Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Toxocara canis among Patients with Uveitis

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Toxocara canis in patients with uveitis.

Methods: Patients with uveitis were examined. Serum antibodies to T. gondii and T. canis were tested by using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was done using blood and aqueous humor (AH).

Results: Ninety-eight patients were enrolled. Mean age was 43.5 ± 13.2 years. Six patients were seropositive for T. gondii with the following pattern: anterior uveitis, 1; posterior uveitis with retinitis, 2; pan uveitis, 2. One patient had a positive PCR result for T. gondii in AH, who showed panuveitis. Twenty-three patients were positive to serum IgG for T. canis with the following clinical manifestation: granuloma, 6; pigmented scar, 3; vitritis, 6—but none were PCR positive.

Conclusions: T. gondii and T. canis are still important causes of uveitis. Ocular toxocariasis is not an uncommon cause of uveitis, even in adults.

• Ocular toxocariasis
• ocular toxoplasmosis
• parasite
• serologic test
• uveitis

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

This study was performed with a fund (2011-E54010-00) supported by Korea National Institute of Health Korea, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.