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HERO ID
5953578
Reference Type
Journal Article
Title
Prevalence of toxocariasis and its related risk factors in humans, dogs and cats in northeastern Iran: a population-based study
Author(s)
Rezaiemanesh, MR; Afzalaghaee, M; Hamidi, S; Eshaghzadeh, A; Paydar, M; Hejazi, SH
Year
2019
Is Peer Reviewed?
1
Journal
Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
ISSN:
0035-9203
Volume
113
Issue
7
Page Numbers
399-409
Language
English
PMID
30892638
DOI
10.1093/trstmh/trz011
Web of Science Id
WOS:000482524300005
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Toxocariasis is one of the most common zoonotic infections in dogs and cats. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of anti-Toxocara antibodies and identify the epidemiological and clinical features and related risk factors of toxocariasis in the general population along with the prevalence of this infection in dogs and cats in northeast Iran.
METHODS:
In this cross-sectional study, anti-Toxocara antibodies from 1150 urban and rural participants were examined using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In addition, the stool specimens of 538 dogs and 236 cats were tested using the formalin-ether concentration technique. Sociodemographic data and related risk factors were collected using a structured questionnaire and the data on clinical manifestations were obtained from personal health records.
RESULTS:
Anti-Toxocara antibodies were detected in 7.2% (83/1150) of the study population. Risk factors for seropositivity based on multivariable analysis were younger age (p=0.019), living in rural areas (p=0.048), occupations with high exposure risk to toxocariasis (p=0.001), contact with dogs or cats (p=0.003), contact with soil (p=0.001), history of geophagy (p=0.001) and the consumption of raw or undercooked liver (p=0.001). The prevalence of symptoms such as asthma, shortness of breath, blurred vision, abdominal pain and epilepsy were significantly higher in seropositive individuals compared with seronegative ones. Toxocara eggs were found in 15.1% (81/538) of dogs and 34.7% (82/236) of cats. A significant relationship was found between infection in dogs and cats and age, type, place of residence and anthelmintic consumption.
CONCLUSIONS:
Identification of anti-Toxocara antibodies in the general population and the presence of confirmed infections in dogs and cats indicates exposure to Toxocara infection as a public health problem in northeast Iran.
Tags
IRIS
•
Formaldehyde [archived]
HAWC
Asthma
Excluded
LHP cancer mechanistic
Excluded
Search Update 2018-2021
Immune Section
PubMed
LHP MOA
PubMed
•
IRIS Formaldehyde (Inhalation) [Final 2024]
Literature Indexing
PubMed
2021 Systematic Evidence Map
Literature Identification
Immune-Mediated Conditions in Humans, Including Asthma and Allergy
Excluded
Mechanistic Studies of Lymphohematopoietic Cancer, Genotoxicity
Excluded
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