Seroprevalence study of Toxocara canis in selected Egyptian patients.

This study was conducted in order to reveal the seroprevalence of T. canis infection in selected 150 Egyptian patients with presumptive clinical syndromes. They were children (128) with respiratory symptoms or pyrexia of unknown origin (PUO)and adults (22) with PUO. Anti-Toxocara antibodies (IgG) were detected in sera by ELISA. The results showed 6.2% positivity in children. The frequency increased in male gender, those in rural residence and in 6-12 years group versus 1-6 years, and 4% & 13.3% positivity in those with respiratory symptoms and PUO respectively. Adults positivity was 18%. So, male gender and residence in rural regions could be considered as risk factors for transmission of toxocariasis in children.