES; IgG was detected using sera preadsorbed with Ascaris antigens (native kit), and a commercial kit (IgG) was used as the gold standard. Results L3TES was found in 2 patients (1.37%). One had L3TES and anti‐T. canis IgG, suggesting active larva migrans. In the other patient, only L3TES was detected, likely because an infection had begun. The seroprevalence with the commercial kit and native kit was 6.2% and 17.93%, respectively. There was no significant association among asthma severity, ACQ and T. canis seroprevalence (p > .05). Conclusion It is possible to detect L3TES in patients with asthma. Two complementary techniques that can determine the infection status with T. canis and rule out cross‐reactions involve the detection of L3TES and IgG using sera preadsorbed with Ascaris antigen. There was no significant association among asthma severity, ACQ and T. canis seroprevalence. Graphical We performed two assays aimed to detect antigens from Toxocara third‐stage larvae, and to detect anti‐T‐canis immunoglobulin G in children with asthma, to infer the status of the infection and its impact on the asthma severity. We detected patients with Toxocara antigens (recent infection); antigens and antibodies (active larva migrans) and only antibodies (immunological memory). There was no significant association among asthma severity and detection of antigens or antibodies against T. canis.