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. 2018 Jan 6;66(2):206-212.
doi: 10.1093/cid/cix784.

Seroprevalence of Antibodies to Toxocara Species in the United States and Associated Risk Factors, 2011-2014

Eugene W Liu  1 , Holly M Chastain  1 , Sun Hee Shin  1 , Ryan E Wiegand  1 , Deanna Kruszon-Moran  2 , Sukwan Handali  1 , Jeffrey L Jones  1
Affiliations

Seroprevalence of Antibodies to Toxocara Species in the United States and Associated Risk Factors, 2011-2014

Eugene W Liu et al. Clin Infect Dis. .

Abstract

Background: Toxocariasis results from infection with larval stages of a dog and cat intestinal nematode and causes human morbidity. The current United States estimate of Toxocara exposure is 13.9% (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey [NHANES] III [1988-1994]).

Methods: We used a multiplex bead-based assay (Tc-CTL-1MBA) with purified Toxocara canis antigen to estimate Toxocara antibody seroprevalence in serum of 13 509 persons aged ≥6 years from NHANES 2011-2014 and identified seropositivity risk factors. We tested a subset of 500 samples with the T. canis enzyme immunoassay used in NHANES III to estimate prior seroprevalence had samples from NHANES III been tested by Tc-CTL-1MBA.

Results: The age-standardized estimate of Toxocara seroprevalence was 5.0% (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.2%-5.8%), lower than previously reported even after adjusting for increased Tc-CTL-1MBA specificity. Risk factors for seropositivity from multiple logistic regression were older age, non-Hispanic black/Hispanic origin, male sex, living below poverty level, households with ≥0.5 persons per room, less than college education, and birth outside of the United States.

Conclusions: Toxocara seroprevalence estimates in 2011-2014 were lower than in a study from NHANES III (1988-1994), but seropositivity risk factors remained the same and should continue to be the focus of prevention efforts.

Keywords: Toxocara canis; Toxocara cati; United States; antibodies; seroprevalence.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest:

None of the authors declare a conflict of interest.

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