Neurol Sci

Acute myelitis is a common neurological manifestation due to different causes, but in about 15-30% of cases its etiology remains unknown (idiopathic myelitis). Myelitis represents the most common manifestation of neurotoxocariasis, the infection of the human nervous system by larvae of the nematode Toxocara spp.; however, despite the high seroprevalence worldwide, its contribution to the burden of disease has not been assessed. We evaluated the presence of antibodies against Toxocara spp. in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from a sample of 28 patients with a diagnosis of idiopathic myelitis (N\u2009=\u200920) or encephalomyelitis (N\u2009=\u20098) who attended the Neurological Unit of the University Hospital of Catania, Sicily. Antibodies against Toxocara spp. were measured using a multiplex bead-based assay and Toxocara immunoblot using Toxocara canis excretory secretory antigens. All samples tested negative for the presence of anti-T. canis IgG antibodies. In this series, we found no evidence of a contribution of neurotoxocariasis to the burden of myelitis.CC999999/ImCDC/Intramural CDC HHS/United StatesPiano Triennale di Sviluppo delle Attivit\ue0 di Ricerca Scientifica del Dipartimento 2016-18/Department G.F. Ingrassia, University of Catania/2020-11-06T00:00:00Z31332580PMC76469898645vault:3615