[Toxocariasis in Poznan region, Poland, in years 1990-2000]

Abstract

The results of multidisciplinary studies on toxocariasis in Poznan region, Poland carried out in 1990-2000 in co-operation with CDC, Atlanta GA, USA are summarised as follows. In Poznan region toxocariasis in dogs, cats and foxes is common. Environmental contamination with Toxocara spp. eggs was higher in courtyards between apartment houses in the centres of cities than in sandboxes and in rural or recreational areas. High percentage of the T. cati eggs found raises the yet unanswered question how frequent is T. cati toxocariasis in humans? Seroepidemiological studies demonstrated a rather high percentage of positive results in urban population as well as in adults. The majority of toxocariasis cases in humans is asymptomatic even in the foci with a high soil contamination. Optic density OD405 = 1.200 in a commercial ELISA test was accepted as a border line between the toxocariasis cases usually asymptomatic and the cases, which might have symptoms. In toxocariasis a high correlation was found between the value of OD, eosinophilia and the clinical expression. A new classification of clinical toxocariasis was proposed, including incomplete larva migrans syndrome and neurotoxocariasis and an up-dated definition of covert toxocariasis. It was found that 5 days treatment with albendazole is equally effective as 3-weeks treatment with diethylcarbamazine. Considering the risk of ocular toxocariasis in non-intensive invasions one course of treatment with albendazole is suggested in every case of infection, even asymptomatic.