Guita Rubinsky-Elefant1, Joyce H Yamamoto2, Carlos E Hirata2, Luiz E Prestes-Carneiro3. 1. Laboratory of Seroepidemiology and Immunobiology, Institute of Tropical Medicine of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. 2. Department of Ophthalmology, Clinics Hospital of the Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. 3. Infectious Diseases and Immunology Department, University of Oeste Paulista, José Bongiovani 700, Presidente Prudente, São Paulo, 19050-680, Brazil. luiz@unoeste.br.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To analyze the contribution of IgG anti-Toxocara antibodies in the diagnosis of ocular toxocariasis (OT) in serum samples of patients attending a public referral center for ophthalmology in Brazil and to determine the most frequent ocular signs and symptoms. STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective descriptive study of a cohort of outpatients followed from December 1989 to May 2006. METHODS: IgG anti-Toxocara antibody titers were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results were correlated with the clinical and funduscopic findings. RESULTS: Of the diagnoses for the 126 patients, 42 were considered as probable OT, 48 as negative, and 36 as inconclusive. The median IgG anti-Toxocara antibody titers of the patients with probable OT were significantly higher than those of the patients in the negative or inconclusive groups (P = 0.0001). Higher titers were observed more frequently in patients in the probable OT group (P = 0.01) than in the negative group, in which titers were absent or lower in most patients (P < 0.0001). The right eye was affected more in the OT group than in the negative group (P = 0.01), and inflammation was located mostly in the intermediate and posterior poles. The mean age of the patients diagnosed with probable OT was significantly lower (mean, 8 years) than that of the negative patients (mean, 14.5 years) (P = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Higher levels of antibodies could help with the diagnosis of OT in patients with symptoms and clinical signs; however, negative results cannot exclude possible OT. Conversely, patients with negative serology or low titers make the diagnosis of OT less likely.
PURPOSE: To analyze the contribution of IgG anti-Toxocara antibodies in the diagnosis of ocular toxocariasis (OT) in serum samples of patients attending a public referral center for ophthalmology in Brazil and to determine the most frequent ocular signs and symptoms. STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective descriptive study of a cohort of outpatients followed from December 1989 to May 2006. METHODS: IgG anti-Toxocara antibody titers were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results were correlated with the clinical and funduscopic findings. RESULTS: Of the diagnoses for the 126 patients, 42 were considered as probable OT, 48 as negative, and 36 as inconclusive. The median IgG anti-Toxocara antibody titers of the patients with probable OT were significantly higher than those of the patients in the negative or inconclusive groups (P = 0.0001). Higher titers were observed more frequently in patients in the probable OT group (P = 0.01) than in the negative group, in which titers were absent or lower in most patients (P < 0.0001). The right eye was affected more in the OT group than in the negative group (P = 0.01), and inflammation was located mostly in the intermediate and posterior poles. The mean age of the patients diagnosed with probable OT was significantly lower (mean, 8 years) than that of the negative patients (mean, 14.5 years) (P = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Higher levels of antibodies could help with the diagnosis of OT in patients with symptoms and clinical signs; however, negative results cannot exclude possible OT. Conversely, patients with negative serology or low titers make the diagnosis of OT less likely.
Entities:
Keywords:
IgG anti-Toxocara antibodies; Ocular toxocariasis; Toxocara species
Authors: Pedro Paulo Chieffi; Susana Angelica Zevallos Lescano; Gabriela Rodrigues E Fonseca; Sergio Vieira Dos Santos Journal: Res Rep Trop Med Date: 2021-05-19