Yang Yi, Zhong Die, Wu Haiyan, Xiong Zhiwei, Yang Chenyu, Yang Lei, Zhang Hongli, Wu Beibei, Ma Guangxu
College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
ZJU-Xinchang Joint Innovation Centre (TianMu Laboratory), Gaochuang Hi-Tech Park, Xinchang, China.
Infect Dis Poverty. 2025 Jun 5;14(1):43. doi: 10.1186/s40249-025-01312-w.
Human toxocariasis, caused by the zoonotic parasites Toxocara canis (dog roundworm) and T. cati (cat roundworm), affects approximately 19% of the global population, ranking it among the most prevalent neglected infection of poverty. However, public awareness about this zoonotic disease has not yet been achieved in China. In this study, we conducted an epidemiological survey to assess the prevalence and risk factors of Toxocara infection in dogs and cats, as well as toxocariasis or Toxocara exposure in humans in Zhejiang.
An epidemiological survey was conducted between January 2023 and April 2024 to ascertain the prevalence of Toxocara infection in Zhejiang, where has been set to be a model for common prosperity in China. Fecal samples from dogs (n = 1156) and cats (n = 818) were examined for Toxocara eggs using the saturated saline floatation method and molecular tools, while human serum samples (n = 347) were tested for antibodies against Toxocara species by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Risk factors for Toxocara infection in dogs, cats and humans were analyzed using logistic regression models.
The overall prevalence of Toxocara infection was 5.36% in dogs, 2.08% in cats, and 12.10% in humans in Zhejiang, China. Age (≤ 6 months, OR = 6.22, P = 0.026), season (autumn, OR = 13.93, P = 0.017 and spring, OR = 11.07, P = 0.027) and deworming frequency (< 4 times/year, OR = 0.18, P < 0.001) were identified as major risk factors for T. canis infection in dogs, whereas residing in an animal shelter (OR = 13.14, P = 0.020) was a risk factor for T. cati infection in cats. Occupation exposure (OR = 4.53, P = 0.009) was the most significant risk factor for Toxocara infection in humans.
Due to the good economic status and social welfare, the prevalence of Toxocara infection in dogs, cats and humans is relatively low in Zhejiang, China. However, an "One Health" paradigm about human toxocariasis intervention is lacking and the risk factors (particularly pet deworming and occupational exposure) for Toxocara infection and transmission warrant improved public awareness.
人兽共患寄生虫犬弓首线虫（犬蛔虫）和猫弓首线虫（猫蛔虫）引起的人体弓首线虫病影响着全球约19%的人口，使其成为最普遍的被忽视的贫困相关感染之一。然而，中国公众对这种人兽共患病的认识尚未普及。在本研究中，我们进行了一项流行病学调查，以评估浙江犬猫弓首线虫感染的患病率和危险因素，以及人类弓首线虫病或弓首线虫暴露情况。
于2023年1月至2024年4月进行了一项流行病学调查，以确定浙江弓首线虫感染的患病率，浙江已被设定为中国共同富裕的典范。使用饱和盐水漂浮法和分子工具对犬（n = 1156）和猫（n = 818）的粪便样本进行弓首线虫卵检测，同时通过酶联免疫吸附试验对人类血清样本（n = 347）进行抗弓首线虫属抗体检测。使用逻辑回归模型分析犬、猫和人类弓首线虫感染的危险因素。
在中国浙江，犬弓首线虫感染的总体患病率为5.36%，猫为2.08%，人类为12.10%。年龄（≤6个月，OR = 6.22，P = 0.026）、季节（秋季，OR = 13.93，P = 0.017；春季，OR = 11.07，P = 0.027）和驱虫频率（<4次/年，OR = 0.18，P < 0.001）被确定为犬感染犬弓首线虫的主要危险因素，而居住在动物收容所（OR = 13.14，P = 0.020）是猫感染猫弓首线虫的危险因素。职业暴露（OR = 4.53，P = 0.009）是人类弓首线虫感染最显著的危险因素。
由于良好的经济状况和社会福利，中国浙江犬、猫和人类的弓首线虫感染患病率相对较低。然而，缺乏关于人体弓首线虫病干预的“同一健康”模式，弓首线虫感染和传播的危险因素（特别是宠物驱虫和职业暴露）需要提高公众意识。
