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Publisher: Peytchinski Publishing Ltd.
ISSN: 1312-773X (Online)
Issue: 2021, vol. 27, issue3
Subject Area: Medicine
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DOI: 10.5272/jimab.2021273.3863
Published online: 05 August 2021
Original article
J of IMAB. 2021 Jul-Sep;27(3):3863-3867
DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SEROPREVALENCE OF HUMAN TOXOCARIASIS AMONG THE POPULATION OF NORTH-EASTERN BULGARIA
Tatyana Cvetkova1
, Kalina Stoyanova1 
, Tsonko Paunov2, Stoyan Pavlov3,
1) Department of Infectious Diseases, Parasitology and Dermatovenereology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University - Varna, Bulgaria.
2) Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Faculty of Public Health, Medical University - Varna, Bulgaria.
3) Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University - Varna, Bulgaria.
ABSTRACT:
Toxocariasis is a tissue zoonosis caused by Toxocara spp. and the exposure to these geohelminths varies in different parts of the population in a particular region.
The purpose of the study is to reveal the seroprevalence of toxocariasis in North-eastern Bulgaria and to establish its demographic structure.
Material/Methods: Within the scope of a broad seroepidemiological study, 701 individuals from North-eastern Bulgaria were tested for anti-Toxocara antibodies (ELISA) between 2017 and 2020. The results were stratified and analysed by age, gender, and place of residence.
Results: The overall seroprevalence of human toxocariasis in North-eastern Bulgaria is 18.54%. Children (18.85%) and adults (18.30%) show similar levels of infection, but the stratified analysis by age in 5-years intervals revealed notable discrepancies. In younger children, the seroprevalence is higher than the observed for the entire population (0-4 years - 22.22%; 5-9 years - 22.22%), while in adolescents and adults is lower than average. In the elderly, the seroprevalence rises to its highest levels (60-64 years - 30.56% and over 65 years -31.67%). Although there are variations between males and females, gender is not a significant factor for the distribution of toxocariasis. Higher seroprevalence levels in residents of the smaller settlements of the region (children - 28.18%; adults -29.10%) correspond to a 2.5-fold increase in the odds of contracting toxocariasis in comparison to the ones living in Varna city.
Conclusion: The overall seroprevalence of toxocariasis in North-eastern Bulgaria is alarmingly higher than the levels reported from other parts of the country, placing this unknown infection in a leading position among the parasitic zoonoses. The place of residence is the most significant factor driving the uneven distribution of the disease.
Keywords: Age Distribution, Demographics, Seroepidemiology, Sex Distribution, Toxocariasis, Residence Characteristics,
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Please cite this article as: Cvetkova T, Stoyanova K, Paunov T, Pavlov S. Demographic characteristics of the seroprevalence of human toxocariasis among the population of North-eastern Bulgaria. J of IMAB. 2021 Jul-Sep;27(3):3863-3867. DOI: 10.5272/jimab.2021273.3863
Correspondence to: Kalina Stoyanova Pavlova, Department of Infectious Diseases, Parasitology and Dermatovenereology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University – Varna; 55 Marin Drinov Str., 9000 Varna, Bulgaria; E-mail: drkalinasto@gmail.com
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Received: 21 October 2020
Published online: 05 August 2021