title: Frequency of antibodies to Toxocara in Cuban schoolchildren.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to determine the frequency of antibodies to Toxocara in Cuban schoolchildren.
  
  
  METHODS
  The frequency of antibodies to Toxocara canis was assessed with a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays kit in school-aged children from two municipalities of Cuba. Univariate analysis and a multivariable logistic regression analysis adjusted for age, sex, municipality and co-infection with helminth and/or protozoa were conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The percentage of children with antibodies to Toxocara was 38.8% (392/1011; 95% CI = 36.8-42.8). Antibody positivity was significantly associated with gender and co-infections with intestinal parasites, but not with age or municipality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cuban children are highly exposed to the Toxocara parasite, corresponding well with reported environmental contamination with Toxocara parasite eggs and T. canis prevalences in dogs in Cuba. Relevant policy makers and the Cuban population need to be better informed about this preventable infection.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Tropical Medicine, Pedro Kourí, Havana, Cuba. idalia@ipk.sld.cu
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sariego
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kanobana
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Junco
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vereecken
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Núñez
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Polman
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bonet
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rojas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D060085:Coinfection / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D003462:Cuba / Q000453:epidemiology; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D004285:Dogs; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution; D017166:Toxocara canis / Q000276:immunology*; D014120:Toxocariasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000635:transmission
chemical_list: D000909:Antibodies, Helminth