Detección de IgG anti Toxocara canis en perros de la provincia de corrientes, Argentina

Abstract

Toxocara canis is a nematode of canines, member of the Ascarididae family, which accidentally infests humans. Puppies expel the eggs with the feces from the fourth week of life. For human infestation, most researches in Argentina are focused to determine the extent of soil contamination. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of T. canis infestation in dogs from rural areas of the Province of Corrientes. El Sombrero, San Lorenzo and San Roque were the locations selected for the study. Indirect ELISA test was performed for detection of specific IgG antibodies to T. canis. Forty six dogs were studied. The analysis revealed that 86.95% of the dogs had positive serology for this parasite. There are no published data regarding the prevalence of infestation in dog populations from rural areas of Argentina. These results suggest the need to implement measures to control infestation in dogs thus contributing to reduce the risk of transmission to humans.