Seroprevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Toxocariasis among College Students in Taipei City, Taiwan

Chung-Jung FU; Cheng-Yan KAO; Yueh-Lun LEE; Chien-Wei LIAO; Po-Ching CHEN; Ting-Wu CHUANG; Ying-Chin WANG; Chia-Mei CHOU; Ying-Chie HUANG; Toshio NAITO; Chia-Kwung FAN

Iranian Journal of Parasitology (Oct 2015)

Seroprevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Toxocariasis among College Students in Taipei City, Taiwan

Chung-Jung FU,
Cheng-Yan KAO,
Yueh-Lun LEE,
Chien-Wei LIAO,
Po-Ching CHEN,
Ting-Wu CHUANG,
Ying-Chin WANG,
Chia-Mei CHOU,
Ying-Chie HUANG,
Toshio NAITO,
Chia-Kwung FAN

Affiliations

Chung-Jung FU: Graduate Institute of Biomedical Electronics and Bioinformatics, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan AND Graduate Institute of Biomedical Electronics and Bioinformatics, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
Cheng-Yan KAO: Graduate Institute of Biomedical Electronics and Bioinformatics, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
Yueh-Lun LEE: Dept. of Microbiology and Immunology,School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
Chien-Wei LIAO: Dept. of Molecular Parasitology and Tropical Diseases, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
Po-Ching CHEN: Dept. of Molecular Parasitology and Tropical Diseases, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
Ting-Wu CHUANG: Dept. of Molecular Parasitology and Tropical Diseases, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
Ying-Chin WANG: Dept. of Molecular Parasitology and Tropical Diseases, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
Chia-Mei CHOU: Dept. of Molecular Parasitology and Tropical Diseases, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
Ying-Chie HUANG: Dept. of Molecular Parasitology and Tropical Diseases, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
Toshio NAITO: Dept. of General Medicine,Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan AND Dept. of Infection Control Science, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
Chia-Kwung FAN: Dept. of Molecular Parasitology and Tropical Diseases, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 10, no. 3

Abstract

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Background: Infection by Toxocara spp. is known to be significantly associated with partial epilepsy. It has become popular for people to raise dogs/cats as pets and consume roasted meat/viscera, and the status of Toxocara spp. infection, epilepsy awareness, and associated risk factors among the general population are currently unknown in Taiwan. Methods: A seroepidemiological investigation among 203 college students (CSs), consisting of 110 males and 93 females with an average age of 21.5 ± 1.2 years, was conducted in 2009 in Taipei City. A Western blot analysis based on excretory-secretory antigens derived from Toxocara canis larvae (TcESs) was applied to determine the positivity of serum immunoglobulin G antibodies. A self-administered questionnaire was also given to obtain information about demographic characteristics, epilepsy awareness, and risk factors. A logistic regression model was applied for the statistical analysis using SPSS software. Results: The overall seropositive rate of Toxocara spp. infection was 8.4% (17/203). As to epilepsy awareness, a non-significantly higher seroprevalence was found in CSs who claimed to "know" about epilepsy compared to those who did not know (P > 0.05). Conclusions: It appears that appropriate educational programs are urgently needed to provide correct knowledge related to the prevention and control measures against Toxocara spp. infections to avoid potential threats by this parasite to the general population in Taiwan.

Published in Iranian Journal of Parasitology

ISSN: 1735-7020 (Print); 2008-238X (Online)
Publisher: Tehran University of Medical Sciences
Country of publisher: Iran, Islamic Republic of
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Infectious and parasitic diseases
Website: http://ijpa.tums.ac.ir

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