Abstract

GARCIA, L.D. et al. Seroprevalencia de Toxocara canis en perros de las ciudades de Corrientes y Esperanza (Argentina). Rev. vet. [online]. 2014, vol.25, n.2, pp.131-134. ISSN 1669-6840.

Toxocara canis is a nematode of canines, which accidentally affects man causing a zoonotic parasitic disease called toxocariasis. Puppies are responsible for pollution of the environment through the elimination of infective eggs in the soil, while adult dogs are a potential reservoir. The latter are able to vertically transmit the parasite to their offspring. Human infection is a health problem of great interest due to its impact on children. The parasitological studies in adult dogs have proven to be not effective to detect infection. The aim of this study was to determine values of seroprevalence of anti-T. canis antibodies in dogs from two cities of Argentina. Dogs of different neighborhoods of Corrientes and Santa Fe cities were studied. Indirect ELISA test for detection of specific IgG antibodies to T. canis was performed. In Corrientes 119 dogs were studied; the analysis revealed that 84.9% (n=101) had positive serology. In Santa Fe 82 dogs were studied; the indirect ELISA revealed that 51.2% (n=42) had positive serology for this parasite. These results are consistent with those found by other authors in similar studies, and different to those in which direct methods for detection of eggs in feces were used, which generally report lower prevalence rates. The high seroprevalence found suggests the need to implement measures to control the infestation in dogs and to reduce the risk of transmission to humans.

Keywords : dog; Toxocara canis; seroprevalence; zoonoses.

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