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Aim: To determine the main clinical signs and symptoms of adult toxocariasis and the relationship between anti-Toxocara canis antibody levels, symptoms, and the other biological parameters., Material and Methods: Prospective study conducted in the interval 2008 - 2011 in a series of 457 adult patients from Moldova, Romania. The ELISA method was used to detect the presence of IgG antibodies against T. canis. Fasting blood samples were collected from all patients who then underwent the following tests by standard methods: hemoglobin, hematocrit, eosinophils, lymphocytes, white blood cell count, SGOT, SGPT., Results: An IgG titer of 1/100 was most commonly found in case of allergies, physical asthenia, sensation of constriction in the anterior cervical area, right hypochondriac pain, paresthesies, nervousness (anxiety) and lipotimic states; a 1/50 titer was most often associated with hive reactions, dysphonia, lower limb edema, and pale/yellow axy skin. In patients with laterocervical adenopathy the most frequent determinations were 1/100 (34.0%), followed by 1/50 (22.6%)., Conclusions: The statistically significant clinical signs and symptoms may represent a starting point in making a diagnosis of toxocariasis. Of the non-specific laboratory findings we mention: hyperleukocytosis , hypereosinophilia and low hen)atocit, elevated transaminases level having a high sensitivity and specificity. The diagnosis of certainty is made by determining IgG for T. canis or the presence of larvae in the biopsy tissues. Key-

Unlabelled: The aim of the current study was to examine the relationship between asthma and toxocariasis., Material and Methods: We have studied 76 patients with asthma and 88 controls (without asthma) aged 5-16 years. An ELISA test based on the detection of anti-Toxocara canis (E/S antigen) serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) and E (IgE) was done in both groups. Ordinary allergens and E/S antigen of T. canis infections were used to evaluate cutaneous reactivity., Results: Seroprevalence in asthma patients was 68.42% and in the controls 13.63%. This difference was significant. The percentage of asthmatic patients with two anti-Toxocara antibodies was 26.31%, and of 4.54% in controls. All asthma patients with anti-Toxocara IgE had cutaneous reactivity to Ag E/S., Conclusions: Asthma patients with anti-Toxocara IgE and IgG may have toxocariasis.

Aim: Epidemiological study on a statistically significant population for determining the true degree of Toxocara canis infections in the adults from Moldova, Romania., Methods: 457 patients, 416 females and 41 males (91% and 9%, respectively) entered the study. Mean age of the investigated patients was 44.50 +/- 12.706 years, with small differences between sexes. 49.2% were from rural and 50.8% from urban areas. Data on living conditions, animals in the household, and source of drinking water were obtained through direct questioning. At present there is no definitive diagnostic method for Toxocara infection, as the actual sensitivity and specificity of serological tests cannot be determined accurately. IgG antibody titer specific for T. canis was assessed by ELISA in all study patients., Results: Most infections were recorded in 2009 (51.4%), 15.3% in 2008, 17.1% in 2010 14.0% in 2011, and 2.2% (10 cases) in 2012. An IgG titer of 1/100 was found in 40.7% of the patients. Toxocariasis prevalence in our geographic area was 51.7%, without significant sex differences. However, while the percentages of negative determinations were similar for both sexes (42.5% in females and 46.3% in males), almost twice more men (9.8% vs. 4.6% women) had a 1/10 determination, while 21,4% of the women had a 1/50 determination as compared to 9,8% of the males. The source of water was not, at least in this study group, a major cause of disease in adults. The statistical results show a major and significant influence of human contact with the dog. Thus, in dog owners 1/50 and 1/100 determinations being found in equal percentages (26% of the total), while in those having both dogs and cats the 1/100 determination was the most common (40.7% of the total)., Conclusions: Our data can be the basis for a nation-wide seroprevalence study and programs to eradicate this infection.

Unlabelled: The authors present the results of retroprospective epidemiological, clinical and laboratory diagnosis on toxocariasis cases hospitalized in the Paediatric Diseases Clinic of Iaşi, between January 2005- June 2008., Material and Method: The study included a number of 228 children., Results: Cutaneous manifestations were present in 65 children: 30 boys (46.15%) and 34 girls (52.30%), with a slight advance of the urban environment (53.84%). The age distribution highlighted a predominance of 1-6 age (66.15%). Cutaneous manifestations were pruritus, urticaria, atopic dermatitis, prurigo. The distribution of toxocariasis in children patients in Moldavia, Romania, highlighted a predominance in Iaşi. The laboratory diagnosis of the children with cutaneous manifestations: hypereosinophilia was present on 87.69% of the children associated with hyperleucocytosis. All the patients were serologicaly confirmed with toxocariasis. The children responded well to treatment with albendazole.