The occurence of anti-Toxocara IgG to follow visceral larva migrans infections in children attended in basic health care units from peripheral areas of the city of Lages, Santa Catarina, Brazil

Abstract

Visceral larva migrans (VLM) is caused by Toxocara canis larvae infection, which is a small intestine parasite found mainly in dogs, infecting humans occasionally, causing inflammation and damage to several organs with clinical signs ranging from asymptomatic to nonspecific symptoms. The goal of this study was to investigate the occurrence of anti- T. canis IgG in children attended at Basic Health Care Units in the city of Lages, Santa Catarina Brazil. Children’s blood samples were collected by digital puncture, stored in filter papers and later analyzed by the Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) to detect IgG antibodies against T. canis . Laboratory tests were conducted at the Zoology and Parasitology Laboratory of the Planalto Catarinense University (UNIPLAC). The research was conducted from July 2014 to May 2015, in children of both genders aged two to six years old, residing in the peripheral area of the city. Of the 82 children sampled, 43 were boys and 39 girls where 23.17% (19/82) aged five years old. Positivity for anti- T. canis IgG was 15.85% (13/82), i.e., 20.33% of all boys and 10.26% of the girls. Although the seroepidemiological anti- T. canis data in children at the national level present many variations, it is of paramount importance to know the parasitosis data atdifferent regions of Brazil, since the cities harbor an elevated number of urban dogs transiting in parks and schools.