Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati do not transform in human organism into a mature form and they circulate reaching various organs and tissues causing characteristic symptoms. Activated eosinophils, which play a significant role in parasitic invasion, contain in their granules eosinophilic cationic
protein (ECP) of strong pro-inflammatory activity. The aim of the study was to estimate the concentration of
immunoglobulin E, peripheral blood
eosinophilia and serum concentration of eosinophilic cationic
protein in children treated for
toxocariasis and the analysis of their value as the markers of active invasion and the
therapy efficacy. The study included 45 children, aged from 3 to 18 years with Toxocara canis
infection diagnosed for the first time. The children were diagnosed and treated at the Department of Gastroenterology, in the Outpatient Gastrointestinal and Allergologic Clinic, Institute Polish Mother Health Centre. T. canis larva
infection was diagnosed based on serological investigation using immunoenzymatic ELISA test (Bordier Affinity Products, Switzerland). The tests (percentage of
eosinophilia in peripheral blood, ECP,
IgE) were performed after diagnosis and every 3 months since the beginning of the
therapy. In children with
toxocariasis its covert form was diagnosed and
mebendazole was administered. Among the children with
toxocariasis eosinophilia was found in 14 (31.1%) before
therapy. Mean percentage of peripheral blood eosinophils was 5.58% in children with
toxocariasis. The concentration of
IgE was elevated in these children and was significantly higher than in the control group (p=0.002). Mean
IgE concentration after 3-and 6-month
therapy decreased
IgE(I) vs
IgE(III) (p=0.01), but it was still higher than normal value. In children with
toxocariasis the ECP concentration was 30.19 microg/l before the
therapy and was significantly higher than in the control group (p<0.05); after 6 months of the
therapy it decreased significantly (p<0.05). Eosinophilic cationic
protein and
eosinophilia can be the markers of Toxocara canis
infection activity. The determination of
immunoglobulin E and eosinophilic cationic
protein concentration may be useful for
toxocariasis therapy monitoring.