Prevalence and Risk Factors of Toxocara canis Seroprevalence in Children Attending Hospitals in Kaduna State, North West Nigeria

Toxocariasis caused by Toxocara canis larvae is an under-recognised zoonotic parasitic infection in Nigerian children, causing covert, visceral, and ocular toxocariasis syndromes that may contribute to anaemia, asthma, cognitive deficits, and visual impairment. This study determines Toxocara canis seroprevalence and associated risk factors in children attending hospitals in Kaduna State, North West Nigeria. An analytical cross-sectional design was employed, recruiting 350 children aged 1 to 12 years from paediatric outpatient departments at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital and two general hospitals in Kaduna and Zaria. Serum samples were tested for anti-T. canis IgG antibodies using a validated ELISA with recombinant TES-120 antigen. A structured questionnaire collected data on dog ownership, dog contact frequency, geophagia, soil play, handwashing practices, dog deworming status, and household sanitation. Multivariate logistic regression identified independent risk factors for seropositivity. Evidence from 2020 to 2024 documents seroprevalence rates of T. canis in Nigerian children ranging from 20 to 55 percent, yet the condition remains poorly recognised in clinical practice. This study produces Kaduna-specific seroprevalence data stratified by age, sex, and risk behaviour, and provides a basis for estimating the true disease burden. Findings will be submitted to the Kaduna State Ministry of Health and the paediatric departments of participating hospitals for clinical awareness campaigns. Keywords: Toxocara canis, seroprevalence, children, risk factors, Kaduna State.