BACKGROUND Human toxocariasis is a parasitic infection caused by the larvae of Toxocara canis. We examine the Toxocara seroprevalance in veterinarians and animal husbandry workers living in the Mugla Province, Turkey to evaluate better the risk factors for Toxocara exposure. METHODS In 2014, 376 volunteers participated in the study in 2014. All blood specimens were tested using a commercial e...

This study was designed to compare the sensitivity and specificity of enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the serodiagnosis of ocular toxocariasis using Toxocara canis embryonated egg antigen (TEE) and toxocara excretory-secretory or exoantigen (TEX) produced in vitro. TEE and TEX ELISA were comparably sensitive, but TEX ELISA was better able to discriminate between serum samples from...

Feces of stray cat are potential sources of gastrointestinal parasites and play a crucial role in spreading and transmitting parasite eggs, larvae, and oocysts through contamination of soil, food, or water. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of Toxocara spp. infection in stray cats in Ahvaz city, southwest Iran. Eggs of Toxocara spp. in feces of stray cats were detected by the sucros...

BACKGROUND Toxocarosis is a widespread zoonosis caused by the ascarid nematodes Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati, which primarily infect dogs and cats, respectively. Most human infections with Toxocara are asymptomatic; however, some infected individuals may develop a serious illness and even death. Nevertheless, epidemiological knowledge regarding the prevalence and risks associated with Toxoc...

Excretory-secretory products of Toxocara canis larvae have been considered as a major functional antigen in immune responses against toxocariasis. We studied ultrastructural localization of T. canis second-stage larval antigen using a seropositive human serum under immunogold electron microscopy. High-density gold particles were observed in the secretory cells, excretory duct, intestinal epithe...

This study was performed to investigate whethere there is cross-reactivity between Dirofilaria immitis and three intestinal nematodes of dogs. In ELISA, D. immitis-infected dog sera obtained at the 4th molting stage (9-11 weeks) and microfilaremic stage (25-30 weeks) were shown to be highly reactive with crude extract of T. canis. In immunoblotting, some antigenic fractions, 44, 57, 88, 100 kDa...

As many as one billion people may be infected with animal parasites. The behavioral consequences of such infection, or of illness in general, is poorly understood. This issue is discussed using as an example infection of mice with Toxocara canis, the common roundworm of dogs. Current literature suggests that two-thirds of all dogs have been infected with this parasite, and 7% of all humans have...

We produced a new monoclonal antibody (mAb) to the excretory-secretory (ES) antigens of Toxocara canis larvae. The mAb (IgG1) reacts specifically with the 120 kDa protein of many ES molecules and does not have any cross-reactivity with adult T. canis antigens. Sandwich ELISA to detect the ES antigens was performed using the mAb and rabbit polyclonal antiserum. The lower limit for the detection ...

We investigated the seroepidemiological, clinical, and laboratory characteristics of patients suspected to have toxocariasis in Gwangju and Jeonnam-province, Korea. In total, 228 specimens were analyzed for anti-Toxocara canis IgG at two university hospitals from 2010 to 2012. The overall seropositive rate was 67.1%, and the seropositive rates among the eosinophilic and non-eosinophilic groups ...

Toxocara is a roundworm, a common parasite of dogs (T. canis) and cats (T. cati). Toxocariasis or Visceral larva migrans (VLM) are diseases caused by the larvae of Toxocara sp., which may involve many organs, but pulmonary symptoms such as coughing and wheezing and allergic symptoms are seen in more than 80% of patients. It is known that, although the risk of infection is present, the worldwide...