title: Seroepidemiological Study of Toxocariasis in the Owners of Domestic Cats and Dogs in Mashhad, Northeastern Iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Toxocariasis is the clinical terms applied to infection of human with Ascarid nematodes in the order Ascaridida, namedToxocara canisandT. cati. Because in recent years in Iran many people desire to keep pets (cats and dogs), and lacking of seroepidemiological study of toxocariasis in Mashhad, we decided to determine the seroprevalence of toxocariasis among people who own cats and dogs in comparison with control group.
  
  
  METHODS
  A serological study for detection antibodies toToxocarain two groups (93 cat and dog owners and 93 healthy people as control group) was conducted from Feb 2013 to Dec 2013. An ELISA method was employed using determination of IgG antibodies againstToxocara. The serum samples were evaluated for anti-Toxocaraantibody, using ELISA technique at Parasitology and Immunology Lab of Imam Reza Hospital of Mashhad. Using a questionnaire, epidemiological factors associated with infection were examined. Data were analyzed using Chi-square test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The seroprevalence ofToxocaraantibodies in the pet owners and control group was respectively 20.43% and 1.07%. 47.3% of pet owners were female.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Presented data showed the significant difference between seroprevalence of toxocariasis among pet owners and control group. Education of society and in particular pet owners consisting of preventing contamination of the environment withToxocaraeggs is advised.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Fariba
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Berenji
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pouryousef
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Abdolmajid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fata
authors.affiliation: Immunology Research Center, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahmoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mahmoudi
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Community Medicine, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Research Center for Patient Safety, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salehi
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Javad
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Khoshnegah
keywords: Cat; Dog; ELISA; Iran; Toxocariasis; Visceral larva migrans