Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Human Toxocariasis in individuals with blood disorders and cancer patients: the first seroepidemiological study in Iran

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Journal of Parasitic Diseases Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Toxocara is one of the most prevalent nematodes in Iran, which infect humans as an intermediate host. Infection complications result from the larva migration. Human toxocariasis prevalence was various in Iran according to the area of study and population. This study was designed to evaluate the seropositivity of Toxocara IgG in patients with blood disorders and cancer patients in southwest Iran. Moreover, the study of the associated risk factors for this infection. A total of 1122 serum samples, from February 8, 2019 to August 21, 2019, including 600 healthy individuals and 522 individuals with cancer and blood disorders patients were collected. Serum samples were collected for detection of Toxocara IgG by using ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) kit. Sociodemographic data of all participants were collected and examined to determine their association with the infection. Out of 101 individuals with white blood cell disorders (5.94%), red blood cell disorders (7.48%) and cancer patients (11.06%) were seropositive for Toxocara IgG antibodies. The infection rate among all study population revealed that (10.76%) were positive for Toxocara IgG. This study showed the fundamental role of contact with pets and infection in groups with blood cell disorders (P-value ≤ 0.05%); while in cancer patients the association wasn’t significant. Other factors such as age, location of residence, and sex showed that the association with this infection wasn't significant.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abdi J, Darabi M, Sayehmiri K (2012) Epidemiological situation of toxocariasis in Iran: a meta-analysis and systematic review. Pak J Biol Sci 15:1052–1055

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ahmed HG (2012) Awareness survey on knowledge of microbial infectious causes of cancer in the northern state of Sudan. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 13:5497–5500

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alavi SM, Hosseini SA, Rahdar M, Salmanzadeh S, Nikkhoy A (2011) Determination of seroprevalence rate of Toxocara canis in 6–15 years aged rural and urban schoolchildren in Ahvaz. Iran. Jundishapur Sci Med J. 10(3):239–248

    Google Scholar 

  • Bouvard V, Baan R, Straif R, Grosse Y, Secretan B, Benbrahim-Tallaa L et al (2009) WHO international agency for research on cancer monograph working group. a review of human carcinogens—part b: biological agents. Lancet Oncol 10:321–322

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Caballero-García M, Simón-Salvador J, Hernández-Aguilar JC, Reyes-Lopez A, Nogueda-Torres B, Jiménez-Cardoso E. Frequency of Toxocara canis antibodies in Mexican paediatric patients with epilepsy. J Helminthol 94

  • Cannon G, Gupta P, Gomes F, Kerner J, Parra W, Weiderpass E et al (2012) Prevention of cancer and non-communicable diseases. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 13:3–11

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chang S, Lim JH, Choi D, Park CK, Kwon NH, Cho SY et al (2006) Hepatic visceral larva migrans of Toxocara canis: CT and sonographic findings. AJR Am J Roentgenol 187:W622–W629

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen J, Liu Q, Liu GH, Zheng WB, Hong SJ, Sugiyama H, Zhu XQ, Elsheikha HM (2018) Toxocariasis: a silent threat with a progressive public health impact. Infect Dis Poverty. 7(1):59

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Darani HY, Yousefi M (2012) Parasites and cancers: parasite antigens as possible targets for cancer immunotherapy. Future Oncol 8(12):1529–1535

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Esfandiari F, Mikaeili F, Rahmanian R, Asgari Q (2019) Seroprevalence of toxocariasis in multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis patients in Shiraz city, southern Iran. Clin Epidemiol Global Health.

  • Fan CK, Hung CC, Du WY, Liao CW, Su KE (2004) Seroepidemiology of Toxocara canisinfection among mountain aboriginal schoolchildren living in contaminated districts in eastern Taiwan. Trop Med Int Health 9(12%):1312–1318

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fialho PM, Corrêa CR (2016) A systematic review of Toxocariasis: a neglected but high-prevalence disease in Brazil. Am J Trop Med Hyg 1:15–0733

    Google Scholar 

  • Hosseini-Safa A, Mousavi SM, Bahadoran Bagh Badorani M, Ghatreh Samani M, Mostafaei S, Darani Y (2015) Seroepidemiology of Toxocariasis in children (5–15 yr Old) referred to the pediatric Clinic of Imam Hossein Hospital, Isfahan. Iran. Iran J Parasitol 10(4):632–637

