Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, State University of New York, Downstate 450 Clarkson Avenue, Box 43, Brooklyn, NY 11203, USA.
Int J Parasitol. 2011 Feb;41(2):243-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2010.09.006. Epub 2010 Nov 9.
The relevance of parasitic infection for the increasing incidence of asthma is a topic of considerable debate. Large population-based studies examining the association between helminth infection and specific measures of lung function in humans are lacking. This report sought to examine this association by exploring the differences in forced expiratory volume in 1s (FEV(1)) among participants with and without infection with Toxocara spp. using data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, undertaken by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, during 1988-1994. The results showed a significant association between diminished lung function and previous infection with Toxocara spp. Those with antibody evidence of Toxocara infection displayed FEV(1) that was 105.3mL less than those without previous infection. This relationship persisted while controlling for age, sex, education level, BMI, smoking status, ethnicity, immigration, rural residence and dog ownership (fully-adjusted difference=73mL). These findings suggest diminished lung function in the presence of Toxocara infection and illustrate the urgent need for longitudinal data to more clearly define the immunological relationship with helminth infection and its potential influence on lung function.
寄生虫感染与哮喘发病率增加之间的相关性是一个备受争议的话题。目前缺乏大规模的基于人群的研究来检验人类中寄生虫感染与特定肺功能指标之间的关联。本报告旨在通过探索美国卫生与公众服务部在 1988-1994 年期间进行的第三次国家健康和营养检查调查（Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey）中，有无弓蛔虫属（Toxocara spp.）感染的参与者之间 1 秒用力呼气量（FEV1）的差异来检验这种关联。结果表明，肺功能下降与弓蛔虫属感染之间存在显著关联。具有弓蛔虫属感染抗体证据的人群的 FEV1 比无既往感染的人群少 105.3mL。在控制年龄、性别、教育程度、BMI、吸烟状况、种族、移民、农村居住和养狗等因素后，这种关系仍然存在（完全调整差异=73mL）。这些发现表明在存在弓蛔虫属感染的情况下肺功能下降，并说明迫切需要进行纵向数据研究以更清楚地定义与寄生虫感染的免疫学关系及其对肺功能的潜在影响。
