SEROLOGICAL EVIDENCE OF TOXOCARIASIS IN PATIENTS FROM SPAIN WITH A CLINICAL SUSPICION OF VISCERAL LARVA MIGRANS

Sera from patients with clinical characteristics of toxocariasis were assayed using the ELISA method and larval excretory-secretory antigen. Four hundred and seven samples of Toxocara serology were received at the laboratory of 'Ciudad Sanitaria Juan Canalejo' Hospital of Corunna , Spain, from 1984 to 1989. Of these, 30 were from adults, 332 from ch ildren and 45 from patients of unknown age, resulting in Toxocara sero prevalences of 23.3%, 32.8% and 17.7% respectively. The reasons for th ese serological differences in the rural and urban areas of Galicia, S pain are discussed.