The Turkish Journal of Pediatrics
2010 , Vol 52 , Num 2
Visceral Larva Migrans Among Children in Kütahya (Turkey) and an Evaluation of Playgrounds for T. canis Eggs
Department of Parasitology, Dumlupınar University Faculty of Medicine, Kütahya, Turkey
This research was undertaken to determine the seroprevalence of Toxocara
canis (T. canis) in children aged 3-13 years in Kütahya, to determine the
presence of infected larvae in playground sandboxes, and to obtain a view of
the general situation regarding visceral larva migrans (VLM) in the city. The
blood sera of 119 children (54 girls, 65 boys) were tested for T. canis IgG,
and 9 (7.6%) were found positive. In sand samples collected from playgrounds
in nine different residential areas across the city, only two of them, in Inköy
and Zafertepe neighborhoods, had T. canis larvae; in total, 3 of the 30 sand
samples (10%) contained larvae. It is concluded that the main factor regarding
VLM infection in children is outdoor playgrounds or playing areas.
Keywords :
visceral larva migrans, Toxocara canis, parasite, children.