Aim: Epidemiological study on a statistically significant population for determining the true degree of Toxocara canis infections in the adults from Moldova, Romania.
Methods: 457 patients, 416 females and 41 males (91% and 9%, respectively) entered the study. Mean age of the investigated patients was 44.50 +/- 12.706 years, with small differences between sexes. 49.2% were from rural and 50.8% from urban areas. Data on living conditions, animals in the household, and source of drinking water were obtained through direct questioning. At present there is no definitive diagnostic method for Toxocara infection, as the actual sensitivity and specificity of serological tests cannot be determined accurately. IgG antibody titer specific for T. canis was assessed by ELISA in all study patients.
Results: Most infections were recorded in 2009 (51.4%), 15.3% in 2008, 17.1% in 2010 14.0% in 2011, and 2.2% (10 cases) in 2012. An IgG titer of 1/100 was found in 40.7% of the patients. Toxocariasis prevalence in our geographic area was 51.7%, without significant sex differences. However, while the percentages of negative determinations were similar for both sexes (42.5% in females and 46.3% in males), almost twice more men (9.8% vs. 4.6% women) had a 1/10 determination, while 21,4% of the women had a 1/50 determination as compared to 9,8% of the males. The source of water was not, at least in this study group, a major cause of disease in adults. The statistical results show a major and significant influence of human contact with the dog. Thus, in dog owners 1/50 and 1/100 determinations being found in equal percentages (26% of the total), while in those having both dogs and cats the 1/100 determination was the most common (40.7% of the total).
Conclusions: Our data can be the basis for a nation-wide seroprevalence study and programs to eradicate this infection.