An eco-epidemiological study of contamination of soil with infective forms of intestinal parasites.

The objectives of the present work were to screen topsoil samples collected from public squares in two cities within the Argentine Patagonia for the presence of infective forms of intestinal parasites and to examine the possible relationship between positive findings and the environmental, socioeconomic, and cultural conditions of that region. For this purpose we studied 13 public squares, their 13 custodians, and 44 family groups within their respective surrounding areas. Of the 226 topsoil samples analyzed, 44.3% proved positive for infective forms of intestinal parasites, with 17.3% of these containing more than one species. The frequency of appearance of positive samples was dependent on the season of the year (p < 0.001), while presence of the parasites was related to the soil pH (p < 0.05) but independent of the soil relative humidity (p > 0.05). Some of the organisms detected are associated with zoonoses. We observed the presence of Capillaria spp. and Spirocerca spp. under cool desert climatic conditions. Within the group of custodians we detected hematologic alterations one positive serology for toxoplasmosis and documented behavior conducive to risk of infection with the parasites found in those squares. Within the family group an acquaintance with parasitic zoonoses and their prevention was an inconsistent finding, with toxocarosis and toxoplasmosis being the diseases associated with the greatest degree of ignorance. Furthermore, we consider the failure to de-parasitize pets and the practice of feeding them with raw meat, as typically found in our family survey, to be factors contributing to a greater likelihood of public square contamination. From the results obtained here, we propose a spatial organization approach for the purpose of detecting zones at risk of contracting zoonotic parasitoses within urban environments.

Contaminación biológica con heces caninas y parásitos intestinales en espacios públicos urbanos en dos ciudades de la Provincia del Chubut. Patagonia Argentina / Biological contamination with canine faeces and intestinal parasites in pub lic parks in two cities of chubut province, Patagonia Argentina

Se realizó un estudio longitudinal durante un año, para determinar la presencia de parásitos intestinales en heces caninas y su relación con las condiciones climáticas. 481 muestras de heces fueron recolectadas en 13 plazas de dos ciudades de la Provincia del Chubut, Patagonia Argentina. Las muestras fueron analizadas por medio de los métodos de Telemann y Willis. Los datos meteorológicos se registraron diariamente. La frecuencia de aparición de muestras positivas para parásitos intestinales estuvo comprendida entre el 34,9 por ciento y 51,2 por ciento período estudiado, resultando la misma independiente de la estación climática (p > 0,05). Se registró un predominio de helmintos sobre protozoos durante las cuatro estaciones. La frecuencia de aparición de Entamoeba spp. y Nematoda resultó dependiente de la estación estudiada (p < 0,05). El hallazgo de huevos de T. canis varió de un 12,7 por ciento en invierno a un 20,9 por ciento en primavera. Se detectaron patógenos para el humanos como T. canis, Taenia spp., Uncinaria spp. y Entamoeba spp. Se reportan por primera vez para ésta región Spirocerca spp. y Capillaria spp.