Clinical and Serological Findings in Patients with Toxocariasis in the Pohang Region: The Features of Toxocariasis in Pohang.
- Author:
Byung Han RYU
1
;
Jun Seok PARK
;
Yeo Jin JUNG
;
Soo Kyoung KANG
;
Seung Hee LEE
;
Sung Jin CHOI
Author Information
1. Department of Allergy and Rheumatology, Sunlin Hospital, Pohang, Korea. jlike35@gmail.com
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Toxocariasis;
Toxocara canis;
Eosinophilia;
Immunoglobulin E;
Dermatophagoides
- MeSH:
Asthma;
Cross Reactions;
Dermatophagoides farinae;
Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus;
Eating;
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay;
Eosinophilia;
Eosinophils;
Humans;
Immunoglobulin E;
Immunoglobulin G;
Liver;
Lung;
Meat;
Pyroglyphidae;
Rhinitis;
Toxocara;
Toxocara canis;
Toxocariasis
- From:Korean Journal of Medicine
2013;84(2):203-210
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study was performed to investigate the clinical and serological characteristics of toxocariasis in the Pohang region. METHODS: A total of 145 patients with peripheral eosinophilia (> 450 cells/microL) were enrolled and divided into two groups based on Toxocara excretory-secretory IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) positivity, and the clinical features and serologic markers were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The seropositive rate of Toxocara was 62.1%. The serum total eosinophils (p = 0.038), total IgE level (p < 0.01), Dermatophagoides farinae (Df) seropositivity rate (p < 0.01), frequency of eosinophilic tissue infiltration in the lung or liver (p < 0.01), and ingestion of raw cow meat or liver (p < 0.01) were higher in seropositive patients than in seronegative patients. However, the presence of asthma and rhinitis (p < 0.01) were more frequent in seronegative patients. Among seropositive patients, positive correlations were observed between serum total IgE, total eosinophils, and the optical density value of the Toxocara IgG ELISA (p < 0.01; p = 0.015, respectively). The specific IgE to Df was significantly higher (p < 0.01) than that to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dp), suggesting a cross reaction between the Df antigen and the Toxocara antigen. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who have elevated serum total IgE and have eosinophilia without allergic disease might have toxocariasis. The lower frequency of asthma or rhinitis and a tendency for higher specific IgE to Df than that to Dp could be useful findings for the diagnosis of toxocariasis in patients with eosinophilia.
