Miroslava Fecková1, Daniela Antolová2, Grzegorz Zaleśny3, Monika Halánová4, Gabriela Štrkolcová5, Mária Goldová5, Tatiana Weissová5, Branislav Lukáč5, Mária Nováková6. 1. Institute of Parasitology of Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 040 01 Košice, Slovakia; University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Komenského 73, 041 81 Košice, Slovakia. 2. Institute of Parasitology of Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 040 01 Košice, Slovakia. Electronic address: antolova@saske.sk. 3. Department of Invertebrate Systematics and Ecology, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, C. K. Norwida 25, 50-375 Wrocław, Poland. 4. P. J. Šafárik University in Košice, Trieda SNP 1, 040 11 Košice, Slovakia. 5. University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Komenského 73, 041 81 Košice, Slovakia. 6. Catholic University in Ružomberok, Námestie A. Hlinku 48, 034 01 Ružomberok, Slovakia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Human toxocariasis is a cosmopolitan helminthic zoonosis caused by roundworms of the genus Toxocara. The study aimed at a cross-sectional analysis of seropositivity to Toxocara spp. in selected groups of population in Slovakia and an estimate of the risk factors of infection. METHODS: For the detection of anti-Toxocara antibodies, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) based on an excretory-secretory (E/S) antigen of Toxocara canis was used. RESULTS: The overall seropositivity to Toxocara in 1489 evaluated sera was 3.7%. The seropositivity of Roma children/young people (40.3%) was significantly higher when compared with all other analysed groups. Among adult respondents, the positivity of farmers and hunters (5.5% and 5.1%, respectively) was significantly higher (p<0.001) than in the other analysed groups (veterinarians and veterinary assistants, soldiers, students of veterinary medicine, and students of other universities). Analysis of infection risk factors showed that living in a rural locality, everyday contact with soil, and everyday outdoor activities (12.7%, 8.8% and 8.3% positivity, respectively) can increase the risk of infection, but the observed differences were not significant. CONCLUSION: The results underline the importance of preventive measures and the need for improving of knowledge of toxocariasis among professionals, as well as the public.
BACKGROUND:Human toxocariasis is a cosmopolitan helminthic zoonosis caused by roundworms of the genus Toxocara. The study aimed at a cross-sectional analysis of seropositivity to Toxocara spp. in selected groups of population in Slovakia and an estimate of the risk factors of infection. METHODS: For the detection of anti-Toxocara antibodies, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) based on an excretory-secretory (E/S) antigen of Toxocara canis was used. RESULTS: The overall seropositivity to Toxocara in 1489 evaluated sera was 3.7%. The seropositivity of Roma children/young people (40.3%) was significantly higher when compared with all other analysed groups. Among adult respondents, the positivity of farmers and hunters (5.5% and 5.1%, respectively) was significantly higher (p<0.001) than in the other analysed groups (veterinarians and veterinary assistants, soldiers, students of veterinary medicine, and students of other universities). Analysis of infection risk factors showed that living in a rural locality, everyday contact with soil, and everyday outdoor activities (12.7%, 8.8% and 8.3% positivity, respectively) can increase the risk of infection, but the observed differences were not significant. CONCLUSION: The results underline the importance of preventive measures and the need for improving of knowledge of toxocariasis among professionals, as well as the public.