title: Predictive factors for Gnathostoma seropositivity in patients visiting the Gnathostomiasis Clinic at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Thailand during 2000-2005.
abstract: This was a retrospective study of patients having Gnathostoma antibody testing at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Bangkok during 2000-2005 to investigate predictive factors for Gnathostoma seropositivity in patients attending the Gnathostomiasis Clinic. Out of 849 patients tested, 531 (62.5%) were Gnathostoma seropositive. The median absolute eosinophil counts were 464 (0-16,796) and 326.5 (0-10,971) cells/mm3 in seropositive and seronegative patients, respectively (p<0.001). Differences in a history of cutaneous swelling, the habit of eating raw meat, eosinophilia (>500 cells/mm3), and the frequency of cutaneous swellings between seropositive and seronegative patients were all statistically significant. Patients with a history of eating raw meat and a history of cutaneous swelling were at 2.1 and 1.8 times more likely to be Gnathostoma seropositive, respectively. Logistic regression analysis showed eosinophilia was not a predictive factor for Gnathostoma seropositivity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. tmvbs@mahidol.ac.th
authors.forename: Valai
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bussaratid
authors.forename: Paron
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dekumyoy
authors.forename: Varunee
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Desakorn
authors.forename: Naowarat
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jaroensuk
authors.forename: Busaya
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liebtawee
authors.forename: Wallop
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Pakdee
authors.forename: Yupaporn
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wattanagoon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D004032:Diet; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000469:parasitology; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006039:Gnathostoma / Q000276:immunology*; D058429:Gnathostomiasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat / Q000469:parasitology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000909:Antibodies, Helminth