Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2014 Apr;90(4):670-81.
doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.13-0506. Epub 2014 Feb 10.

Epidemiology and control of child toxocariasis in the western Brazilian Amazon - a population-based study

Humberto Oliart-Guzmán  1 , Breno M Delfino, Antonio C Martins, Saulo A S Mantovani, Athos M Braña, Thasciany M Pereira, Fernando L C C Branco, Alanderson A Ramalho, Rhanderson G Campos, Pablo S Fontoura, Thiago S de Araujo, Cristieli S M de Oliveira, Pascoal T Muniz, Guita Rubinsky-Elefant, Cláudia T Codeço, Mônica da Silva-Nunes
Affiliations

Epidemiology and control of child toxocariasis in the western Brazilian Amazon - a population-based study

Humberto Oliart-Guzmán et al. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2014 Apr.

Abstract

Toxocara spp. infection and the seroconversion rate in the Amazon have been poorly investigated. This study analyzed individual and household-level risk factors for the presence of IgG antibodies to Toxocara spp. in urban Amazonian children over a period of 7 years and evaluated the seroconversion rates over a 1-year follow-up. In children < 59 months of age, the overall prevalence rate was 28.08% in 2003 and 23.35% in 2010. The 2010-2011 seroconversion rates were 13.90% for children 6-59 months of age and 12.30% for children 84-143 months of age. Multilevel logistic regression analysis identified child age, previous wheezing, and current infection with hookworm as significant associated factors for Toxocara spp. seropositivity in 2003. In 2010, age, previous helminthiasis, and having a dog were associated with seropositivity, whereas having piped water inside the household was a protective factor. Control programs mainly need to target at-risk children, water quality control, and animal deworming strategies.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Map showing the location of Brazil, the Amazon, Acre state, and the municipality of Assis Brasil. The map inside the box shows the Interoceanic Highway connecting Brazil to the Pacific Ocean.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Prevalence of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to excreted–secreted larval antigens of Toxocara canis according to age in Assis Brasil, 2003.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Prevalence of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to excreted–secreted larval antigens of Toxocara canis according to age in Assis Brasil, 2010.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Santarem VA, Rubinsky-Elefant G, Ferreira MU. Soil-transmitted helminthic zoonoses in humans and associated risk factors. In: Pascucci S, editor. Soil Contamination. Rijeka, Croatia: InTech; (2011). pp. 43–66.
    1. Choi D, Lim JH, Choi DC, Lee KS, Paik SW, Kim SH, Choi YH, Huh S. Transmission of Toxocara canis via ingestion of raw cow liver: a cross-sectional study in healthy adults. Korean J Parasitol. 2012;50:23–27. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Taylor MR, Keane CT, O'Connor P, Mulvihill E, Holland C. The expanded spectrum of toxocaral disease. Lancet. 1988;1:692–695. - PubMed
    1. Chieffi PP, Ueda M, Camargo ED, de Souza AM, Guedes ML, Gerbi ML, Spir M, Moreira AS. Visceral larva migrans: a seroepidemiological survey in five municipalities of São Paulo state, Brazil. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo. 1990;32:204–210. - PubMed
    1. Overgaauw PA. Aspects of Toxocara epidemiology: human toxocarosis. Crit Rev Microbiol. 1997;23:215–231. - PubMed

Publication types