Toxocara Seroprevalence and Risk Factor Analysis in Four Communities of the Wiwa, an Indigenous Tribe in Colombia

The life of the indigenous Wiwa tribe in northeast Colombia is characterized by lacking access to clean drinking water and sanitary installations. Furthermore, free-roaming domestic animals and use of yucca and/or manioc as a primary food source favor the transmission of soil-transmitted helminths, e.g., Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati, the roundworms of dogs and cats. Infection may result in the clinical picture of toxocarosis, one of the most common zoonotic helminthoses worldwide. To estimate the Toxocara seroprevalence in four different villages of the Wiwa community, serum samples from 483 inhabitants were analyzed for anti-Toxocara-antibodies. Overall, 79.3% (383/483) of analyzed samples were seropositive. Statistically significant differences were observed between the four villages, as well as age groups (adults > adolescents > children), while sex had no effect. The high seropositivity rate demonstrates the risk of zoonotic roundworm infections and potential clinical disease in vulnerable indigenous inhabitants.

Download Full-text

Seroprevalence of Toxocara canis infection among asymptomatic children with eosinophilia in Croatia

Journal of Helminthology ◽

10.1017/s0022149x09381213 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 83 (4) ◽

pp. 369-371 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

M. Sviben ◽

T.V. Čavlek ◽

E.M. Missoni ◽

G.M. Galinović

Keyword(s):

Clinical Symptoms ◽

Age Groups ◽

Toxocara Canis ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Seroprevalence Rate ◽

Igg Antibodies ◽

High Seroprevalence ◽

Seropositivity Rate ◽

Western Blot Method ◽

Asymptomatic Children

AbstractA total of 142 serum specimens from Croatian children aged 3–18 years, with peripheral eosinophilia and without any clinical symptoms, were tested for the presence of Toxocara canis IgG antibodies using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot method. The overall T. canis seropositivity rate in the samples tested was 31%. There was no statistical difference in the seroprevalence rate between boys (32.1%) and girls (29.7%, χ2 = 0.092, P = 0.761). The T. canis seropositivity varied significantly between age groups both in boys (Fisher's test P < 0.001) and girls (Fisher's test P = 0.007). The highest seroprevalence rate was found in boys aged 11–14 (42.9%) and girls aged 7–10 (44.2%). Our results showed a high seroprevalence rate of T. canis infection among children with eosinophilia. It is important that testing for toxocariasis should be included in a differential diagnosis of eosinophilia, especially in children.

Download Full-text

Norovirus GII.4 antibodies in the Portuguese population

The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries ◽

10.3855/jidc.4616 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 8 (09) ◽

pp. 1201-1204 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

João Rodrigo Mesquita ◽

Maria São José Nascimento

Keyword(s):

Acute Gastroenteritis ◽

Age Groups ◽

Serum Samples ◽

Portuguese Population ◽

Seropositivity Rate ◽

Virus Like Particle ◽

Norovirus Gii ◽

Sporadic Acute Gastroenteritis ◽

Immune Assay

Introduction: Norovirus GII.4 is the leading cause of outbreaks of acute and sporadic acute gastroenteritis worldwide. Information on the prevalence of norovirus in Portugal is scarce or null. Methodology: We used a GII.4 norovirus virus-like particle-based enzyme immune assay to measure the seropositivity rate of GII.4 norovirus. Results: A total of 342 (70%) out of 473 serum samples tested positive for anti-GII.4 norovirus IgG. No statistically significant differences were found between regions, sex and age groups. Conclusion: Norovirus GII.4 infections are frequent in Portugal.

Download Full-text

TOXOCARIASIS: SEROLOGICAL DIAGNOSIS BY INDIRECT ANTIBODY COMPETITION ELISA

Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo ◽

10.1590/s0036-46651999000200006 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 41 (2) ◽

pp. 95-100 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Cáris Maroni NUNES ◽

Regina Nardini TUNDISI ◽

Marcos Bryan HEINEMANN ◽

Saemi OGASSAWARA ◽

Leonardo José RICHTZENHAIN

Keyword(s):

Sensitivity And Specificity ◽

Indirect Elisa ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Toxocara Canis ◽

