Seroprevalence of IgG anti-Toxocara species antibodies in a population of patients with suspected allergy.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Toxocara canis is an intestinal nematode affecting dogs and cats, which causes human infection when embryonated eggs excreted in dog feces are ingested. Humans are paratenic hosts. Although the larvae do not develop into adult worms in the human body, they may migrate to various tissues and organs where they can survive for several years, giving rise to several clinical symptoms, which can present in allergy-like form.

Methods

Over 5 years, we examined 9985 patients referred for suspected allergies, based on symptoms such as dermatitis, urticaria, rhinitis, asthma, and conjunctivitis; 753 patients who had allergy tests negative or unrelated to clinical history were tested for seropositivity to T. canis by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or Western blotti

SUBMITTER: Qualizza R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3233372 | biostudies-literature | 2011

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature