National seroprevalence and risk factors for Zoonotic Toxocara spp. infection.
To estimate the prevalence of Toxocara spp. infection in a representative sample of the United States population >or= 6 years of age, sera from participants in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1988-1994) were tested for antibodies to Toxocara. Among the 30,930 persons selected for the survey, 82% (N = 25,733) were interviewed, and 91% (N = 23,527) of those interviewed underwent physical examination of which 87% (N = 20,395) were tested. The age adjusted Toxocara seroprevalence was 13.9% (95% confidence intervals [CI] 12.5, 15.3), and was higher in non-Hispanic blacks (21.2%) than non-Hispanic whites (12%) or Mexican Americans (10.7%; P < 0.001). Increased Toxocara seropositivity was associated with head of household level of education (low versus high) (odds ratio [OR]: 2.2; CI: 1.8, 2.8), poverty (OR: 1.5; CI: 1.3, 1.8), elevated blood lead concentrations (OR: 1.4; CI: 1.1, 1.9), and dog ownership (OR: 1.2; CI: 1.1, 1.4). Toxocara infection is widespread and associated with specific risk groups.
Won
Kimberly Y
KY
Division of Parasitic Diseases, National Center for Zoonotic, Vectorborne, and Enteric Diseases, CCID, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30341-3724, USA. kfw7@cdc.gov
Kruszon-Moran
Deanna
D
Schantz
Peter M
PM
Jones
Jeffrey L
JL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014120:Toxocariasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000453:epidemiology*