Infection with the roundworm Toxocara canis leads to exacerbation of experimental allergic airway inflammation

Abstract

A previous infection with T. canis leads to exacerbation of experimental allergic airway inflammation. These results have important consequences for findings on the helminths-allergy association. Several factors, including parasite species, infection of definitive vs. accidental host, parasite load and timing of infection, may influence whether an infection with helminths protects one from or enhances allergic manifestations.

Clinical and laboratory characteristics of atopic myelitis: Korean experience

“…However, it is unclear whether the presence of atopy implies the variable underlying pathophysiology in atopic myelitis. Considering that some parasites such as Toxocara canis can enhance allergic manifestation to common environmental allergen [15], it is possible that such a parasitic infection may contribute to the development of atopic myelitis without parasitic migration into the spinal cord, especially in patients without previous atopic disease. But, although it is usually asymptomatic, none of our patients showed any symptoms associated with T. canis infection.…”

Toxocariasis in children attending a Public Health Service Pneumology Unit in Paraná State, Brazil

“…Mice infected with Toxocara spp. showed serious respiratory allergic inflammation leading to eosinophilia and respiratory tract hyper reactivity 19 . Some of the symptoms typical to VLM such as bronchial spasms, pneumonia and cutaneous reactions 25 were not observed in our study.…”

Allergie und Würmer: Sollen wir uns gute alte Freunde zurückholen?

“…One of the possible explanations might be that the timing of infection in relation to the exposure to an allergen plays an important role. To address this, Pinelli et al combined a mouse model of allergic airway inflammation with an experimental model of T. canis infection [83]. Mice were infected with T. canis eggs and exposed to an ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization/challenge protocol at 3 or 20 days post-infection.…”