title: Seroepidemiology of Toxocara canis infection among mountain aboriginal schoolchildren living in contaminated districts in eastern Taiwan.
abstract: We conducted a seroepidemiological study of Toxocara canis infection among mountain aboriginal schoolchildren aged 7-12 years living in contaminated districts in eastern Taiwan. To detect sera IgG (> or =1:64) we used a T. canis larval excretory-secretory antigen-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A short questionnaire elicited information on the practices of raising dogs, playing with soil, eating raw vegetables, or whether the child normally washed his/her hands before eating. The overall seroprevalence was quite high, reaching 76.6% (252/329). Neither age nor gender seemed to be important factors related to a positive serology. Aboriginal schoolchildren who raised dogs (OR=1.83, 95% CI: 1.04-3.19, P=0.03), or played with soil (OR=2.52, 95% CI: 1.49-4.25, P <0.001) seemed to be more susceptible to T. canis infection than those who did not. Children who habitually washed their hands before eating (OR=0.57, 95% CI: 0.33-0.97, P=0.04) had a lower chance of acquiring T. canis infection than those who did not.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan. tedfan@tmu.edu.tw
authors.forename: Chia-Kwung
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Chien-Ching
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.forename: Wen-Yuan
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Chien-Wei
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Kua-Eyre
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Su
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D004285:Dogs / Q000469:parasitology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006235:Hand Disinfection; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D017166:Toxocara canis / Q000276:immunology; D014120:Toxocariasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission
chemical_list: D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D007074:Immunoglobulin G