Post Inoculation ◽

Toxocara Cati ◽

Serum Samples ◽

Competition Elisa ◽

Rabbit Igg ◽

Antibody Competition

Toxocariasis is caused by infection of man by Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati larvae, the common roundworm of dogs and cats. Because larvae are difficult to detect in tissues, diagnosis is mostly based on serology. Non specific reactions are observed mainly due to cross-reactivity with Ascaris sp antigens. This investigation aimed at developing and evaluating an indirect antibody competition ELISA (IACE) employing a specific rabbit IgG anti-Toxocara canis excretory-secretory antigens as the competition antibody, in order to improve indirect ELISA specificity performed for toxocariasis diagnosis. For that, the rabbit IgG was previously absorbed by Ascaris suum adult antigens. Sensitivity and specificity of IACE were first evaluated in 28 serum samples of mice experimentally infected with T. canis embryonated eggs. Adopting cut-off value established in this population before infection, sensitivity and specificity were 100% after 20 days post-inoculation. For human population IACE was evaluated using sera from 440 patients with clinical signs of toxocariasis and the cut-off value was established with 60 serum samples from apparently healthy individuals. Using as reference test the indirect ELISA performed by Adolfo Lutz Institute, sensitivity was 60.2%, specificity was 98% and concordance was 77.3%. Repeatability of IACE was evaluated by the inter-reactions variation coefficient (2.4%).

Download Full-text

Who let the cats out? A global meta-analysis on risk of parasitic infection in indoor versus outdoor domestic cats ( Felis catus )

Biology Letters ◽

10.1098/rsbl.2018.0840 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 15 (4) ◽

pp. 20180840 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Kayleigh Chalkowski ◽

Alan E. Wilson ◽

Christopher A. Lepczyk ◽

Sarah Zohdy

Keyword(s):

Risk Factor ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Parasitic Infection ◽

Significant Risk ◽

Significant Risk Factor ◽

Domestic Animals ◽

Domestic Animal ◽

Parasite Transmission ◽

Toxocara Cati ◽

Negative Impacts

Parasitic infection risks in domestic animals may increase as a result of outdoor activities, often leading to transmission events to and from owners, other domestic animals and wildlife. Furthermore, outdoor access has not been quantified in domestic animals as a risk factor with respect to latitude or parasite transmission pathway. Cats are an ideal model to test parasitic infection risk in outdoor animals because there have been many studies analysing this risk factor in this species; and there is a useful dichotomy in cat ownership between indoor-only cats and those with outdoor access. Thus, we used meta-analysis to determine whether outdoor access is a significant risk factor for parasitic infection in domestic pet cats across 19 different pathogens including many relevant to human, domestic animal and wildlife health, such as Toxoplasma gondii and Toxocara cati . Cats with outdoor access were 2.77 times more likely to be infected with parasites than indoor-only cats. Furthermore, absolute latitude trended towards significance such that each degree increase in absolute latitude increased infection likelihood by 4%. Thus, restricting outdoor access can reduce the risk of parasitic infection in cats and reduce the risk of zoonotic parasite transmission, spillover to sympatric wildlife and negative impacts on feline health.

Download Full-text

Detection of Specific Antibody Reactivity to Toxocara Larval Excretory-secretory Antigens in Asthmatic Patients (5-15 Years)

The Open Microbiology Journal ◽

10.2174/1874285801610010162 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 162-167 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Mahdi Mosayebi ◽

Latif Moini ◽

Reza Hajihossein ◽

Mojtaba Didehdar ◽

Zahra Eslamirad

Keyword(s):

Fruits And Vegetables ◽

Toxocara Canis ◽

Personal Hygiene ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Control Group ◽

Toxocara Cati ◽

Serum Samples ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Asthmatic Children ◽

Asthmatic Patients

Background & Purpose: Humans act as an intermediate host for Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati. Toxocara may be an important risk factor for asthma in humans. The aim of the present study was to evaluate immunoglobulin G (IgG) anti-Toxocara canis antibody, using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in asthmatic patients (aged 5-15 years), referring to a clinic of pulmonary diseases in Arak, Iran. Materials & Methods: In this bi-group cross sectional study, serum samples were collected from 110 children with confirmed asthma and 70 children without asthma within one year. IgG anti-Toxocara antibody was detected via ELISA method. The collected data were analyzed, using SPSS. Results: The seroprevalence of antibodies against Toxocara species was estimated at 1.8% (two males) in asmathic children via ELISA method; however, no antibodies against Toxocara canis were detected in the control group. There was no significant correlation between the frequency of antibodies against Toxocara and variables such as age, gender, or place of residence (P>0.05). Moreover, the frequency of antibodies against Toxocara was not significantly correlated with contact with dogs, consumption of unwashed fruits and vegetables, or use of raw/undercooked sheep liver (P>0.05). Conclusion: The present study showed anti-Toxocara antibody in 1.8% of asthmatic children and determined the seroprevalence of toxocariasis in asthmatic children and adolescents in Arak, Iran. Based on the findings, the low rate of infection with Toxocara among asthmatic children may be attributed to acceptable personal hygiene and religious considerations.

Download Full-text