Zoonotic parasitosis transmitted by dogs in the Chaco Salteño, Argentina

TARANTO NJ, PASSAMONTE L, MARINCONZ R, DE MARZI MC, CAJAL SP, MALCHIODI EL.

MEDICINA (BUENOS AIRES)

Año: 2000 vol. 60 p. 217 - 220

0025-7680

Toxocara canis and Ancylostoma spp. are geohelmints that parasites dogs and caneventually affect humans, mainly children, causing visceral and cutaneous larvamigrans respectively, constituting a serious public health problem. This studywas carried out in two towns located in the xerophilous forest Chaco salteñowhere humans live closely with many animals, including dogs. Hematological valuesand anti-Toxocara canis antibodies, determined by ELISA in serum, were evaluated in 98 children from this area. Thirty-six children presented with eosinophilia of10% or higher in peripheral blood. Twenty out of 98 (20.4%) children hadantibodies against antigen from L2 larvae of Toxocara canis. A high percentage(55.6%) of the children with eosinophilia presented anti-Toxocara canisantibodies. Nine children had multiple serpiginous lesions typical of cutaneouslarva migrans. Feces from dogs were collected in the area where children lived,in order to search for parasite contamination. Three different techniques ofstool examination were employed and eggs were counted. Out of the 106 fecesexamined, parasites were found in 82 samples (77.4%). Ancylostoma spp eggs werefound in 74 (69.8%) samples and eggs from Toxocara canis were found in 19(17.2%). The average number of T. canis and Ancylostoma spp eggs/gr of feces,were 200 and 3,871 respectively. Giardia spp (14.5%), Trichuris vulpis (7.6%),Genus Endamoeba (2.8%) and Taenia spp (1.9%) were also identified in the stools. Sanitary control and health education in order to control these parasitoses areemphasized.