Soil Contamination with Toxocara Spp. Eggs in Public Parks of Mashhad and Khaf, North East of Iran.

BACKGROUND: Toxocariasis is an important disease caused by the larvae of parasitic worms such as Toxocara canis and T. cati. Public parks can be the source of toxocariasis for small children. This survey was conducted to determine the prevalence of Toxocara spp. ova in parks of Mashhad and Khaf northeastern Iran.

METHODS: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, performed in November 2011 to June 2012, overall, 340 soil samples were collected from 39 parks of Mashhad and 29 parks in Khaf city. Flotation method and direct smear were used, and the samples were evaluated using a light microscope. The results were analyzed using SPSS version 19 and Chi-square test.

RESULTS: In the evaluation of 195 and 145 soil samples, 18 (9.2%) and 16 cases (11.3%) of contamination with Toxocara spp. eggs were detected, respectively.

CONCLUSION: Although the prevalence of Toxocara eggs in soil samples was low, parks can be a source of Toxocara infection of children in these areas.