title: Seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis, toxocariasis and cysticercosis in a rural settlement, São Paulo State, Brazil.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The goal of this study was to estimate the seroprevalence of Toxocara spp., Toxoplasma gondii, and Taenia solium metacestode infection and determine some of the associated risk factors for people living in the Dona Carmen settlement, Pontal of Paranapanema, São Paulo, Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum samples from 194 subjects were tested and participants answered a questionnaire. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) system based on Toxocara spp. excretory-secretory antigens obtained from the cultured second-stage larvae of Toxocara canis or vesicular fluid (VF) antigen from Taenia crassiceps metacestode was used to detect anti-Toxocara spp. IgG and IgE and anti-T. solium metacestode, respectively. For cysticercosis, the reactive ELISA samples were assayed by Western blotting using 18 kDa and 14 kDa proteins purified from VF. For T. gondii-specific IgG and IgM antibodies, anti-SAG-1, GRA-1, and GRA-7 epitope specificity was determined by ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Toxoplasma gondii IgG antibodies were found in 102/194 individuals (52·6%) with increased infections in females (P = 0·02) and those with ≤US$300 monthly income (P = 0·01). Positive IgM antibodies were detected in 21/194 individuals (10·8%). Antibodies specific to Toxocara spp. were found in 28/194 subjects (14·4%). All the individuals with Toxocara spp. also had T. gondii-specific IgG antibodies. Taenia solium metacestode antibodies were detected in 11 subjects (5·7%), but none were reactive based on Western blotting.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In spite of environmental, educational, and socioeconomic factors favoring parasite infection, the seropositivity rates of T. gondii, Toxocara spp., and T. solium metacestode-specific IgG antibodies are similar to the rates found in studies conducted in different populations in Brazil.
authors.affiliation: Universidade do Oeste Paulista, Department of Immunology, Presidente Prudente, SP, Brazil. luiz@unoeste.br
authors.forename: Luiz Euribel
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Prestes-Carneiro
authors.forename: Guita
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rubinsky-Elefant
authors.forename: Antonio Walter
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: Patricia Regina
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Araujo
authors.forename: Charlene
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Troiani
authors.forename: Sueli Cristina
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Zago
authors.forename: Marcia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaiahara
authors.forename: Leticia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sasso
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iha
authors.forename: Adelaide
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vaz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood*; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003551:Cysticercosis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005076:Exanthema / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D012424:Rural Population; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014120:Toxocariasis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D014717:Vertigo / Q000453:epidemiology; D014786:Vision Disorders; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D007074:Immunoglobulin G