Antibodies to canine helminth parasites in asthmatic and nonasthmatic children

We studied the prevalence of IgE and IgG antibodies to Toxocara canis and Dirofilaria immitis, helminth parasites of dogs, in asthmatic and nonasthmatic children born and raised in Hawaii. The serologic pattern of the two groups was found to differ significantly. Of the 80 asthmatic subjects, 45.0% had IgE antibody and 17.5% IgG-precipitating antibody to one or both parasites. In contrast, of the 96 nonasthmatic children studied 7.5% were positive for IgE antibody and 31.3% positive for IgG antibody.