[Relationships between the prevalence of Toxocara eggs in dogs' faeces and soil]

Abstract

Toxocariasis is a cosmopolitan infection of dogs and cats. Humans (mainly children) become infected by accidentally ingesting embryonated eggs from the environment. The studies were conducted on the role of dogs in the epidemiology of human toxocariasis. A total of 112 soil samples and 110 fecal samples were collected from the same public places in Poznań, including backyards in the centre of the city, playgrounds and public squares grounds. Of these soil samples, 6.3 % were positive for Toxocara spp., 1.8 % for Trichuris vulpis. Fecal examination revealed that 0.9 % samples were positive for Toxocara canis, 1.8 % for Trichuris vulpis and 0.9 % for Toxascaris leonina.