title: Correlation between asthma and Toxocara canis infection.
abstract: The aim of the current study was to examine the relationship between asthma and toxocariasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We have studied 76 patients with asthma and 88 controls (without asthma) aged 5-16 years. An ELISA test based on the detection of anti-Toxocara canis (E/S antigen) serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) and E (IgE) was done in both groups. Ordinary allergens and E/S antigen of T. canis infections were used to evaluate cutaneous reactivity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seroprevalence in asthma patients was 68.42% and in the controls 13.63%. This difference was significant. The percentage of asthmatic patients with two anti-Toxocara antibodies was 26.31%, and of 4.54% in controls. All asthma patients with anti-Toxocara IgE had cutaneous reactivity to Ag E/S.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Asthma patients with anti-Toxocara IgE and IgG may have toxocariasis.
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Parasitology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Grigore T. Popa-Iasi School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Roxana-Gabriela
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Cobzaru
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rîpă
authors.forename: Maria Magdalena
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Leon
authors.forename: Mihaela Cătălina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Luca
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ivan
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Luca
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004285:Dogs; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D012383:Romania / Q000453:epidemiology; D012882:Skin Tests / Q000379:methods; D017166:Toxocara canis / Q000276:immunology*; D014120:Toxocariasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007073:Immunoglobulin E