Status of human toxocariasis, a neglected parasitic zoonosis in Iran: a systematic review from past to current. (October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shafiei, Reza; Rahimi, Mohammad T; Emameh, Reza Zolfaghari; Mirzaei, Mehdi; Perez-Cordon, Gregorio; Ahmadpour, Ehsan
• Is Part Of: Tropical doctor. Volume 50:Number 4(2020)
• Page Start: 285
• Page End: 291
• Publication Date: 2020-10
• Subjects: Toxocariasis -- zoonosis -- public health -- Iran; Tropical medicine -- Periodicals; Medical care -- Developing countries -- Periodicals; Developing Countries -- Periodicals; Tropical Medicine -- Periodicals; Tropische geneeskunde; 616.9883
• DOI: 10.1177/0049475520931545
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0049-4755

Abstract

Although human toxocariasis can lead to serious complications including neurological, ocular and visceral complications, there is a lack of comprehensive epidemiological information about the seroprevalence of Toxocara species in humans. In the present study, we analysed and reviewed the overall seroprevalence of human toxocariasis in Iran. The data collection was systematically undertaken on published articles using the PubMed, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect and Scopus databases. A total of 27 studies from the past two decades reporting seroprevalence of human toxocariasis met our eligibility criteria. The pooled proportion of Toxocara infection was estimated as 6.58% (95% confidence interval = 3.98–9.77). A wide variation between different studies was observed (Q statistic = 799.37, df = 26, P < 0.0001, and I 2 = 96.7%). The seroprevalence rate of toxocariasis in the Iranian population is relatively high; contamination of the environment by eggs from the host as well as from household dogs and cats should be blamed.