Seroprevalence of toxocariasis among Orang Asli (Indigenous people) in Malaysia using two immunoassays

Romano, N. and Azah, M.O.N. and Rahmah, N. and Lim, Y.A.L. and Rohela, M. (2010) Seroprevalence of toxocariasis among Orang Asli (Indigenous people) in Malaysia using two immunoassays. Tropical Biomedicine, 27 (3). pp. 585-594. ISSN 0127-5720, DOI 21399601.

Preview

PDF 4.pdf - Published Version Download (67kB)

Abstract

Toxocariasis is a zoonotic helminthic infection of humans caused by the dog roundworm (Toxocara canis) or cat roundworm (Toxocara cati). There are two main human syndromes: visceral larva migrans (VLM), which are characterized by symptoms associated with major organs and ocular larva migrans (OLM), in which pathological effects on the host are restricted to the eye and the optic nerve. The present study evaluated the seroprevalence of toxocariasis among the Orang Asli with an IgG4-ELISA using recombinant antigens (rTES-26, rTES-30 and rTES-120) and an IgG-ELISA commercial kit (Cypress Diagnostic, Belgium). A total of 188 serum samples were analyzed using IgG4-ELISA recombinant antigens while 83 were tested using IgG-ELISA. Overall, 9 out of 188 (4.8) samples were positive with the former assay: rTES-26 (2.7) and rTES-30 (2.1); and 63 out of 83 (75.9) were positive with the IgG-ELISA. In general, the seroprevalence of toxocariasis among males (9.5) was higher compared to females (1). Children below 12 years (6.3) have higher seroprevalence rate compared to adults (1.2). Out of 59 IgG positive samples, 56 (94.9) were also positive with soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections which may indicate high false positivity. None of the IgG4-ELISA positive samples were positive with STH infections. Of 9 positive samples with IgG4-ELISA, 7 were also positive with IgG-ELISA giving the probability of true cases. The present finding indicated that exposure to Toxocara infection is not unusual among Malaysian aborigines, and it affects both sexes and all age groups. As a prevention strategy, more effective public health programmes to promote better understanding on the consequences of toxocariasis among the Orang Asli communities are deemed necessary.

Item Type:	Article
Funders:	UNSPECIFIED
Additional Information:	723YF Times Cited:1 Cited References Count:31
Uncontrolled Keywords:	visceral larva migrans canis infection igg-elisa immunodiagnosis children seroepidemiology serodiagnosis taiwan
Subjects:	R Medicine
Divisions:	Faculty of Medicine > School of Medicine
Depositing User:	Ms Johana Johari
Date Deposited:	10 Dec 2012 01:27
Last Modified:	10 Dec 2012 01:27
URI:	http://eprints.um.edu.my/id/eprint/4093

Actions (login required)

View Item