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Toxocara-infestations in Austria: a study on the risk of infection of farmers, slaughterhouse staff, hunters and veterinarians

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Abstract

A total of 585 persons from several occupational groups (farmers, slaughterhouse staff, hunters, veterinarians) exposed to Toxocara infestations and 50 persons of a control group were tested for the presence of specific antibodies to the Toxocara canis antigen using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and a western blot. Farmers showed the highest seroprevalence (44%), followed by veterinarians (27%), slaughterhouse staff (25%) and hunters (17%), whereas only 2% of the individuals of the control group were seropositive. Thus, the risk to Toxocara infestation is 39, 18, 16 and 9 times higher for farmers, veterinarians, slaughterhouse staff (some workers were part-time farmers) and for hunters, respectively, when compared to the control group. The main source of infection in rural areas seems to be (roaming) farm cats and dogs that have not been dewormed. The results are discussed with a view to potential risk factors and preventive measures, in terms of veterinary and human medicine.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Animal Health Service, Department of Veterinary Administration, Styrian Provincial Government, Graz, Austria

    Armin Deutz & Josef Köfer

  2. Institute of Applied Statistics and Systems Analysis, Joanneum Research, Graz, Austria

    Klemens Fuchs

  3. Department of Medical Parasitology, Clinical Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1095, Vienna, Austria

    Herbert Auer & Horst Aspöck

  4. Social Security Agency for Farmers, Graz, Austria

    Ulrike Kerbl

Authors
  1. Armin Deutz
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  2. Klemens Fuchs
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  3. Herbert Auer
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  4. Ulrike Kerbl
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  5. Horst Aspöck
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  6. Josef Köfer
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Correspondence to Herbert Auer.

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Deutz, A., Fuchs, K., Auer, H. et al. Toxocara-infestations in Austria: a study on the risk of infection of farmers, slaughterhouse staff, hunters and veterinarians. Parasitol Res 97, 390–394 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-005-1469-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-005-1469-5

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