Seroprevalence of human toxocariasis in Andean communities from the Northeast of Lima, Peru Soroprevalência da toxocaríase humana em três comunidades andinas do Nordeste de Lima, Peru

• Published in: Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo
• Main Authors: Yrma A. Espinoza, Pedro E. Huapaya, William H. Roldán, Susana Jiménez, Enma P. Abanto, Carlos A. Rojas, Yuri A. Cavero, César A. Gutiérrez
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Universidade de São Paulo (USP) 2010
• Subjects: Seroprevalence; Toxocariasis; Andean communities; Risk factors; Peru; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Infectious and parasitic diseases; RC109-216; Arctic; Nordeste
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/S0036-46652010000100005; https://doaj.org/article/05cecc7d96a64afc973cabe21935f12a

The aim of this study was to assess the seroprevalence of human toxocariasis in three Andean communities from the Northeast of Lima, Peru. A total of 303 subjects including children and adults were studied and blood samples were collected to detect anti-Toxocara antibodies by ELISA-IgG test and by hematological examination; stool samples were collected also for parasitological examination. The overall seroprevalence of toxocariasis observed in the total population was 20.46%, with a significant high proportion in children from one to 10 years old (p = 0.034). Among the subjects with positive serology, 32.26% of them had respiratory disturbances, 22.58% hepatomegaly, 17.74% ocular signs or symptoms, 14.51% abdominal pain, 9.68% neurological involvement, and 4.84% cutaneous signs, but none of these clinical features were associated to a positive serology by multivariate analysis. Furthermore, 79.03% of seropositive subjects also harbored at least one intestinal parasite, which was associated to a positive serology (p < 0.05). The presence of pets within the houses, a previous history of pica or geophagia and the use of public places were also present in this population, but only the latter was associated to the serology (p < 0.05). In conclusion, clinical, serological, and epidemiological evidences for larval Toxocara infection were found in the studied population. O propósito do presente trabalho foi estimar a soroprevalência da toxocaríase humana em três comunidades andinas do Nordeste de Lima, Peru. Foi estudado um total de 303 pessoas, entre crianças e adultos. Foram coletadas amostras de sangue para a detecção de anticorpos anti-Toxocara e para a análise hematológica, além de amostras fecais para o exame parasitológico. A soroprevalência geral da população foi de 20,46% com proporção significativamente maior de positividade em crianças de um a 10 anos (p = 0,034). Das pessoas com sorologia positiva, 32,26% apresentavam sintomas respiratórios, 22,58% moléstias hepáticas, 17,74% manifestações oculares, ...