Evaluation of efficiency of sanitization by heat and lime treatment in sand samples artificially contaminated with Ancylostoma spp. eggs

• Grant number: 19/13571-2
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): December 01, 2019
• Effective date (End): November 30, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Preventive Veterinary Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Vamilton Alvares Santarém
• Grantee: Isabella Braghin Ferreira
• Home Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias. Universidade do Oeste Paulista (UNOESTE). Campus de Presidente Prudente. Presidente Prudente , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Ancylostoma spp. is one of the most prevalent geohelminths worldwide. Feces of infected dogs and cats may contaminate public places, resulting in risk for the population. Ancylostoma spp. larvae may actively penetrate into and migrate through the skin of humans, resulting in erythema and intense pruritus characterized by serpiginous lesions, cutaneous larva migrans, also known as "creeping eruption". Preventive measures to reduce environmental contamination by Ancylostoma spp. include removal of dog and cat feces from public places, and deworming of pets. However, methods for the direct sanitization of contaminated soil are scarce in the literature. The objective of the present study is to evaluate the efficiency of heat and lime treatment on the viability of eggs or larvae of Ancylostoma spp. in artificially contaminated sand. Previously sterilized sand samples (45 g) will be contaminated with 100 eggs of Ancylostoma spp. The sand samples will be submitted to heat (700C e 800C) and lime treatment (30% and 50%). After 24 hours, 30 days, and 60 days, six contaminated samples, at each moment, will be analyzed to evaluate the reduction in eggs/larvae present in the sand, and the sanitization efficiency. Data will be submitted to the t-test or nonparametric Mann-Whitney test, and Variance Analysis, considering a significance of 5%.