Klasyczne i nowoczesne metody diagnozowania toksokarozy u dzieci

Toxocara is a widespread intestinal parasite of pets such as dogs and cats as well as wild canids (e.g. foxes) and felids. Given that, toxocariasis is one of the world's most prevalent human zoonoses. Humans are a paratenic host for the parasite. The diagnosis of the disease could be difficult due to nonspecific symptoms and low specificity of commercial diagnostic tests. There are two classic clinical pictures of toxocariasis: visceral and ocular. However, the real challenge for the physician is covert toxocariasis when symptoms remain mild and non-specific or neurotoxocariasis which is very rare. The routine diagnosis relies on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) that uses Toxocara excretory-secretory (TES) antigen to detect IgG antibodies to the larvae. This method is characterized by low specificity and it is useless for the assessment of treatment efficacy. Many attempts were made to enhance sensitivity and specificity of toxocariasis serological testing. These include more extensive use of a Western blot technique, evaluation of testing specific IgG subclasses or other than IgG antibodies against Toxocara. Nowadays, recombinant TES antigen is more widely used for routine diagnostic rather than native TES.