Seroprevalence of Toxocara canis in the city of Catania, Italy.

Toxocariasis is one of the most common helminthiases worldwide. However, there is a lack of data regarding Southern Italy. We have evaluated the seroprevalence and associated environmental factors of toxocariasis in a sample of adults living in the city of Catania.Presence of anti-Toxocara canis IgG antibodies was searched using an ELISA test using excretory/secretory antigens. Environmental risk factors have beene valuated with a face-to-face questionnaire.Two hundred eighty-seven subjects (mean age of 48.1 ±15.6 years) were enrolled, and presence of antiT. canis antibodies was found in 23 participants, of whom 18 (78.3%) were women with a mean age of 51.1 ±14.0 years, giving a seroprevalence of 8.0% (95%CI 5.4-11.7). At multivariate analysis a positive association for subjects with more than 3 siblings (adjOR 3.17; 95%CI 1.09-9.25) was recorded.Our study confirms that exposition toT. canis is common also in urban areas of western countries.
Source: Mediterranean Journal of Hematology and Infectious Diseases - Category: Hematology Source Type: research