RESUMO
The aim of this study was to estimate the frequency of human toxocariosis in a child population from Morrope district, Lambayeque, Peru. From October to December 2005, 182 school children (96 male and 86 female) were studied. Blood samples were collected for Toxocara ELISA-IgG test and hematological examination. Additionally, stool samples were collected for coproparasitological examination to check cross reactions. We found frequency of positives in 32.4% (59/182) with a significant higher proportion of positivity in male children (p < 0.00001). 71.2% of the children with positive serology (52 male and seven female), were between five and 10 years old, 77.96% had respiratory symptoms, 61.02% had ocular manifestations, 38.98% had hepatic symptoms, 38.98% had mild or moderate eosinophilia, signs statistically associated with seropositivity. 83.5% of studied population had some intestinal parasite, such as: Blastocystis hominis (53.3%), Giardia lamblia (31.3%), Entamoeba coli (29.1%), Entamoeba histolytica/E. dispar (1.1%), Hymenolepis nana (5.49%), and Ascaris lumbricoides (3.3%), but they had not any association with serology results. The ownership of dogs or/and cats were significantly associated with seropositivity to anti-Toxocara antibodies although the presence of such pets within the house was not. In conclusion, clinical and serological evidence of Toxocara infection exists in the studied population.
Assuntos
Enteropatias Parasitárias/epidemiologia , Toxocara/isolamento & purificação , Toxocaríase/epidemiologia , Animais , Anticorpos Anti-Helmínticos/sangue , Gatos , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Cães , Ensaio de Imunoadsorção Enzimática , Fezes/parasitologia , Feminino , Humanos , Imunoglobulina G/sangue , Lactente , Enteropatias Parasitárias/diagnóstico , Enteropatias Parasitárias/parasitologia , Masculino , Peru/epidemiologia , Prevalência , Fatores de Risco , Índice de Gravidade de Doença , Toxocara/imunologia , Toxocaríase/diagnósticoRESUMO
The aim of this study was to estimate the frequency of human toxocariosis in a child population from Morrope district, Lambayeque, Peru. From October to December 2005, 182 school children (96 male and 86 female) were studied. Blood samples were collected for Toxocara ELISA-IgG test and hematological examination. Additionally, stool samples were collected for coproparasitological examination to check cross reactions. We found frequency of positives in 32.4 percent (59/182) with a significant higher proportion of positivity in male children (p < 0.00001). 71.2 percent of the children with positive serology (52 male and seven female), were between five and 10 years old, 77.96 percent had respiratory symptoms, 61.02 percent had ocular manifestations, 38.98 percent had hepatic symptoms, 38.98 percent had mild or moderate eosinophilia, signs statistically associated with seropositivity. 83.5 percent of studied population had some intestinal parasite, such as: Blastocystis hominis (53.3 percent), Giardia lamblia (31.3 percent), Entamoeba coli (29.1 percent), Entamoeba histolytica/E. dispar (1.1 percent), Hymenolepis nana (5.49 percent), and Ascaris lumbricoides (3.3 percent), but they had not any association with serology results. The ownership of dogs or/and cats were significantly associated with seropositivity to anti-Toxocara antibodies although the presence of such pets within the house was not. In conclusion, clinical and serological evidence of Toxocara infection exists in the studied population.
O propósito do presente trabalho foi estimar a freqüência da toxocaríase humana em crianças do distrito de Morrope, Lamabayeque, Perú. Nos meses de outubro a dezembro de 2005, 182 escolares (96 meninos e 86 meninas) foram estudados. Coletaram-se amostras de sangue para a análise hematológica e imunológica pelo teste de ELISA-IgG-Toxocara e amostras fecais para o exame parasitológico. A freqüência geral da população foi de 32,4 por cento (59/182) com proporção significativamente maior de positividade nos meninos. Das crianças com resultado positivo ao teste sorológico (52 meninos e sete meninas), 71,2 por cento tinham entre cinco e 10 anos, 77,96 por cento apresentavam sintomas respiratórios, 61,02 por cento apresentavam manifestações oculares, 38,98 por cento apresentavam moléstias hepáticas, 38,98 por cento apresentavam suave ou moderada eosinofília e todos estes sinais foram estatisticamente associados ao resultado da sorologia. A presença de algum parasito intestinal foi observada em 83,5 por cento da população estudada: Blastocystis hominis (53,3 por cento), Giardia lamblia (31,3 por cento), Entamoeba coli (29,1 por cento), Entamoeba histolytica/E. dispar (1,1 por cento), Hymenolepis nana (5,49 por cento), e Ascaris lumbricoides (3,3 por cento), mas estes não tiveram nenhuma associação com a sorologia. A posse de cães e gatos revelou associação estatisticamente significante com a positividade para toxocaríase embora a presença destes animais no domicílio não tenha revelado tal associação. Conclui-se que existem evidências clínicas e sorológicas de infecção por Toxocara na população estudada.