Journal of Ardabil University of Medical Sciences (Dec 2023)
Study on the Contamination of Yasuj Public Parks Soil with Toxocara spp. Eggs in 2021
Abstract
Background: Toxocariasis is one of the most common diseases among humans and animals. According to the various studies, the rate of soil contamination with the worm's eggs in the world has been reported on average at 13.2% and in Iran at between 3.5 and 63.5%. Due to a lack of information about the status of infection with this worm in animals and humans in Yasuj city and also the importance of toxocariasis, this study was conducted to investigate the soil contamination of the Yasuj public parks with the eggs of Toxocara spp. Methods: This descriptive study was performed on 150 soil samples from 6 parks in Yasuj in 2021. Samples were collected from five points based on geographical directions at a distance of 2–5 cm above the soil surface and transferred to the parasitology laboratory. To see the eggs of Toxocara species, a flotation method with saturated sugar water, and a light microscope with a 40X were used. Results: Out of 150 soil samples from six parks, 11 samples (7.33%) were found to be infected with Toxocara species eggs and 139 samples (92.67%) were not contaminated. In total, out of the six investigated parks, pollution was not observed in two parks (33.33%), but pollution was observed in four parks with a contamination rate of 8% in three parks and 16% in one park. Conclusion: According to the results of similar studies in Iran, it is concluded that Toxocara infections in the soil of Yasuj parks are similar to the national average and require more care, in terms of fencing the parks and preventing the free entry of dogs and cats.
