Cambridge Journals Online

Journal of Helminthology (1999), 73:357-361 Cambridge University Press

Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1999

doi:10.1017/S0022149X99000608

Research Article

A retrospective study of ocular toxocariasis in Japan: correlation with antibody prevalence and ophthalmological findings of patients with uveitis

M. Yoshidaa1, Y. Shiraoa2, H. Asaia2, H. Nagasea1, H. Nakamuraa1, T. Okazawaa3, K. Kondoa4, T. H. Takayanagia5, K. Fujitaa5 and N. Akaoa5 c1 a1 Department of Public Health a2 Department of Ophthalmology a3 International Student Center, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan a4 Ishikawa Health Service Association, Kanazawa, Japan a5 Department of Medical Zoology Faculty of Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan

Article author query Yoshida M   Shirao Y   Asai H   Nagase H   Nakamura H   Okazawa T   Kondo K   Takayanagi TH   Fujita K   Akao N

Abstract

To classify the clinical characteristics of ocular toxocariasis in Japan, the prevalence of antibodies to Toxocara antigens was examined in patients with uveitis of unknown aetiology. From 1982 to 1993, serum specimens of 383 cases and intraocular fluid samples of 22 cases were serologically screened for Toxocara infection with five immunodiagnostic tests. Fifty-five sera and 11 intravitreous fluid samples were estimated to have significantly high antibody levels against larval excretory–secretory (ES) antigens of T. canis. Eight cases were positive in both serum and vitreous fluid, and three were positive only in the vitreous fluid. Among the 58 antibody positive samples, 20 cases were omitted due to a lack of detailed description of ocular findings. The remaining 38 cases are described in this study. Of these 38 cases, 34 (89%) were older than 20 years of age. Ocular lesions were located in the posterior fundus in 11 cases, in the peripheral fundus in 18 cases, and in both areas in seven cases. Of the eight cases in which papillary oedema or redness was observed, chorioretinal lesions were also present in seven of them. Tractional retinal detachment was present in five cases. These observations suggest that ocular toxocariasis in Japan has a different clinical profile compared with those in the other countries, and indicate a need for revised classification of ocular toxocariasis.

(Accepted March 17 1999)

Correspondence:

^c1 Author for correspondence. Fax: 81 3 5684 2849 E-mail: ochoa.mzoo@ med.tmd.ac.jp