High Eosinophilia Strongly Associated with Human Toxocariasis

Backround:  The aim of this study was to reveal the prevalence of toxocariasis in patients with eosinophilia using Western blotting, and to show the importance of eosinophilia for toxocariasis.  Materials and Methods:  For this aim, 122 individuals, of whom 37 was without eosinophilia, were included to the study and in their serum sample, presence of IgG against Toxocara canis was investigated by Western blotting. Patients with eosinophilia were divided into two groups. In the first group (n=52), eosinophilic cells constitute 3% to 10% of total white cells (<10% ) whereas in the second group (n: 33) eosinophilic cells constitute greater  than or equal to 10% of total white cells ( ≥ 10%) . In addition, the cut-off value of the control group (n=37) for eosinophilia was ≤3% of total white cells. Results:  According to the results that obtained from the study, 62.3% (n=76/122) of all patients (including healthy people) were found seropositive. Also, 97% of (n=32/33) patient serum samples with ≥10 eosinophilia and 46.1% (n=24/52) of patient serum samples with <10% eosinophilia were found to be positive when patients were categorized depending on eosinophilia levels. Among control group serum samples with ≤3% eosinophilia (n=37), 54% of them were detected to be positive. Conclusion:  Accordingly, the seropositivity rate detected in patients with at least 10% eosinophilia was statistically significant when compared with the other groups ( P<0.05 ). Seropositivity values detected in patients with eosinophilia are notable. Therefore, physicians should keep Toxocara spp. infection in mind in patients with eosinophilia.