SEROPREVALENCE OF TOXOCARA INFECTION IN MIDDLE-CLASS AND DISADVANTAGED-CHILDREN IN NORTHERN SPAIN (GIPUZKOA, BASQUE COUNTRY)

The prevalence of human toxocarosis in disadvantaged socioeconomic pop ulation in Europe is unknown. In Gipuzkoa the seroprevalence in middle -class children 2- to 5-years-old, and 6- to 16-year-olds, was zero (n = 135) and 4.4% (n = 320), respectively. In contrast, among socially and economically disadvantaged children the figures were 37% (n = 27) and 65.7% (n = 64). This high prevalence obliges us to consider toxoca rosis as a public health problem.