Toxocara egg soil contamination and its seroprevalence among public school children in Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines.

The soil-transmitted nematode Toxocara sp has little epidemiological information in the Philippines. In this study, we studied the extent of soil contamination with Toxocara eggs and the seroprevalence of Toxocara infection among public school children in Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. Soil samples were obtained from public schools, backyards, and empty lots in Los Baños to examine for the presence of Toxocara eggs using the modified sucrose flotation technique. Serum samples were obtained from public school children in Los Baños and examined for Toxocara infection using an ELISA test. Of the 200 soil samples, 85 (43%) were positive for Toxocara eggs at a concentration of 1 egg/g of soil. Forty-two percent of soil samples obtained from the public school, 45% of backyard samples, and 40% of empty lot samples were positive. Of the 75 serum samples from children, 37 (49%) were positive for Toxocara infection. There was a positive correlation between Toxocara egg concentration and seroprevalence of Toxocara infection. Results showed a high prevalence of soil contamination and a high seroprevalence of Toxocara infection among children in Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines.