Introduction. Toxocariasis is a helminthosis caused by the migration of Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati larvae in human hosts. Toxocara spp. release excretory-secretory antigens with a strong allergic effect that can cause urticaria, angioedema and other allergic symptoms. The diagnosis of toxocariasis is based on detecting specific serum anti-Toxocara IgG antibodies. Frequent cross reactivity and long persistence of anti-Toxocara antibodies create diagnostic difficulties and require adoption of additional diagnostic markers. A potential marker could be the total level of immunoglobulin E (IgE).
The objective of the study was to evaluate total serum IgE as a diagnostic marker in patients with anti-Toxocara IgG antibodies and clinical allergy.
Material and methods. During the period 2022-2023, we compared the levels of total serum IgE in 46 patients with allergic symptoms and presence of anti-Toxocara IgG antibodies, 46 allergic patients without anti-Toxocara antibodies and 50 healthy subjects. The serological examination for both anti-Toxocara IgG and total IgE was performed via the ELISA method.
Results. We observed a statistically significant difference between the mean total IgE levels in the control group compared to both positive and negative for anti-Toxocara IgG antibodies patients with clinical allergy (p<0.05). There was a significant positive correlation between the levels of anti-Toxocara IgG antibodies and the levels of total IgE (p = 0.038).
Conclusions. We suggest that patients with total IgE levels above the reference values and clinical allergy should be tested for anti-Toxocara IgG antibodies, with the goal of early diagnosis and treatment of hidden toxocariasis cases.
Keywords: toxocariasis, allergy, urticaria, total IgE, ELISA.
Full text sources https://doi.org/10.31688/ABMU.2024.59.2.02
How to cite
Email to Author
Address for correspondence:
Ludmil S. STOYANOV
Address: 1, Saint Kliment Ohridski Street, 5800 Pleven, Bulgaria
Email: ludmilstoyanov92@abv.bg; Phone: +359 889907713