Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-lj6df Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-08T00:37:48.496Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Seroprevalence of toxocariasis in Lebanon: a pilot study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 January 2006

Z. A. KANAFANI
Affiliation:
American University of Beirut Medical Center, Hamra, Cairo Street PO Box 113-6044, Beirut 110 32090, Lebanon
A. SKOURY
Affiliation:
American University of Beirut Medical Center, Hamra, Cairo Street PO Box 113-6044, Beirut 110 32090, Lebanon
G. F. ARAJ
Affiliation:
American University of Beirut Medical Center, Hamra, Cairo Street PO Box 113-6044, Beirut 110 32090, Lebanon
M. EL-KHOURY
Affiliation:
American University of Beirut Medical Center, Hamra, Cairo Street PO Box 113-6044, Beirut 110 32090, Lebanon
R. A. SAWAYA
Affiliation:
American University of Beirut Medical Center, Hamra, Cairo Street PO Box 113-6044, Beirut 110 32090, Lebanon
S. F. ATWEH
Affiliation:
American University of Beirut Medical Center, Hamra, Cairo Street PO Box 113-6044, Beirut 110 32090, Lebanon
S. S. KANJ
Affiliation:
American University of Beirut Medical Center, Hamra, Cairo Street PO Box 113-6044, Beirut 110 32090, Lebanon

