Parasites, Hosts and Diseases

The Korea Society for Parasitology and Tropical Medicine (대한기생충학·열대의학회)
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A seroepidemiological survey for toxocariasis in apparently healthy residents in Gangwon-do, Korea

  • Park, Hyun-Young (Department of Parasitology, College of Medicine, Hallym University) ;
  • Lee, soo-Ung (Department of Parasitology, College of Medicine, Hallym University) ;
  • Huh, Sun (Department of Parasitology, College of Medicine, Hallym University) ;
  • Kong, Yoon (Section of Molecular Parasitology, Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine) ;
  • Magnaval, Jean-Francois (Service de Parasitologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Rangueil)
  • Published : 2002.09.01
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Abstract

We investigated the sero-prevalence of toxocariasis among healthy Korean adults in 1999. A total of 314 sera from normal inhabitants in Whachon-gun, Gangwon do, Korea was examined for specific antibody levels against excretory-secretory products of second stage larvae of Toxocara (TES). The presence of cross-reactions with other helminthiases such as cysticercosis, paragonimiasis, sparganosis or clonorchiasis was also checked by specific IgG ELISA. Sera showing positive reaction against TES were also tested by IgG immunoblot and by IgE ELISA. Out of 314 subjects, 16 was found to be positive by TES IgG ELISA and immunoblot, among whom 12 were also positive by TES IgE ELISA. Among the 16 seropositive samples, two sera showed positive reaction against Paragonimus and sparganum antigen, respectively. These results inferred that cross-reactions were negligible between toxocariasis and other helminthiases. Toxocariasis seroprevalence among Korean rural adults was detected to be approximately 5%.

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References

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