Abstract
(1) Background: Infections caused by Toxocara canis and T. cati are considered zoonoses of global importance. Reports from North and South America indicate that human infections are widespread in both continents, but epidemiological information from Central America is still lacking. (2) Methodology: In the present cross-sectional multi-year study, we aimed to undertake the first seroepidemiological and environmental study on toxocariasis in Honduras. This included the determination of seroprevalence of anti-Toxocara spp. antibodies in children using a Toxocara spp. purified excretory-secretory antigens enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (TES-ELISA) and a confirmatory Western blot. As well, through statistical analysis including logistic regression we aimed at identifying relevant biological and epidemiological factors associated with seropositivity. The study also entailed detection of parasites’ eggs in the soil samples both through Sheather’s concentration method and a nested polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. (3) Results: The study was undertaken in a coastal community of Honduras in 2 different years, 2015 and 2017. A total of 88 healthy schoolchildren completed the study, with participation of 79% (73/92) and 65% (46/71) of the student body in 2015 and 2017, respectively. Thirty-one children participated in both years (i.e., dual participants). Through both serological tests, seropositivity was confirmed in 88.6% (78/88) of children. Due to the high number of seropositives, logistic regression analysis was not possible for most socio-economic and epidemiological variables. Eosinophilia, on the other hand, was associated with seropositivity, independently of other intestinal helminthic infections. Continued seropositivity was observed in most of the dual participants, while seroconversion was determined in 8 of these children. Microscopic examination of soil samples did not yield any positive results. Through nested PCR-RFLP, 3 of the 50 samples (6%) were positive for Toxocara spp.; two were identified as T. canis and one as T. cati. (4) Conclusions: This work documents for the first time, high levels of human exposure to Toxocara spp. in Honduras. These findings, along with the country’s favorable epidemiological conditions for this zoonosis, emphasize the need for more research to determine whether this infection is underreported in the country.
Highlights
Toxocara spp. are cosmopolitan zoonotic parasites that utilize dogs, cats, foxes and other canids and felids as definitive hosts
Enrolments were 73 and 46 for 2015 and 2017, respectively, but there were 31 children coincidentally enrolled in both years
Study participation varied between years: in 2015, participation was 79% of the school enrolment (73/92) whereas for 2017 it was only 65% (46/71)
Summary
Toxocara spp. are cosmopolitan zoonotic parasites that utilize dogs, cats, foxes and other canids and felids as definitive hosts. Once fully developed in the environment, Toxocara eggs are infectious to definitive hosts as well as to humans. In the latter, the parasites do not reach adult stages but rather lodge in tissues as larval stages causing a wide spectrum of pathologies grouped under the clinical term toxocariasis ( called ‘toxocarosis’) [3]. Recent research suggests that this infection may partially account for cognitive deficits and other neurological complications seen among socioeconomically disadvantaged children [1,4]. There is a strong body of research from Europe and South America and a recent interest resurgence in the United States [5,6]
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