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • INSTITUTO NACIONAL DE CÂNCER JOSÉ ALENCAR GOMES DA SILVA – INCA, 2016 [viewed 8 December 2016]. Estimativa 2014: Incidência de Câncer no Brasil [online]. Rio de Janeiro: INCA. Available from: http://www.inca.gov.br

  • Kaplan M, Kalkan A, Kuk S, Demirdag K, Ozden M, Kilic SS (2008) Toxocara seroprevalence in schizophrenic patients in Turkey. Yonsei Med J 49(2):224–229

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Karami MF, Rafiei A, Raiesi O, Getso M, Akhlaghi E, Jalali P, Shayanfard M, Beigzadeh E, Arbat SK, Mirabedini Z (2019) The relation between Toxocariasis and Toxoplasmosis co-infection and the presence of rheumatoid factor (RF) in people with hydatidosis in Southwestern Iran, from, 2013 to 2018. J Parasitic Dis 1:6

    Google Scholar 

  • Khozime A, Mirsadraee M, Borji H (2019) Toxocara seroprevalence and its relationship with allergic asthma in asthmatic patients in north-eastern Iran. J Helminthol 93(6):677–680

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kim HG, Yang JW, Hong SC, Lee YJ, Ju YT, Jeong CY, Lee JK, Kwag SJ (2018) Toxocara canis mimicking a metastatic Omental mass from sigmoid colon cancer: a case report. Annals of coloproctology 34(3):160

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kwon NH, Oh MJ, Lee SP, Lee BJ, Choi DC (2006) The prevalence and diagnostic value of toxocariasis in unknown eosinophilia. Ann Hematol 85:233–238

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lucio-Forster A, Barbecho JS, Mohammed HO, Kornreich BG, Bowman DD (2016) Comparison of the prevalence of Toxocara egg shedding by pet cats and dogs in the USA, 2011–2014. Veterinary Parasitol Regional Stud Rep 1(5):1–3

    Google Scholar 

  • Marcos LA, Gotuzzo E (2013) Intestinal protozoan infections in the immunocompromised host. Current Opin Infect Dis 26(4):295–301

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Modi M, Singh R, Goyal MK, Gairolla J, Singh G, Rishi V, Thakur JS, Sehgal RK, Garg VK, Khandelwal N, Kharbanda PS (2018) Prevalence of epilepsy and its association with exposure to Toxocara canis: a community based, case-control study from rural northern India. Ann Indian Acad Neurol 21(4):263

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Mousavi SM, Hosseini-Safa A, Mahmoudvand H, Bahadorani MB, Mostafaei S, Darani HY (2016) No evidence of the association between Toxocara canis infection and cancer risk. Int J Med Res Health Sci 5(11):204–208

    Google Scholar 

  • Noormahomed EV, Nhacupe N, Mascaró-Lazcano C, Mauaie MN, Buene T, Funzamo CA, Benson CA (2014) A cross-sectional serological study of cysticercosis, schistosomiasis, toxocariasis, and echinococcosis in HIV-1 infected people in Beira, Mozambique. PLoS Neglect Tropic Dis 8(9):e3121

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pereira LC, Elefant GR, Nóbrega YM, Vital T, Nitz N, Gandolfi L, Pratesi R, Hecht M (2016) Toxocara spp seroprevalence in pregnant women in Brasília, Brazil. Rev Soc Bras Med Trop 49(5):641–643

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Raissi V, Sohrabi Z, Getso M et al (2018) Risk factors and prevalence of toxocariasis in pregnant women and diabetic patients compared to healthy adults in Ilam province, western Iran. EXCLI J 17:983–988

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Raissi V, Saber V, Bahadory S, Akhlaghi E, Raiesi O, Aslani R, Shamsi L, Graili A, Ibrahim A (2019) Comparison of the prevalence of Toxocara spp eggs in public parks soils in different seasons, from 2017 to 2018, Tehran Province. Iran. Clin Epidemiol Global Health 8(2):450–454

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Raissi V, Raiesi O, Etemadi S, Firoozeh F, Getso M, Hadi AM, Zibaei M (2020a) Environmental soil contamination by Toxocara species eggs in public places of Ilam. Ann Agric Environ Med 27(1):15–18

