Sero-epidemiology of Toxocara canis infection among aboriginal schoolchildren in the mountainous areas of north–eastern Taiwan (original) (raw)

2005, Annals of Tropical Medicine & Parasitology

Seroepidemiology of Toxocara canis infection among adults of one ethnic Han and five aboriginal populations residing in mountainous areas of Taiwan was conducted by detecting serum IgG (Ն1:64) using a T. canis larval excretory-secretory antigen-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A short questionnaire interview was conducted to obtain data concerning their age, sex, occupation, consumption of raw pig liver, and possession of dogs. The overall seroprevalence (46.0%, 247 of 537) in the five aboriginal populations was significantly higher than that of ethnic Han population (30.2%, 13 of 43) (P ‫ס‬ 0.04). Age, but not sex, seemed to be a factor related to positive serology. Aboriginal adults who had histories of eating raw pig liver (odds ratio [OR] ‫ס‬ 1.65, P < 0.01), raising dogs (OR ‫ס‬ 1.76, P < 0.01), or whose occupation was a laborer (OR ‫ס‬ 1.78, P ‫ס‬ 0.01) seemed to be more apt to be infected by T. canis than those without such histories and unemployed persons. * Adjusted variables include age, risks factors, occupation, and ethnicity. † Adjusted variables include sex, risk factors, occupation, and ethnicity. ‡ Adjusted variables include sex, age, occupation, and ethnicity. § Adjusted variables include sex, age, risk factors, and ethnicity. ¶ Adjusted variables include sex, age, risk factors, and occupation.