Geohelminth egg contamination of children's play areas in the city of Lodz (Poland)

Błaszkowska, Joanna; Wójcik, Anna; Kurnatowski, Piotr; Szwabe, Katarzyna

doi:10.1016/j.vetpar.2012.09.033

Cited by 41 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…Most commonly, children are infected after exposure to contaminated soil while playing in sandpits or playgrounds. For this reason, many studies have been carried out in recent years to determine the prevalence of geohelminth eggs in the recreational areas [11,12]. Parasite control programmes should be based on active monitoring of parasite distributions and identification of specific risk factors [13].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stray dogs and cats as potential sources of soil contamination with zoonotic parasites

Szwabe¹,

Błaszkowska²

2017

Ann Agric Environ Med.

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Szwabe K, Błaszkowska J. Stray dogs and cats as potential sources of soil contamination with zoonotic parasites. Ann Agric Environ Med. 2017; 24(1): 39-43. doi: 10.5604/12321966.1234003 Abstract Introduction and objective. The main source of many zoonoses is soil contaminated with feline and canine faeces. Thus, the aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of intestinal parasites in stray dogs and cats adopted in Lodz shelter (Poland). Materials and methods. In total, 163 faecal samples were collected from 95 dogs and 68 cats from 2011 to 2012. The samples were processed by sedimentation techniques using Mini Parasep®SF. Results. Six parasite genera belonging to protozoa, cestoda, and nematoda, were found in dogs, while eight were found in cats. Out of the 163 fecal samples, 37.4% were positive for the presence at least one species of intestinal parasites. The majority of positive dog samples contained eggs from Toxocara and Trichuris genera, and the family Ancylostomatidae, while Toxocara and Taenia eggs, as well as Cystoisospora oocysts, predominated in cat faeces. A significantly higher prevalence of parasites was noted in cats (48.5%) than in dogs (29.5%) (χ 2 =6.15, P=0.013). The Toxocara genus was the most prevalent parasite in both populations; eggs were found in 27.9% and 16.8% of cats and dogs, respectively. Animals younger than 12 months of age showed higher infection rates with Toxocara, but differences were not statistically significant. The average numbers of Toxocara eggs/gram of faeces in positive puppy and kitten samples were over 5 and 7 times higher than in older dogs and cats, respectively. Mixed infection were found in dogs (5.3%) and cats (8.8%). Conclusions. Cat faeces represent a more important potential source of environmental contamination with zoonotic parasites than dog faeces. Among the detected parasites of stray dogs and cats, Toxocara present an important zoonotic risk for the local human population, especially children.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stray dogs and cats as potential sources of soil contamination with zoonotic parasites

Szwabe¹,

Błaszkowska²

2017

Ann Agric Environ Med.

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“…The recovery rate of ZnSO 4 solution for T. canis eggs is 6-8.8% [11]. However, in this study and in the previous examinations [2,19], the same technique with the same parasitological procedures were used;, therefore, comparison with obtained results seems to be reasonable and appropriate.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 58%

“…eggs the most often found [5]. The same group of researchers [11] found helminth eggs from 4 genera, namely Toxocara, Trichuris, Ascaris, Uncinaria/Ancylostoma in 9.3% of samples from public sites in the urban area of Łódź, such as park playgrounds, school sports fields and sandpits in school or kindergarten areas; Toxocara eggs were predominant in the examined sites.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 73%

