Seroepidemiology of human toxocariasis in selected population groups in Slovakia: A cross-sectional study
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: Fo...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2020-08-01
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| Series: | Journal of Infection and Public Health |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876034120304433 |
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| author | Miroslava Fecková Daniela Antolová Grzegorz Zaleśny Monika Halánová Gabriela Štrkolcová Mária Goldová Tatiana Weissová Branislav Lukáč Mária Nováková |
| author_facet | Miroslava Fecková Daniela Antolová Grzegorz Zaleśny Monika Halánová Gabriela Štrkolcová Mária Goldová Tatiana Weissová Branislav Lukáč Mária Nováková |
| author_sort | Miroslava Fecková |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T01:04:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1b1b67f0bf9f4e0ba22c10a25f3c28dd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1876-0341 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T01:04:10Z |
| publishDate | 2020-08-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Infection and Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-1b1b67f0bf9f4e0ba22c10a25f3c28dd2022-12-21T19:21:05ZengElsevierJournal of Infection and Public Health1876-03412020-08-0113811071111Seroepidemiology of human toxocariasis in selected population groups in Slovakia: A cross-sectional studyMiroslava Fecková0Daniela Antolová1Grzegorz Zaleśny2Monika Halánová3Gabriela Štrkolcová4Mária Goldová5Tatiana Weissová6Branislav Lukáč7Mária Nováková8Institute 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, SlovakiaInstitute of Parasitology of Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 040 01 Košice, Slovakia; Corresponding author.Department of Invertebrate Systematics and Ecology, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, C. K. Norwida 25, 50-375 Wrocław, PolandP. J. Šafárik University in Košice, Trieda SNP 1, 040 11 Košice, SlovakiaUniversity of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Komenského 73, 041 81 Košice, SlovakiaUniversity of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Komenského 73, 041 81 Košice, SlovakiaUniversity of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Komenského 73, 041 81 Košice, SlovakiaUniversity of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Komenského 73, 041 81 Košice, SlovakiaCatholic University in Ružomberok, Námestie A. Hlinku 48, 034 01 Ružomberok, SlovakiaBackground: 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.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876034120304433Toxocara spp.Larval toxocariasisSeroprevalenceRisk factorsSlovakia |
| spellingShingle | Miroslava Fecková Daniela Antolová Grzegorz Zaleśny Monika Halánová Gabriela Štrkolcová Mária Goldová Tatiana Weissová Branislav Lukáč Mária Nováková Seroepidemiology of human toxocariasis in selected population groups in Slovakia: A cross-sectional study Journal of Infection and Public Health Toxocara spp. Larval toxocariasis Seroprevalence Risk factors Slovakia |
| title | Seroepidemiology of human toxocariasis in selected population groups in Slovakia: A cross-sectional study |
| title_full | Seroepidemiology of human toxocariasis in selected population groups in Slovakia: A cross-sectional study |
| title_fullStr | Seroepidemiology of human toxocariasis in selected population groups in Slovakia: A cross-sectional study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Seroepidemiology of human toxocariasis in selected population groups in Slovakia: A cross-sectional study |
| title_short | Seroepidemiology of human toxocariasis in selected population groups in Slovakia: A cross-sectional study |
| title_sort | seroepidemiology of human toxocariasis in selected population groups in slovakia a cross sectional study |
| topic | Toxocara spp. Larval toxocariasis Seroprevalence Risk factors Slovakia |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876034120304433 |
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