Seroprevalence of Toxocara canis antibodies among Orang Asli (aborigines) in Peninsular Malaysia
Hakim, S.L.; Mak, J.W.; Lam, P.L.; Nazma, S.; Normaznah, Y.
Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health 23(3): 493-496
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0125-1562 PMID: 1488706 Document Number: 388919
An ELISA using excretory-secretory antigens of 2nd stage larvae maintained in vitro was used to determine the seroprevalence of Toxocara canis antibodies in Orang Asli (aborigines) of Peninsular Malaysia who live in close association with dogs. Of 480 sera tested from patients and accompanying relatives in the Gombak Hospital, Selangor, Malaysia, the overall seroprevalence was 31.9%. No significant relationship was found between prevalence and host sex and age groups, although children aged 0-9 years showed the highest positive rates. Eosinophil counts were closely related to the proportion of positivity to T. canis infection and mean ELISA optical density values. There was some degree of cross-reaction with Trichuris trichiura positive sera.