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Concomitant Toxoplasma and Toxocara infections
M E Azab1, E H Safar, H M Khattab
1Parasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo.
The Journal of the Egyptian Public Health Association
|January 1, 1990
Summary
Soil-transmitted infections like toxoplasmosis and toxocariasis can be co-acquired. This study found a significant association between antibodies for both Toxoplasma gondii and Toxocara species in patients, suggesting concurrent infections are common.
Area of Science:
- Medical Parasitology
- Immunology
- Public Health
Background:
- Toxoplasmosis and toxocariasis are soil-transmitted parasitic infections.
- Both infections can be acquired simultaneously from common sources, such as infected cats.
- Understanding co-infection prevalence is crucial for accurate diagnosis and treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the serological association between toxoplasmosis and toxocariasis.
- To determine the prevalence of co-infection in patients suspected of either disease.
Main Methods:
- Indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) was used to detect antibodies for both Toxoplasma and Toxocara.
- 110 sera from patients with suspected toxoplasmosis were tested for Toxocara antibodies.
- 12 sera from patients with confirmed toxocariasis were tested for Toxoplasma antibodies.
Main Results:
- 18.1% of patients suspected of toxoplasmosis were also positive for Toxocara antibodies.
- 8.3% of patients with toxocariasis were positive for Toxoplasma antibodies.
- A combined seropositivity for both parasites was observed in 17.2% of cases.
Conclusions:
- There is a notable association between toxoplasmosis and toxocariasis, indicating frequent co-infections.
- Concurrent infections with Toxoplasma and Toxocara should be considered in clinical diagnostics.
- Further research into the implications of co-infection is warranted.