The prevalence of Toxocara eggs in the sand in children's playgrounds in Frankfurt/M

Abstract

During an investigation of 31 sandpits in children's playgrounds in and around Frankfurt/M Toxocara eggs were detected in 27. The prevalence in areas with few or no parks (averaged 14.8 eggs 100 g-1 sand) was much higher than in districts where there was more room for the dogs to run about (5.3 eggs 100 g-1 sand). Larval development was complete in 40% of isolated Toxocara eggs after four weeks. The importance of these findings in connection with the risk, to children playing, of a possible infection (larva migrans visceralis) and preventive measures are discussed.