A Seroepidemiological Survey of Human Toxocarosis in Bulgaria

摘要

Human Toxocara infection in Bulgaria is not very well known and despite some particular reports, population studies of seroprevalence of this parasitic disease have not been carried out. Our objective was to examine blood donors and suspected patients for toxocarosis and to determine the toxocarosis prevalence using serological data.Sera samples from 200 blood donors and 1184 suspected for toxocarosis patients were tested with ELISA IgG with E/S Toxocara antigen. The seroprevalence in the healthy population was estimated at 4%. 129 sera (10.9%) from suspected patients were found positive for toxocarosis. The serological data obtained in suspected patients were compared with their clinical manifestation, sex and age. According to the clinical features, the share of toxocara antibodies ranged between 7.8 and 31.6%.