Screening of Cystic Echinococcosis and Toxocariasis in Urmia Municipal Workers, Northwest Iran.
BACKGROUND
Echinococcus granulosus and Toxocara spp., the causative agents of hydatid cyst and toxocariasis in humans and animals, are zoonotic infections with medical and veterinary significance respectively.


AIM
Herein, we aimed to investigate the seroprevalence of toxocariasis and cystic echinococcosis in Urmia municipal workers (gardeners and sweepers) in 2018 using ELISA assay.


OBJECTIVE
There is no precise report on the seroprevalence of toxocariasis and cystic echinococcosis in Urmia municipal workers using ELISA assay. Therefore, this study found an opportunity to investigate this subject.


METHODS
A total of 220 blood samples were obtained from municipal workers with an average age of 41.31 ± 9.42. Commercial anti-Toxocara canis and hydatid cyst ELISA kits were used to assess the seroprevalence rates.


RESULTS
Approximately, 14.5% and 2.3% of individuals were seropositive for toxocariasis and hydatidosis, respectively. Consuming unboiled milk and/or raw/uncooked meat and rural conditions are risk factors for toxocariasis. Regarding hydatidosis, consuming unwashed vegetables was the only statistically significant risk factor. Toxocara infection (p = 0.01), but not hydatid cyst (p = 0.05), is more prevalent among sweepers than municipal gardeners.


CONCLUSION
Due to the occupational condition of municipal workers, they are exposed to many infectious agents; thus, more researches should be done on these populations.
['Asadi|Negar|N|', 'Tappeh|Khosrow Hazrati|KH|', 'Mohebbi|Iraj|I|', 'Yousefi|Elham|E|', 'Khademvatan|Shahram|S|']
D000328:Adult D000818:Animals D004443:Echinococcosis D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay D006801:Humans D007492:Iran D008875:Middle Aged D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies D014119:Toxocara D014120:Toxocariasis
Cystic echinococcosis toxocariasis municipal workers Elisa IgG. Serology