Epidemiological characteristics and clinical findings in patients with serologically proven toxocariasis

Abstract

The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using Toxocara canis larva-specific antigens was used to confirm a presumptive clinical diagnosis of visceral larva migrans in patients whose serum specimens were submitted to the Center for Disease Control. The clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients with diagnostic ELISA titres (⩾ log₂ 5) were compared with patients who had less or no detectable antibody. The typical patient with serologically confirmed toxocaral visceral larva migrans was about five years of age and resided in the southern half of the USA. Clinical findings were likely to include leucocytosis, eosinophilia, an increased anti-A or anti-B isohaemagglutinin titre, and an elevated serum IgG level. Pica, as ascertained by a physician questionnaire, was not a consistent finding and both sexes were nearly equally represented.