Toxocarosis in children living in a highly contaminated area. An epidemiological and clinical study

Sixty three children, who were living in an area known to be heavily contam inated by dog faeces in the centre of city of Poznan, Poland (Toxocara spp. eggs were found in 53% of 40 g soil samples), were examined for antibodies to Toxocara spp. Five children (7.9%) had high absorbance values in the To xocara ELISA test. Geophagia and dog's ownership were the major associated risk factors. Neither present nor past symptoms and signs usually related t o toxocarosis were found in any of the seropositive children. The study con firmed that toxocarosis may be clinically inapparent even in an area where exposure to infection is common and serological responses well pronounced.