Seroprevalence and risk factors for Toxocara infection in children from an urban large setting in Northeast Brazil

Lívia R. Mendonça; Camila A. Figueiredo; Renata Esquivel; Rosemeire L. Fiaccone; Lain Pontes-de-Carvalho; Philip Cooper; Maurício L. Barreto; Neuza M. Alcantara-Neves

doi:10.1016/j.actatropica.2013.06.018

Seroprevalence and risk factors for Toxocara infection in children from an urban large setting in Northeast Brazil

Lívia R. Mendonça, Camila A. Figueiredo, Renata Esquivel, Rosemeire L. Fiaccone, Lain Pontes-de-Carvalho, Philip Cooper, Maurício L. Barreto, Neuza M. Alcantara-Neves

Tropical Disease Biology

Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

44 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objectives

This study aimed to standardize an “in house” immunoassay to detect anti-Toxocara IgG antibodies in human serum to estimate the seroprevalence of Toxocara infection, and to identify its potential risk factors in children living in poor areas of Salvador, a large northeastern Brazilian city.

Methods

Parents of 1309 children answered a questionnaire containing possible risk factor for acquisition of this infection. Blood was collected and the presence of anti-Toxocara IgG antibodies was detected by indirect ELISA using T. canis larval excretory–secretory antigens in sera previously absorbed with Ascaris lumbricoides antigens.

Results

Seroprevalence of Toxocara infection was 48.4%. Children's age, low maternal schooling, contact with dogs and cats, and household located in paved streets were shown to be risk factors for Toxocara infection.

Conclusions

The seroprevalence of Toxocara infection is high among children living in a poor urban setting of Brazil. The association of low maternal education with higher Toxocara infection supports studies showing that low socioeconomic status is a risk factor for the acquisition of this infection as a reflection of hygiene habits of the family. And both infected-dogs and cats may be involved in this parasite transmission in this children population.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	90-95
Number of pages	6
Journal	Acta Tropica
Volume	128
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actatropica.2013.06.018
Publication status	Published - 1 Oct 2013

Keywords

Children
Risk factors
Seroprevalence
Toxocara infection

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10.1016/j.actatropica.2013.06.018

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title = "Seroprevalence and risk factors for Toxocara infection in children from an urban large setting in Northeast Brazil",

abstract = "ObjectivesThis study aimed to standardize an “in house” immunoassay to detect anti-Toxocara IgG antibodies in human serum to estimate the seroprevalence of Toxocara infection, and to identify its potential risk factors in children living in poor areas of Salvador, a large northeastern Brazilian city.MethodsParents of 1309 children answered a questionnaire containing possible risk factor for acquisition of this infection. Blood was collected and the presence of anti-Toxocara IgG antibodies was detected by indirect ELISA using T. canis larval excretory–secretory antigens in sera previously absorbed with Ascaris lumbricoides antigens.ResultsSeroprevalence of Toxocara infection was 48.4\%. Children's age, low maternal schooling, contact with dogs and cats, and household located in paved streets were shown to be risk factors for Toxocara infection.ConclusionsThe seroprevalence of Toxocara infection is high among children living in a poor urban setting of Brazil. The association of low maternal education with higher Toxocara infection supports studies showing that low socioeconomic status is a risk factor for the acquisition of this infection as a reflection of hygiene habits of the family. And both infected-dogs and cats may be involved in this parasite transmission in this children population.",

keywords = "Children, Risk factors, Seroprevalence, Toxocara infection",

author = "Mendon{\c c}a, \{L{\'i}via R.\} and Figueiredo, \{Camila A.\} and Renata Esquivel and Fiaccone, \{Rosemeire L.\} and Lain Pontes-de-Carvalho and Philip Cooper and Barreto, \{Maur{\'i}cio L.\} and Alcantara-Neves, \{Neuza M.\}",

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doi = "10.1016/j.actatropica.2013.06.018",

language = "English",

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T1 - Seroprevalence and risk factors for Toxocara infection in children from an urban large setting in Northeast Brazil

AU - Mendonça, Lívia R.

AU - Figueiredo, Camila A.

AU - Esquivel, Renata

AU - Fiaccone, Rosemeire L.

AU - Pontes-de-Carvalho, Lain

AU - Cooper, Philip

AU - Barreto, Maurício L.

AU - Alcantara-Neves, Neuza M.

PY - 2013/10/1

Y1 - 2013/10/1

N2 - ObjectivesThis study aimed to standardize an “in house” immunoassay to detect anti-Toxocara IgG antibodies in human serum to estimate the seroprevalence of Toxocara infection, and to identify its potential risk factors in children living in poor areas of Salvador, a large northeastern Brazilian city.MethodsParents of 1309 children answered a questionnaire containing possible risk factor for acquisition of this infection. Blood was collected and the presence of anti-Toxocara IgG antibodies was detected by indirect ELISA using T. canis larval excretory–secretory antigens in sera previously absorbed with Ascaris lumbricoides antigens.ResultsSeroprevalence of Toxocara infection was 48.4%. Children's age, low maternal schooling, contact with dogs and cats, and household located in paved streets were shown to be risk factors for Toxocara infection.ConclusionsThe seroprevalence of Toxocara infection is high among children living in a poor urban setting of Brazil. The association of low maternal education with higher Toxocara infection supports studies showing that low socioeconomic status is a risk factor for the acquisition of this infection as a reflection of hygiene habits of the family. And both infected-dogs and cats may be involved in this parasite transmission in this children population.

AB - ObjectivesThis study aimed to standardize an “in house” immunoassay to detect anti-Toxocara IgG antibodies in human serum to estimate the seroprevalence of Toxocara infection, and to identify its potential risk factors in children living in poor areas of Salvador, a large northeastern Brazilian city.MethodsParents of 1309 children answered a questionnaire containing possible risk factor for acquisition of this infection. Blood was collected and the presence of anti-Toxocara IgG antibodies was detected by indirect ELISA using T. canis larval excretory–secretory antigens in sera previously absorbed with Ascaris lumbricoides antigens.ResultsSeroprevalence of Toxocara infection was 48.4%. Children's age, low maternal schooling, contact with dogs and cats, and household located in paved streets were shown to be risk factors for Toxocara infection.ConclusionsThe seroprevalence of Toxocara infection is high among children living in a poor urban setting of Brazil. The association of low maternal education with higher Toxocara infection supports studies showing that low socioeconomic status is a risk factor for the acquisition of this infection as a reflection of hygiene habits of the family. And both infected-dogs and cats may be involved in this parasite transmission in this children population.

KW - Children

KW - Risk factors

KW - Seroprevalence

KW - Toxocara infection

U2 - 10.1016/j.actatropica.2013.06.018

DO - 10.1016/j.actatropica.2013.06.018

M3 - Article

SN - 0001-706X

VL - 128

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JO - Acta Tropica

JF - Acta Tropica

IS - 1

ER -

Seroprevalence and risk factors for Toxocara infection in children from an urban large setting in Northeast Brazil

Abstract

Keywords

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