EPIDEMIOLOGIC APPROACH TO HUMAN TOXOCARIASIS IN WESTERN FRANCE

Toxocara canis is a common parasite in pup pies. The danger to human h ealth has not been properly established. We estimated the current inci dence of this pathogen in two western districts of France, Loire-Atlan tique and Maine et Loire. Blood samples from 1836 eosino-philic patien ts were collected and tested by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ( ELISA) excretory-secretory Toxocara antigen test. We obtained positive results in 22% of the cases and highly positive results in 7%. The EL ISA data seemed to be age-dependent, with older patients having more p ositive results (P < 0.0001). The interlaboratory distribution of posi tive test results was statistically significantly different (P < 0.000 1), suggesting regional sources. The main clinical expressions of toxo cariasis were: asthenia, gastric pain, and pulmonary disease. Individu al anti collective surveys of this zoonotic disease need to be carried out.