Toxocarosis as zoonosis. A review of literature and the prevalence of Toxocara canis antibodies in 511 serum samples

I Theodoridis; S Frydas; M Papazahariadou; M Hatzistilianou; K K Adamama - Moraitou; M Di Gioacchino; M Felaco

doi:10.1177/039463200101400104

Toxocarosis as zoonosis. A review of literature and the prevalence of Toxocara canis antibodies in 511 serum samples

Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol. 2001 Jan-Apr;14(1):17-23. doi: 10.1177/039463200101400104.

Authors

I Theodoridis¹, S Frydas, M Papazahariadou, M Hatzistilianou, K K Adamama - Moraitou, M Di Gioacchino, M Felaco

Affiliation

¹ Dept. Parasitology, Veterinary Faculty, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece.

PMID: 12622885
DOI: 10.1177/039463200101400104

Abstract

A total of 511 serum samples from children aged between 6 months to 15 years old, with different clinical signs-living in the region of Northern Greece - were tested by ELISA (enzyme links immunosorbent assay) technique, for the detection of specific IgG and IgM antibodies against T. canis antigen. The reason IgM was detected was because IgM levels are elevated in the acute phase of toxocara infection, in spite of their notorious non-specificity. In this seroepidemiologic survey of children, a remarkably high percentage (12.5%) reacted positively to this method. Sixteen (3.1%) out of 511 sera showed IgG antibodies, 43 (8.4%) showed IgM, while 5 (1%) showed both IgG and IgM antibodies against T. canis E/S (excretory - secretory) antigen. Females were significantly more infected than males. Seropositivity rate was highest in children over the age of 10.