Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
3423160 Trends in Parasitology 2014 9 Pages PDF
Abstract

•Simple description of the problematic clinical manifestations of toxocariasis.•Comparison of emerging and classical ELISA for immunodiagnosis of toxocariasis.•Description of new drugs and drug formulations for toxocariasis treatment.•New interventions for immunomodulation and prevention of toxocariasis.

Toxocariasis is a neglected zoonosis caused by the nematodes Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati. This disease is widespread in many countries, reaching high prevalence independently of the economic conditions. However, the true number of cases of toxocariasis is likely to be underestimated owing to the lack of adequate surveillance programs. Although some diagnostic tests are available, their sensitivity and specificity need to be improved. In addition, treatment options for toxocariasis are limited and are non-specific. Toxocariasis is listed as one of the five most important neglected diseases by the CDC. This review presents recent advances related to the control of toxocariasis, including new immunodiagnostics, therapies, and drug formulations, as well as novel interventions using DNA vaccines, immunomodulators, and probiotics.

Related Topics
Life Sciences Immunology and Microbiology Parasitology
Authors
, , , , , , ,