PMID- 9230232
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 19970910
LR  - 20190822
IS  - 0903-1936 (Print)
IS  - 0903-1936 (Linking)
VI  - 10
IP  - 7
DP  - 1997 Jul
TI  - Relationship between allergic manifestations and Toxocara seropositivity: a 
      cross-sectional study among elementary school children.
PG  - 1467-75
AB  - Toxocara (the cause of visceral larva migrans in humans) and allergy have in 
      common both elevated immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels and eosinophilia. In the 
      present study, we investigated: 1) associations between Toxocara seropositivity 
      and allergic manifestations; 2) risk factors for Toxocara infection; and 3) 
      differences in Toxocara seroprevalence, allergic manifestations and the 
      associations between these two, in children from urban and rural environments. 
      Blood samples from 1,379 Dutch urban and rural elementary schoolchildren, were 
      examined for Toxocara antibodies, eosinophil numbers, total IgE concentrations, 
      and the occurrence of inhaled allergen-specific IgE. Questionnaires investigating 
      respiratory health and putative risk factors for infection were completed. It was 
      found that 8% of the children had Toxocara antibodies, occurring significantly 
      less often in females than in males. The means of total serum IgE levels and 
      blood eosinophils were significantly higher in the Toxocara-seropositive than in 
      the seronegative group. Allergic asthma/recurrent bronchitis was found in 7% of 
      the children, allergic reaction on animal contact in 4%, and IgE to at least one 
      inhaled allergen in 16%. These variables were associated with Toxocara 
      seroprevalence. Inhaled allergen-specific IgE and asthma/recurrent bronchitis 
      occurred significantly less often in rural than in urban areas, and significantly 
      less often among girls than among boys. Furthermore, occurrence of 
      allergen-specific IgE increased significantly with age. No association existed 
      between Toxocara seroprevalence and assumed risks, i.e. contact with pet animals 
      and public playgrounds. In conclusion, our results indicate that allergic 
      manifestations occur more often in Toxocara-seropositive children. A relationship 
      with an already existing allergic condition is plausible.
FAU - Buijs, J
AU  - Buijs J
AD  - Laboratory for Parasitology and Mycology, National Institute of Public Health and 
      Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
FAU - Borsboom, G
AU  - Borsboom G
FAU - Renting, M
AU  - Renting M
FAU - Hilgersom, W J
AU  - Hilgersom WJ
FAU - van Wieringen, J C
AU  - van Wieringen JC
FAU - Jansen, G
AU  - Jansen G
FAU - Neijens, J
AU  - Neijens J
LA  - eng
PT  - Comparative Study
PT  - Journal Article
PL  - England
TA  - Eur Respir J
JT  - The European respiratory journal
JID - 8803460
RN  - 0 (Antibodies, Helminth)
RN  - 37341-29-0 (Immunoglobulin E)
SB  - IM
MH  - Animals
MH  - Antibodies, Helminth/*blood
MH  - Child
MH  - Child, Preschool
MH  - Cross-Sectional Studies
MH  - Eosinophilia/etiology
MH  - Female
MH  - Humans
MH  - Immunoglobulin E/blood
MH  - Larva Migrans, Visceral/*epidemiology/immunology
MH  - Male
MH  - Netherlands/epidemiology
MH  - Prevalence
MH  - Respiratory Hypersensitivity/epidemiology/immunology/*parasitology
MH  - Risk Factors
MH  - Rural Health
MH  - Seroepidemiologic Studies
MH  - Toxocara/*immunology
MH  - Urban Health
EDAT- 1997/07/01 00:00
MHDA- 1997/07/01 00:01
CRDT- 1997/07/01 00:00
PHST- 1997/07/01 00:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 1997/07/01 00:01 [medline]
PHST- 1997/07/01 00:00 [entrez]
AID - 10.1183/09031936.97.10071467 [doi]
PST - ppublish
SO  - Eur Respir J. 1997 Jul;10(7):1467-75. doi: 10.1183/09031936.97.10071467.