Contamination of public parks in Presidente Prudente (Sao Paulo, Brazil) by Toxocara spp. eggs

Autor(es)

Santarem, Vamilton Alvares ; Pereira, Vanessa Cristina ; Porto Alegre, Beatriz Cristina

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE PARASITOLOGIA VETERINARIA; v. 21, n. 3, p. 3-pg., 2012-07-01.

Resumo

This study aims to evaluate soil contamination by Toxocara spp. eggs in public parks in Presidente Prudente, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Soil samples (500 g) were collected every month over a 12-month period, from 25 parks in different parts of the city (northern, southern, eastern, western and central areas). Two 10-g aliquots of the material collected from each park were subjected to the centrifuge-flotation method to recover Toxocara spp. eggs. Twenty-four out of the 25 squares studied (96.0%) were contaminated and the number of eggs recovered ranged from 1 to 398 per sample. Eggs were recovered all over the year. Despite the number being greater in autumn (p < 0.001), there was no correlation between number egg number and average monthly temperature (r = -0.492; p = 0.148) or between egg number and monthly rainfall (r = -0.299; p = 0.402). Park localization does not influence egg presence (p = 0.7116). Because of the high level of contamination of the parks by Toxocara spp. eggs, prevention of contamination of public areas by larva migrans agents is indicated. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 09/18361-4 - Contaminação de solo praças públicas de Presidente Prudente, São Paulo, por ovos de Toxocara spp.
• Beneficiário: Vanessa Cristina Pereira
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Iniciação Científica