Abstract

Toxocariasis is a common helminthic infection that has a worldwide distribution. However, data from Lebanon about the prevalence of this infection are non-existent. We conducted a Toxocara seroprevalence study with 150 subjects attending the outpatient clinics at the American University of Beirut Medical Center between May and June 2004. Serum specimens were tested for anti-Toxocara antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and confirmed by Western blot. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify risk factors for infection. The seroprevalence rate of toxocariasis was 19%. Male gender and below high school education were significantly associated with a positive serological test (odds ratios=3·1 and 2·8, respectively). Higher numbers of persons in the household, and low family income during childhood, were significant on bivariate analysis only. Toxocariasis is common in Lebanon. A large population-based survey is needed to confirm these results.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
2006 Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Abo-Shehada, M. N., Sharif, L., El-Sukhon, S. N., Abuharfeil, N. and Atmeh, R. F. ( 1992). Seroprevalence of Toxocara canis antibodies in humans in northern Jordan. Journal of Helminthology 66, 7578.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Beaver, P. C., Snyder, C. H., Carrera, G. M., Dent, J. H. and Lafferty, J. W. ( 1952). Chronic eosinophilia due to visceral larva migrans; report of three cases. Pediatrics 9, 719.Google Scholar
Buijs, J., Borsboom, G., Van Gemund, J. J., Hazebroek, A., Van Dongen, P. A., Van Knapen, F. and Neijens, H. J. ( 1994). Toxocara seroprevalence in 5-year-old elementary schoolchildren: relation with allergic asthma. American Journal of Epidemiology 140, 839847.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Courtade, H., Recco, P., Magnaval, J. F., Charlet, J. P. and Seguela, J. P. ( 1995). Comparative study between two ELISA methods for Toxocara canis and the western-blot. Bulletin de la Société Francaise de Parasitologie 13, 3753.Google Scholar
De Savigny, D. H., Voller, A. and Woodruff, A. W. ( 1979). Toxocariasis: serological diagnosis by enzyme immunoassay. Journal of Clinical Pathology 32, 284288.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Despommier, D. ( 2003). Toxocariasis: clinical aspects, epidemiology, medical ecology, and molecular aspects. Clinical Microbiology Reviews 16, 265272.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Glickman, L., Schantz, P., Dombroske, R. and Cypess, R. ( 1978). Evaluation of serodiagnostic tests for visceral larva migrans. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 27, 492498.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Glickman, L. T., Schantz, P. M. and Cypess, R. H. ( 1979). Epidemiological characteristics and clinical findings in patients with serologically proven toxocariasis. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 73, 254258.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hermanowska-Szpakowicz, T., Kondrusik, M., Swierzbinska, R., Zajkowska, J. and Pancewicz, S. ( 2001). Incidence of antibody detection against Toxocara canis and clinical symptoms in inhabitants of North-Eastern Poland. Polski Merkuriusz Lekarski 10, 168170.Google Scholar
Herrmann, N., Glickman, L. T., Schantz, P. M., Weston, M. G. and Domanski, L. M. ( 1985). Seroprevalence of zoonotic toxocariasis in the United States: 1971–1973. American Journal of Epidemiology 122, 890896.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Holland, C. V., O'Lorcain, P., Taylor, M. R. and Kelly, A. ( 1995). Sero-epidemiology of toxocariasis in school children. Parasitology 110, 535545.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Huminer, D., Symon, K., Groskopf, I., Pietrushka, D., Kremer, I., Schantz, P. M. and Pitlik, S. D. ( 1992). Seroepidemiologic study of toxocariasis and strongyloidiasis in institutionalized mentally retarded adults. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 46, 278281.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jacquier, P., Gottstein, B., Stingelin, Y. and Eckert, J. ( 1991). Immunodiagnosis of toxocarosis in humans: evaluation of a new enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 29, 18311835.Google Scholar
Jimenez, J. F., Valladares, B., Fernandez-Palacios, J. M., De Armas, F. and Del Castillo, A. ( 1997). A serologic study of human toxocariasis in the Canary Islands (Spain): environmental influences. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 56, 113115.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kennedy, M. W., Maizels, R. M., Meghji, M., Young, L., Qureshi, F. and Smith, H. V. ( 1987). Species-specific and common epitopes on the secreted and surface antigens of Toxocara cati and Toxocara canis infective larvae. Parasite Immunology 9, 407420.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Magnaval, J. F., Fabre, R., Maurieres, P., Charlet, J. P. and De Larrard, B. ( 1991). Application of the Western blotting procedure for the immunodiagnosis of human toxocariasis. Parasitology Research 77, 697702.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Magnaval, J. F., Glickman, L. T., Dorchies, P. and Morassin, B. ( 2001). Highlights of human toxocariasis. Korean Journal of Parasitology 39, 111.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Marmor, M., Glickman, L., Shofer, F., Faich, L. A., Rosenberg, C., Cornblatt, B. and Friedman, S. ( 1987). Toxocara canis infection of children: epidemiologic and neuropsychologic findings. American Journal of Public Health 77, 554559.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Montalvo, A. M., Espino, A. M., Escalante, G. and Finlay, C. M. ( 1994). Study of the seroprevalence of toxocariasis in an infantile population in the City of Havana. Revista Cubana de Medicina Tropical 46, 156158.Google Scholar
Nichols, R. L. ( 1956). The etiology of visceral larva migrans. I. Diagnostic morphology of infective second-stage Toxocara larvae. Journal of Parasitology 42, 349362.Google Scholar
Page, A. P., Rudin, W., Fluri, E., Blaxter, M. L. and Maizels, R. M. ( 1992). Toxocara canis: a labile antigenic surface coat overlying the epicuticle of infective larvae. Experimental Parasitology 75, 7286.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Park, H. Y., Lee, S. U., Huh, S., Kong, Y. and Magnaval, J. F. ( 2002). A seroepidemiological survey for toxocariasis in apparently healthy residents in Gangwon-do, Korea. Korean Journal of Parasitology 40, 113117.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pawlowski, Z. ( 2001). Toxocariasis in humans: clinical expression and treatment dilemma. Journal of Helminthology 75, 299305.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rai, S. K., Uga, S., Ono, K., Nakanishi, M., Shrestha, H. G. and Matsumura, T. ( 1996). Seroepidemiological study of Toxocara infection in Nepal. Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health 27, 286290.Google Scholar
Romasanta, A., Romero, J. L., Arias, M., Sanchez-Andrade, R., Lopez, C., Suarez, J. L., Diaz, P., Diez-Banos, P., Morrondo, P. and Paz-Silva, A. ( 2003). Diagnosis of parasitic zoonoses by immunoenzymatic assays – analysis of cross-reactivity among the excretory/secretory antigens of Fasciola hepatica, Toxocara canis, and Ascaris suum. Immunological Investigations 32, 131142.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sadjjadi, S. M., Khosravi, M., Mehrabani, D. and Orya, A. ( 2000). Seroprevalence of Toxocara infection in school children in Shiraz, southern Iran. Journal of Tropical Pediatrics 46, 327330.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Safar, E. H., Abd-El Ghaffar, F. M., Saffar, S. A., Makled, K. M., Habib, K. S., El Abiad, R. and El Shabrawy, E. ( 1995). Incidence of Toxoplasma and Toxocara antibodies among out-patients in the Ophthalmic Research Institute, Egypt. Journal of the Egyptian Society of Parasitology 25, 839852.Google Scholar
Speiser, F. and Gottstein, B. ( 1984). A collaborative study on larval excretory/secretory antigens of Toxocara canis for the immunodiagnosis of human toxocariasis with ELISA. Acta Tropica 41, 361372.Google Scholar
Wilder, H. C. ( 1950). Nematode endophthalmitis. Transactions-American Academy of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology 51, 99109.Google Scholar
Worley, G., Green, J. A., Frothingham, T. E., Sturner, R. A., Walls, K. W., Pakalnis, V. A. and Ellis, G. S., Jr ( 1984). Toxocara canis infection: clinical and epidemiological associations with seropositivity in kindergarten children. Journal of Infectious Diseases 149, 591597.CrossRefGoogle Scholar