RESEARCH ARTICLE


Detection of Specific Antibody Reactivity to Toxocara Larval Excretory-secretory Antigens in Asthmatic Patients (5-15 Years)



Mahdi Mosayebi1, *, Latif Moini2, Reza Hajihossein1, Mojtaba Didehdar1, Zahra Eslamirad1
1 Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Medicine Faculty, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran
2 Department of Internal Medicine, Medicine Faculty, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran


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Creative Commons License
© Mosayebi et al.; Licensee Bentham Open

open-access license: This is an open access article licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial 4.0 International Public License (CC BY-NC 4.0) (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/legalcode), which permits unrestricted, non-commercial use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the work is properly cited.

* Address correspondence to this author at the Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Medicine faculty, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran; Tel: +98- 341735-2-9; Fax: +98-86-34173521; E-mail: m.mosayebi@arakmu.ac.ir


Abstract

Background & Purpose:

Humans act as an intermediate host for Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati. Toxocara may be an important risk factor for asthma in humans. The aim of the present study was to evaluate immunoglobulin G (IgG) anti-Toxocara canis antibody, using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in asthmatic patients (aged 5-15 years), referring to a clinic of pulmonary diseases in Arak, Iran.

Materials & Methods:

In this bi-group cross sectional study, serum samples were collected from 110 children with confirmed asthma and 70 children without asthma within one year. IgG anti-Toxocara antibody was detected viaELISA method. The collected data were analyzed, using SPSS.

Results:

The seroprevalence of antibodies against Toxocara species was estimated at 1.8% (two males) in asmathic children viaELISA method; however, no antibodies against Toxocara canis were detected in the control group. There was no significant correlation between the frequency of antibodies against Toxocara and variables such as age, gender, or place of residence (P>0.05). Moreover, the frequency of antibodies against Toxocara was not significantly correlated with contact with dogs, consumption of unwashed fruits and vegetables, or use of raw/undercooked sheep liver (P>0.05).

Conclusion:

The present study showed anti-Toxocara antibody in 1.8% of asthmatic children and determined the seroprevalence of toxocariasis in asthmatic children and adolescents in Arak, Iran. Based on the findings, the low rate of infection with Toxocara among asthmatic children may be attributed to acceptable personal hygiene and religious considerations.

Keywords: Antibody, Asthma, Asthmatic children, ELISA, Embryonated eggs, Toxocariasis.