Toxocariasis in Waste Pickers: A Case Control Seroprevalence Study
Open Access
- 22 January 2013
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Public Library of Science (PLoS) in PLOS ONE
- Vol. 8 (1), e54897
- https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0054897
Abstract
The epidemiology of Toxocara infection in humans in Mexico has been poorly explored. There is a lack of information about Toxocara infection in waste pickers. Determine the seroepidemiology of Toxocara infection in waste pickers. Through a case control study design, the presence of anti-Toxocara IgG antibodies was determined in 90 waste pickers and 90 age- and gender-matched controls using an enzyme-linked immunoassay. Associations of Toxocara exposure with socio-demographic, work, clinical, and behavioral data of the waste pickers were also evaluated. The seroprevalence of anti-Toxocara IgG antibodies was significantly higher in waste pickers (12/90: 13%) than in control subjects (1/90: 1%) (OR = 14; 95% CI: 2–288). The seroprevalence was not influenced by socio-demographic or work characteristics. In contrast, increased seroprevalence was found in waste pickers suffering from gastritis, and reflex and visual impairments. Multivariate analysis showed that Toxocara exposure was associated with a low frequency of eating out of home (OR = 26; 95% CI: 2–363) and negatively associated with consumption of chicken meat (OR = 0.03; 95% CI: 0.003–0.59). Other behavioral characteristics such as animal contacts or exposure to soil were not associated with Toxocara seropositivity. 1) Waste pickers are a risk group for Toxocara infection. 2) Toxocara is impacting the health of waste pickers. This is the first report of Toxocara exposure in waste pickers and of associations of gastritis and reflex impairment with Toxocara seropositivity. Results warrant for further research.Keywords
This publication has 31 references indexed in Scilit:
- Seroprevalence of Seven Zoonotic Infections in Nunavik, Quebec (Canada)Zoonoses and Public Health, 2011
- Seroepidemiological Investigation of Toxocariasis in the Isparta Region of Turkey2010
- Human toxocariasis in rural Brazilian Amazonia: seroprevalence, risk factors, and spatial distribution.The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 2008
- [Zoonotic worms from carnivorous pets: risk assessment and prevention].2007
- Toxocariasis: Clinical Aspects, Epidemiology, Medical Ecology, and Molecular AspectsClinical Microbiology Reviews, 2003
- A serological study of human toxocariasis in north India.2002
- A seroepidemiological survey for toxocariasis in apparently healthy residents in Gangwon-do, KoreaThe Korean Journal of Parasitology, 2002
- Highlights of human toxocariasisThe Korean Journal of Parasitology, 2001
- Frequency of human toxocariasis in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, 2000
- Aspects of Toxocara Epidemiology: Human ToxocarosisCritical Reviews in Microbiology, 1997