“…Field surveys conducted in different rural settlements show a high rate of soil contamination with eggs of nematode parasites, in particular, Toxocara, Ancylostoma/Uncinaria and Trichuris [1,2,3,4,5,6], some of which infect humans, while others, such as T. vulpis, Ancylostoma caninum and Uncinaria stenocephala, are potential zoonotic parasites [7,8]. Canine and feline roundworms (T. canis and T. cati) are of the greatest epidemiological importance [9,10], and their eggs are most frequently observed in examined sites [1,2,4,11,12]. Pet dogs and cats play an important role in the transmission of many helmintic zoonotic agents, with the roundworm Toxocara still persisting in large endemic areas, despite the availability of highly-efficient anthelmintics for dogs and cats [9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These groups are at a higher risk partly because of behavioural characteristics and partly because of immunological reasons [18]. Young children are mainly at risk of geohelminth infection due to geophagia, onychophagia and poor individual hygiene [11].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Quantifying the risk of zoonotic geohelminth infections for rural household inhabitants in Central Poland

Gawor

Borecka

2017

Ann Agric Environ Med.

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The objective of this study was to evaluate the risk of soil transmitted zoonotic helminth infections for families with young children, inhabitants of villages in the Mazowieckie Province of Central Poland. Epidemiological survey was conducted at 33 randomly selected households with 2-3 children present. Examination of soil samples from yards surrounding the houses for the presence of geohelminth eggs was conducted, the households were inspected, and family members interviewed using a designed questionnaire. Among 55 localities examined, i.e. 33 backyards, 10 vegetable gardens and 12 sandpits, contamination was found in 2 backyards (6.1%) and 1 sandpit (8.3%) at 3 households (9.1%). Of the total 550 examined soil samples, 4 (0.7%) were found to contain Trichuris and Toxocara eggs, with an average density of 1.5 and 2.0 eggs per sample. The study showed a low level of soil contamination, which was the result of inhabitants care about the sanitation of their domiciles. However, the results of the questionnaire survey demonstrated the need to warn rural residents about the risk factors for zoonotic helmints infections. In particular, parents should be advised how to minimize the threat of parasitic diseases for children in the rural environment. The presented study showed that promotional campaigns implemented in recent years on the prevention of parasitic zoonoses have had little effect to increase the awareness of the rural community. The present results confirmed that Toxocara is the most common zoonotic agent among geohelminths in the rural environment.

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Environmental contamination with Toxocara eggs and seroprevalence of toxocariasis in children of northeastern Poland

et al. 2015

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Toxocariasis is a worldwide distributed zoonotic disease. Soil contaminated with Toxocara eggs appears to be the main source of infection for humans. The aim of our study was to estimate the environmental contamination with Toxocara eggs in public areas in northeastern Poland followed by the assessment of seroprevalence of toxocariasis in the children's population inhabiting the areas. A total of 168 soil samples were collected in June and September from public areas, and 28 from patients' residences. They were all examined for Toxocara eggs using the centrifugal flotation technique. Two-step serological tests comprising enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot (WB) were performed in 190 children aged 2-17 without any symptoms of toxocariasis. The positive samples accounted for 36 and 32 % in the urban area, 39 and 18 % in the suburbs, and 39 and 46 % in parks, for June and September, respectively. All the sites located near the patients' residences with confirmed persistent toxocariasis were found contaminated with Toxocara eggs. A significant drop in the mean number of eggs was noted in the suburbs after summer (0.64 vs 0.18, p < 0.05). High and constant contamination was documented in soil from urban sandboxes and parks. The overall seroprevalence in children tested for toxocariasis was 4.2 % as determined by ELISA and WB (3.0 % in preschool children and 7.7 % in school children). The current study revealed high contamination of public areas in northeastern Poland with Toxocara eggs as well as marked seroprevalence in asymptomatic children. There is an urgent need to introduce and promote preventive health measures to limit spread of toxocariasis.

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Geohelminth egg contamination of children's play areas in the city of Lodz (Poland)

Cited by 41 publications

References 31 publications

Stray dogs and cats as potential sources of soil contamination with zoonotic parasites

Stray dogs and cats as potential sources of soil contamination with zoonotic parasites

Quantifying the risk of zoonotic geohelminth infections for rural household inhabitants in Central Poland

Environmental contamination with Toxocara eggs and seroprevalence of toxocariasis in children of northeastern Poland

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