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

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 May 2009

M. Sviben ,
T.V. Čavlek ,
E.M. Missoni  and
G.M. Galinović
M. Sviben*
Affiliation:
Croatian National Institute of Public Health, Microbiology Service, Rockefellerova 7, 10000Zagreb, Croatia
T.V. Čavlek
Affiliation:
Croatian National Institute of Public Health, Microbiology Service, Rockefellerova 7, 10000Zagreb, Croatia
E.M. Missoni
Affiliation:
Croatian National Institute of Public Health, Microbiology Service, Rockefellerova 7, 10000Zagreb, Croatia
G.M. Galinović
Affiliation:
Croatian National Institute of Public Health, Microbiology Service, Rockefellerova 7, 10000Zagreb, Croatia
*
*Fax +385 1 4683 017 E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

A 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.

Type
Research Papers
Information
Journal of Helminthology , Volume 83 , Issue 4 , December 2009 , pp. 369 - 371
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009

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