Seroprevalence Study on Human Toxocariasis (T. canis) with Relation to Religion Using ELISA Technique: A Case Study of Six Government Hospitals Adamawa State, Nigeria

Abstract

Seroprevalence study on human Toxocariasis (T.canis) Antibody titre using ELISA Technique was conducted amongst the two major religions (Christians and Moslems) in Six Government Hospitals of Adamawa State Nigeria, between the months of January to June 2018. Five hundred and sixty four (564) samples were collected using non randomised sampling technique. Statistical analyses were carried out using Statistix 9.1 and the results obtained from the study revealed an overall Seroprevalence rate of 46.82%. Seroprevalence results indicated that 167(29.61%) Christians and 97(17.21%) Moslems were positive showing a negative correlation (-0.0332) and was statistically non-significant P = (0.4315). In conclusion the study showed that there is a very high Seroprevalence of Toxocara canis Antibody titre amongst the different religions in the studied population. Therefore it is recommended that Anti-Toxocara Antibody screening be included into routine medical diagnosis in government hospitals and also in private medical outfits. It is also recommended that further studies on molecular diagnosis be carried out to ascertain the gene markers responsible for the pathology caused to the host by (T.canis).