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Raissi V, Taghipour A, Navi Z, Etemadi S, Sohrabi Z, Sohrabi N, Getso M, Shamsaei S, Fasihi Karami M, Raiesi O (2020b) Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Toxocara spp infections among pregnant women with and without previous abortions in the west of Iran. J Obstetrics Gynaecol Res 46(3):382–388

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sadjjadi SM, Khosravi M, Mehrabani D, Oryan A (2000) Seroprevalence of Toxocara infection in school children in Shiraz. Southern Iran. J Tropic Pediat 46(6):327–330

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Santos PC, Lehmann LM, Lorenzi C, Hirsch C, Telmo PL, Mattos GT, Cadore PS, Klafke GB, Berne ME, Gonçalves CV, Scaini CJ (2015) The seropositivity of Toxocara spp antibodies in pregnant women attended at the university hospital in Southern Brazil and the factors associated with infection. PLoS ONE 10(7):0131058

    Google Scholar 

  • Vento S, Cainelli F (2003) Infections in patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy: etiology, prevention, and treatment. Lancet Oncol 4(10):595–604

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Won EJ, Kim J, Shin MG, Shin JH, Suh SP, Ryang DW (2015) Seroepidemiology of toxocariasis and its clinical implications in Gwangju and Jeonnam-Province. Korea Ann Lab Med 35(4):449–453

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zibaei M, Ghorbani B (2014) Toxocariasis and multiple sclerosis: a case-control study in Iran. Neurol Asia 19(3):283–286

    Google Scholar 

  • Zibaei M, Zamani Z, Esfahani AC, Anbari K, Nazer MR (2011) Toxoplasma infection and epilepsy: A case-control study in Iran. Neurol Asia, vol 16, no 4

  • Zibaei M, Alemi M, Cardillo NM, Derafshi H, Miahipour A, Bahadory S, Zarei M (2019) Human toxocariasis seroprevalence among patients with uveitis in Alborz Province. Iran Ann Agric Environ Med AAEM 26(1):154–158

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors express their appreciation and appreciation to all those who have contributed to this project.

Funding

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of public health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Vahid Raissi, Fatemeh Bayat & Gita Alizadeh

  2. Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of medicine, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran

    Vahid Raissi

  3. Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Nasrin Sohrabi

  4. Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran

    Soudabeh Etemadi

  5. Department of Parasitology, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran

    Omid Raiesi

  6. Department of Microbiology, Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

    Pantea Jalali

  7. Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran

    Maryam Karami

  8. Department of Surgery, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

    Ali Abdollahi

  9. Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran

    Ziba Hoseiny

  10. Department of Microbiology, Qom Branch, Islamic Azad University, Qom, Iran

    Mahdi Shayanfard

  11. Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, University of Sadat City (GEBRI, USC), Sadat City, Egypt

    Mahmoud E. Gadalla & Asmaa Ibrahim

Authors
  1. Vahid Raissi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Nasrin Sohrabi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Fatemeh Bayat
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Soudabeh Etemadi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Omid Raiesi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Pantea Jalali
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Maryam Karami
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Ali Abdollahi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Ziba Hoseiny
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Mahdi Shayanfard
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. Gita Alizadeh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  12. Mahmoud E. Gadalla
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  13. Asmaa Ibrahim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Concept and design: VR, AI, NS, FB, SE acquisition of data: PJ, MFK, AA, ZH; analysis and interpretation: MS, GA, OR, MEG.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Asmaa Ibrahim.

Ethics declarations

Conflicts of interest

The authors and co-authors declare that they have no conflict of interest that affects this study.

Ethical statement

This study was approved ethically by the Ethics Committees at Shahid Baghaei Hospital in Ahvaz province, Iran. Before collecting blood samples, all individuals approved the informed consent form, and then blood samples were taken based on the guidelines of the Ethics Committees at Shahid Baghaei Hospital in Ahvaz province, Iran.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Raissi, V., Sohrabi, N., Bayat, F. et al. Human Toxocariasis in individuals with blood disorders and cancer patients: the first seroepidemiological study in Iran. J Parasit Dis 45, 643–650 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12639-021-01347-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12639-021-01347-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation