Contamination of soils with Toxocara eggs in several playgrounds of Ipoh, Perak

Erwanas A. I.; Zary S.; Nurulaini R.; Adnan M.; Debbra M.; Azizah D.; Azima Laili H.

Contamination of soils with Toxocara eggs in several playgrounds of Ipoh, Perak

2018

Toxocariasis is an important cosmopolitan zoonotic disease mainlycaused by Toxocara spp., a type of soil transmitted helminth (STH) on cats and dogs. In this study, 80 soil samples were taken from four public playgrounds and six neighbourhood playgrounds in Ipoh, Perak between October and December 2016 to determine the status of soil contamination with the eggs of Toxocara spp. Results showed that 32.5% from the total soil samples were positive with Toxocara spp. eggs. Overall, five out of ten of the sampling sites were contaminated with Toxocara spp. eggs. Besides that, the relationship between the soil condition and the occurrence of the Toxocara spp. eggs in soils were also investigated. The findings showed that increase of moisture and pH of the soils contributed to the increase of contaminationwith Toxocara spp. eggs. Sandy soils were found significantly contaminated with the eggs of Toxocara spp. compared to theother types of soil. Therefore, appropriate preventive measures such as treatment of soil, regular monitoring and deworming of dogs and cats as well as awareness programmes to the public are important.

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