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Prevalence of Toxocara infection in schoolchildren from the Butantã region, São Paulo, Brazil

2003; Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Ministério da Saúde; Volume: 98; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1590/s0074-02762003000500002

1678-8060

Jussara MS Alderete, C.M.A. Jacob, Antônio Carlos Pastorino, Guita Rubinsky Elefant, Ana PM Castro, Angela BF Fomin, Pedro Paulo Chieffi,

Parasitic Infections and Diagnostics

Visceral larva migrans syndrome by Toxocara affects mainly children between 2 and 5 years of age, it is generally asymptomatic, and the seroprevalence varies from 3 to 86% in different countries. A total of 399 schoolchildren from 14 public schools of the Butantã region, São Paulo city, Brazil, were evaluated by Toxocara serology (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). Epidemiological data to the Toxocara infection obtained from a protocol were submitted to multiple logistic regression analysis for a risk profile definition. Blood was collected on filter paper by finger puncture, with all samples tested in duplicate. Considering titers > 1/160 as positive, the seroprevalence obtained was 38.8%. Among infected children, the mean age was 9.4 years, with a similar distribution between genders. A significant association was observed with the presence of onychophagia, residence with a dirty backyard, living in a slum, previous wheezing episodes, school attended, and family income (p < 0.05). All data, except "living in a slum", were considered to be determinant of a risk profile for the acquisition of Toxocara infection. A monthly income > 5 minimum salaries represented a protective factor, although of low relevance. Toxocara eggs were found in at least one of the soil samples obtained from five schools, with high prevalence of Toxocara infections, indicating the frequent soil contamination by this agent.