Seroprevalence of Toxocara infection in middle-class and disadvantaged children in northern Spain (Gipuzkoa, Basque Country)

Eur J Epidemiol. 1996 Oct;12(5):541-3. doi: 10.1007/BF00144010.

Abstract

The prevalence of human toxocarosis in disadvantaged socioeconomic population in Europe is unknown. In Gipuzkoa the seroprevalence in middle-class children 2- to 5-years-old, and 6- to 16-year-olds, was zero (n = 135) and 4.4% (n = 320), respectively. In contrast, among socially and economically disadvantaged children the figures were 37% (n = 27) and 65.7% (n = 64). This high prevalence obliges us to consider toxocarosis as a public health problem.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Helminth / blood*
  • Chi-Square Distribution
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology
  • Male
  • Prevalence
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Spain / epidemiology
  • Toxocara canis / immunology*
  • Toxocariasis / epidemiology*
  • Toxocariasis / immunology
  • Zoonoses

Substances

  • Antibodies, Helminth
  • Immunoglobulin G