Environmental analyses of the parasitic profile found in the sandy soil from the Santos municipality beaches, SP, Brazil

Abstract

The environmental contamination by geohelminths represents a world public health problem and has been well documented by several authors. However, few papers describe the presence of such contamination in saline soils of coastal beaches. A study was performed on the beaches of the municipality of Santos in the period between May 2004 to April 2005 with the aim of determining the degree of contamination, and the correlation between contamination level and seasonal conditions and characteristics of the environment. Of the 2,520 samples analyzed, 18.2% (458) were contaminated, 32.3% (148) of which were localized in children's recreational areas (playgrounds). The parasite profile found in the analyzed samples indicated the presence of several zoonotic parasites: Ancylostoma larvae (82.5%), Toxocara sp. eggs (59.4%), Ancylostomidae-like eggs (37.1%), coccid oocysts (13.5%), Trichostrongylus sp. eggs and larvae, Ascaris lumbricoides eggs, (11.6%), Entamoeba sp. cysts (10.0%), Strongyloides sp. (4.8%), several free nematoids and some non-identified parasitic structures (3.3%). It was established that the highest frequency of parasitic structures occurred in the months between May and October 2004, and from February to March 2005. An increase in the diversity of parasitic forms was documented in the months between February to December 2004 and from January to April 2005, these periods having the highest rainfall.

Parasitological Indicators of Contamination at Sand of Beaches and Monitoring by Traditional Methods and Immunoenzymatic Assay

“…This type of monitoring can therefore be an important way to detect biological contamination (SANTARÉM et al, 1998). Our results are in agreement with those reported by Rocha et al (2011) (SILVA et al, 1991). That fact can be explained because the great majority of eggs of gastrointestinal helminths are heavy, favoring their detection by sedimentation.…”

“…According to the World Health Organization (WHO), zoonotic parasitic diseases pose a significant public health problem throughout the world, and their presence is often associated with the level of economic development and behavioral habits (ROCHA et al, 2011). Domestic animals are the natural hosts of many of the helminths causing these diseases, but under determined conditions humans can be infected, developing an atypical cycle.…”

Contamination of public parks and squares from Guarulhos (São Paulo State, Brazil ) by Toxocara spp. and Ancylostoma spp.

“…larvae. On the other hand, the degree of contamination by hookworm was higher than recovered in some cities, such as Fernandópolis, São Paulo (1.8%) 5 , Santos, São Paulo (15%) 35 , Duque de Caxias, Rio de Janeiro (33.5%) 42 and Araçatuba, São Paulo (37.5%) 28 . In contrast, contamination rates higher than our results were noted in Santa Maria (Rio Grande do Sul State) by CORRÊA & MOREIRA (1996) 8 , who found 93.3% of the public squares' land contaminated with eggs of Ancylostoma spp.…”

“…In this study, we observed that soil from all studied place and squares were primarily composed of sand, and more rarely clay soil. It has been described that sandy soils represent an important source of human infection by parasites 35 .…”

Hygienic tendencies correlate with low geohelminth infection in free-ranging macaques

“…However, this hypothesis is generally unlikely because we show that pre-washed potatoes were washed far less often. Removal of contaminants seems more plausible, as Koshima beach is heavily contaminated with macaque faeces and sand is conducive to nematode parasite transmission [22]. Yet, the alternative that sand's gritty texture deters ingestion cannot be excluded.…”