Seroprevalence of Toxocara canis infection among asymptomatic children with eosinophilia in Croatia.
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%, chi2 = 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.
Sviben
M
M
Croatian National Institute of Public Health, Microbiology Service, Rockefellerova 7, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia. mario.sviben@hzjz.hr
Cavlek
T V
TV
Missoni
E M
EM
Galinović
G M
GM
D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000276:immunology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002353:Carrier State; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D017523:Croatia; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D004285:Dogs; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D017166:Toxocara canis / Q000276:immunology*; D014120:Toxocariasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control
D000909:Antibodies, Helminth