title: Seroepidemiological Study of Toxocariasis among Volunteers Animal Husbandry Workers and Veterinary in Southern Anatolia in Turkey in 2014.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Human toxocariasis is a parasitic infection caused by the larvae of Toxocara canis. We examine the Toxocara seroprevalance in veterinarians and animal husbandry workers living in the Mugla Province, Turkey to evaluate better the risk factors for Toxocara exposure.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2014, 376 volunteers participated in the study in 2014. All blood specimens were tested using a commercial enzyme immunoassay kit and ELISA positive samples were confirmed by Western Blot (WB) method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The seroprevalence of Toxocara, as determined by WB, was 8%. A statistically significant correlation was evident between patient age and Toxocara positivity among animal husbandry workers (P = 0.029). A strong association was also evident between sex and seropositivity in the animal husbandry group (P=0.024). Veterinarians working in pet clinics did in fact exhibit higher Toxocara seropositivities relative to those of other groups (P = 0.029). A statistically significant difference was detected between the rural geographic areas surveyed (P = 0.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In Mugla Province, seroprevalence of Toxocara is lower than other regions. Despite the low seroprevalence observed, especially in high risk professions toxocariasis remains an important medical concern within the region.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Infectious Disease, School of Medicine, Mugla Sitki Kocman University, Mugla, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hamdi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sozen
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Mugla Sitki Kocman University, Mugla, Turkey.
authors.forename: Burak E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Citil
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Infectious Disease, School of Medicine, Mugla Sitki Kocman University, Mugla, Turkey.
authors.forename: Selmin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Caylak
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Katip Celebi University, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Aysegul A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Gokmen
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Katip Celebi University, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Selçuk
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaya
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Katip Celebi University, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Demirci
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Metin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Korkmaz
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Mugla Sitki Kocman University, Mugla, Turkey.
authors.forename: Cem
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sahin
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Mugla Sitki Kocman University, Mugla, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ismail
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kirli
keywords: Animal husbandry workers; Seroprevalence; Toxocara; Turkey; Veterinary