title: Levels of Toxocara infections in dogs and cats from urban Vietnam together with associated risk factors for transmission.
abstract: The aims of the present study were to assess the prevalence of Toxocara infection in household cats and dogs, together with the presence of anti-Toxocara IgG antibodies in humans and the level of egg contamination in soil and vegetable samples from the local environment. Prevalence values of 47.8% of 253 cats and 37.7% of 284 dogs were recorded, together with 35.8% of eggs in soil samples, 25.0% in garden vegetables and in 56.3% of 16 dog-hair samples. The risk of the infection was higher for dogs and cats in households with egg-contaminated soil compared to those without evidence of soil contamination. The high prevalence of dog and cat Toxocara infection and their indiscriminate defecation behaviour contribute to a significant risk of transmission to humans as 58.7% of human blood samples were seropositive for Toxocara. Anthelmintic treatment of dogs and cats, plus educating household members, must be emphasized in any prevention programme in Vietnam.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology,National Institute of Veterinary Research,86 Truong Chinh,Hanoi,Vietnam.
authors.forename: N Thi Lan
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Anh
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology,National Institute of Veterinary Research,86 Truong Chinh,Hanoi,Vietnam.
authors.forename: D Thi Thu
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Thuy
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology,National Institute of Veterinary Research,86 Truong Chinh,Hanoi,Vietnam.
authors.forename: D Huu
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Hoan
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology,National Institute of Malariology, Parasitology and Entomology,245 Luong The Vinh,Hanoi,Vietnam.
authors.forename: N Thi
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Hop
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology,National Institute of Malariology, Parasitology and Entomology,245 Luong The Vinh,Hanoi,Vietnam.
authors.forename: D Trung
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Dung
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000635:transmission; D002415:Cats; D002947:Cities / Q000453:epidemiology; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000635:transmission; D004285:Dogs; D005191:Family Characteristics; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012987:Soil / Q000469:parasitology; D014119:Toxocara / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014120:Toxocariasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000635:transmission*; D014675:Vegetables / Q000469:parasitology; D014744:Vietnam / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D012987:Soil