Clinical, Laboratory Characteristic, and Treatment of Human Toxocariasis in Northern Vietnam

Huong  Nguyen Thu; Thang Dao  Van; Van Nguyen  Thi Anh; Tho Tran  Huy; Tuyen Nguyen  Trung; Nam Le  Van; Binh Do Nhu

doi:10.18502/ijpa.v17i1.9010

Huong Nguyen Thu Department of Microbiology-Parasitology, Faculty of Basic Medicine, Hanoi University of Health Public, Hanoi, Vietnam
Thang Dao Van Department of Infectious Disease, Military Hospital 103, Hanoi, Vietnam
Van Nguyen Thi Anh Department of Microbiology-Parasitology, Faculty of Basic Medicine, Hanoi University of Health Public, Hanoi, Vietnam
Tho Tran Huy Department of Outpatient, National Institute of Malariology, Parasitology and Entomology, Hanoi, Vietnam
Tuyen Nguyen Trung Department of Orthopedic, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam
Nam Le Van Department of Infectious Disease, Military Hospital 103, Hanoi, Vietnam
Binh Do Nhu Department of Infectious Disease, Military Hospital 103, Hanoi, Vietnam

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijpa.v17i1.9010

Keywords: Toxocariasis; Visceral larva migrants; Serology

Abstract

Background: We determined the occurrence frequency of Clinical signs, subclinical characteristics on positive anti-IgG Toxocara ELISA cases, and clinical response results after 1 month of albendazole-specific treatment.

Methods: A number of 103 clinically treated patients were studied between 2018 and 2019 in two hospitals. Relevant data are collected from examination and medical records such as age, sex, job, resident, clinical and sub-clinical signs. Sera samples were subjected to anti-IgG Toxocara antigen using ELISA.

Results: The median age of the patient was 43.6 ± 14.4 years. The most common symptom groups were the skin and mucosa (88.3%), followed by neurological symptoms (44%). There are 76.7% of patients with risk factors for contact with pet dogs and cats. The majority of eosinophils in the normal range (< 8%) accounted for 85.4%, the major results of the OD value of ELISA were in the group (≥ 0.3-< 1.5) accounted for 75.7%. The skin and mucosa lesions in toxocariasis patients related to IgE values were statistically significant (P <0.05). The effectiveness of anthelmintic treatment is low with nearly half of patients having no clinical symptoms after 1 month of post-treatment. It is statistically significant between exposure to dogs/cats and treatment outcomes on clinical symptoms (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Toxocara infections in Vietnamese people often have skin allergies and liver damage, rarely with severe neurological symptoms. The efficacy of albendazole treatment after one month is not clear. In the near future, research with a confirmatory test other than Anti-IgG Toxocara ELISA is needed to screen for in-hospital diagnosis.