Seroprevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Toxocariasis in Children With Hypereosinophilia in Iran.

Introduction: Toxocariasis is a significant parasitic disease with a global distribution, caused by two nematodes Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from May 2021 to June 2023, involving a cohort of 300 children aged 2 to 15 years who presented with eosinophilia (>10%) and were referred to healthcare facilities in Lorestan Province. Children who were younger than 12 years (between 2-12 years), had blood eosinophil counts exceeding 10%, and consented to participate in this study were deemed to fulfill the inclusion criteria. The prevalence of toxocariasis was confirmed serologically by detecting human IgG antibodies utilizing commercially available anti-IgG- Results: Out of a total of 300 children with eosinophilia, 35(11.7%) were identified as seropositive for toxocariasis. Specifically, female participants were less likely to contract toxocariasis than male children [P=0.002, OR=0.184 (0.052-0543)]. Additionally, individuals living in urban environments exhibit a 4.54-fold increased likelihood of contracting toxocariasis compared to their rural counterparts [P=0.010, OR=4.546 (1.433-9.419)]. Furthermore, individuals who did not consume unwashed vegetables demonstrated a reduced risk of toxocariasis infection [P=0.001, OR=0.016 (0.005-0.048)]. Conclusion: The findings of our study indicated a significant seroprevalence of toxocariasis among children exhibiting eosinophilia in western Iran. This suggests that toxocariasis should be regarded as a potential etiological factor for eosinophilia, particularly in individuals with a history of consuming unwashed fruits and vegetables, as well as those residing in rural regions of Iran.