Seroprevalence and risk factors of Toxocara canis infection in children aged 2-15 years from the southwest Iran

Abstract

Human toxocariasis (HT) is one of the most prevalent zoonotic diseases with a worldwide distribution. There is no epidemiological study showing the seroprevalence of toxocariasis among children in southwest Iran, Khuzestan Province. Accordingly, this study was designed to estimate the seroprevalence of Toxocara canis (T. canis) IgG antibodies in children (2-15 years old) and assess the main risk factors associated to human infection. In this cross-sectional study, a total of 259 children were invited to participate from the southwest Iran (Abadan and Khorramshahr cities, Khuzestan Province) between April to August 2021. Serum anti-T. canis IgG antibodies were measured using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A structured questionnaire was also employed to collect some socio-demographic information and probable risk factors associated to T. canis infection. The overall seroprevalence rate of T. canis in children was 7.3% (95% CI = 4.75 - 11.17%). The univariate analysis demonstrated that living in rural communities (P < 0.001), drinking unpurified water (P < 0.001), contact with cat (P = 0.033), consumption of improperly washed vegetables (P = 0.002), and history of drinking water from unsafe sources (P = 0.003) were risk factors associated with T. canis seroprevalence in children. However, after adjusting for confounders, multivariable logistic regression analysis verified that only drinking unpurified water (P = 0.016) remained a significant risk factor. In addition, both univariate (P = 0.032) and multivariate logistic regression analysis (P = 0.037) revealed that seropositivity of T. canis infection was significantly associated with asthma. The current report provides beneficial baseline epidemiological findings regarding the seroprevalence of T. canis in children as a vulnerable group for this infection. This data can be used by health policy makers to plan effective prevention programs and control this neglected infection among high risk subjects.

Keywords: Children; Iran; Risk factors; Seroprevalence; Toxocara canis.