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A serological and epidemiological evaluation of risk factors for toxocariasis in children in central Poland

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 June 2008

Hanna Żarnowska ,
Anna Borecka ,
Jakub Gawor ,
Magdalena Marczyńska ,
Sabina Dobosz  and
Wojciech Basiak
Hanna Żarnowska
Affiliation:
Department of Zoonoses and Tropical Diseases, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland
Anna Borecka*
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Parasitoses of Domestic Animals, W. Stefanski Institute of Parasitology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
Jakub Gawor
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Parasitoses of Domestic Animals, W. Stefanski Institute of Parasitology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
Magdalena Marczyńska
Affiliation:
Department of Children's Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland
Sabina Dobosz
Affiliation:
Department of Children's Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland
Wojciech Basiak
Affiliation:
Department of Zoonoses and Tropical Diseases, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland
*
* E-mail: ab@twarda.pan.pl
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Abstract

The level of specific anti-Toxocara IgG was examined in 343 children from central Poland with suspected Toxocara infection. Based on the presence of specific IgG antibodies and clinical signs and symptoms, toxocariasis was confirmed in 249 patients. The serological results of diagnosed cases were analysed in connection with epidemiological data (contamination of soil around the children's homes and presence of a dog or a cat). A higher prevalence of soil contamination with Toxocara eggs was found in suburban and rural areas (30.9% and 24.6%, respectively) whereas it was lower in urban areas (10.3%). In about 40% of the children whose households were not contaminated, a decrease in the antibody level was observed 2 years after treatment for toxocariasis, while there was no such decline in those living in contaminated places. The logistic regression model employed to determine the correlation between seropositivity in the children and selected epidemiological risk factors showed a statistically significant relationship in connection only with dog ownership (P = 0.0238). The present results have demonstrated the high risk of toxocariasis for children from rural and suburban areas in Poland. The sero-epidemiological investigations indicated that re-infection might be the reason for persistence of seropositivity after treatment.

Type
Research Papers
Information
Journal of Helminthology , Volume 82 , Issue 2 , June 2008 , pp. 123 - 127
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

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