[Prevalence of toxocariasis in rural and urban areas].

The prevalence of toxocariasis was studied among different age groups of the population in eight municipal entities of the Sverdlovsk Region. Since 1995, the number of infected patients was shown to have annually increased by 1.4-2 times and amounted to 2.9 per 100,000. The 2003 serological surveys indicated that Toxocara antibodies were found in 8.9% of the children examined in different areas of the region. The epidemic process more actively involved rural children. Numerous tests for Toxocara eggs were more positive in the cities and towns with every amenity than in rural areas. Serodiagnostic tests demonstrated that children aged 3-6 and 7-14 years were involved into the epidemic process. The similar data were obtained in different age groups of adults. Nevertheless, among the adult population, the number of adult seropositive persons was significantly 1.9 times higher than that of children, which may reflect certain regularities in the formation of an immune stratum. The titers of serum Toxocara antibodies, being 1:800 or higher, may suggest that more than 50% of the total number of the examinees might be, in terms of clinical signs, patients with toxocariasis.