Prevalence of parasites in soil and dog feces according to diagnostic tests

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of parasites in soil and dog feces according to diagnostic tests. We studied soil from 25 public squares in Seropédica, Brazil. Five samples of soil were collected from each square. Eighty-one fresh fecal samples from dogs were analyzed. The technique described by Dunsmore et al. and an adaptation of the Rugai et al. method were used to recover parasites in soil, and the Willis, Hoffman and Centrifugal-Flotation techniques were used to detect parasites in feces. The chi(2) and Fischer's exact tests were used to analyze the statistical significance of the results. Seven squares were found to be contaminated, and the most prevalent parasites were Ancylostoma spp. (13.6%) and Toxocara spp. (4.0%). The Dunsmore et al. technique and the adaptation of the Rugai et al. method did not differ in the detection of Toxocara spp. (p=0.21), Trichuris spp. (p=0.25), Ascaris spp. (p=0.49) and Strongyloides spp. (p=0.49) in soil. However, the two methods differed in the detection of Ancylostoma spp. eggs (p=0.029) and larvae (p=0.001). According to granulometric analysis, the soil samples consisted mainly of sand (from 96.6% to 82.8%). Parasites were detected in 75 fecal samples, the most frequent being Ancylostoma spp. (80.1%), Toxocara spp. (11.1%) and Cryptosporidium spp. (7.4%). There was no difference between the Willis and Centrifugal-Flotation techniques in the detection of Ancylostoma spp., and both techniques were better than the Hoffman technique for detecting this parasite in feces. The Hoffman and Centrifugal-Flotation techniques were different (p=0.03) in Toxocara spp. detection. No difference was observed among these three for Cryptosporidium spp. detection. The prevalences of zoonotic parasites in both dog feces and soil have implications for the spread of human disease in these areas.

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

“…In this study, soil samples were analyzed using the flotation technique according to DADA (1979) 9 with sodium dichromate (d = 1.35) and zinc sulphate (d = 1.20) for helminth eggs and the modified Baermann method for larvae recovered according to RUGAI et al (1954) 38 . Although the methods used to recover zoonotic parasites in soil are not standardized and are not always comparable 23,26 , the techniques used in our study are in agreement with others studies and they are considered effective 16,21,23,28 . Another important aspect in parasite detection is the type of soil 21,22,23,26,41 .…”

“…Although the methods used to recover zoonotic parasites in soil are not standardized and are not always comparable 23,26 , the techniques used in our study are in agreement with others studies and they are considered effective 16,21,23,28 . Another important aspect in parasite detection is the type of soil 21,22,23,26,41 . In this study, we observed that soil from all studied place and squares were primarily composed of sand, and more rarely clay soil.…”

“…MIZGAJSKA (2001) 26 related that during the course of sampling and laboratory analyses many factors influence the results of soil examinations and these include: sample site selection, number and volume of samples, depth of sampling, season of examination, method of egg recovery, type of soil examined, preservation of samples and laboratory skills. In this context, many techniques have been described, and they vary in the percentage of parasites recovered 23 . In this study, soil samples were analyzed using the flotation technique according to DADA (1979) 9 with sodium dichromate (d = 1.35) and zinc sulphate (d = 1.20) for helminth eggs and the modified Baermann method for larvae recovered according to RUGAI et al (1954) 38 .…”

Parasites in stool samples in the environment of Ilha da Marambaia, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: an approach in public health

“…eggs (70.6 -87.5 µm in length by 31.9 -41.2 µm in diameter), found in 31 samples in this study, were compatible with T. vulpis, suggesting that these positive samples were from dogs. The frequency of this agent was higher than those reported in recent studies performed in public areas in Brazil 8,10 .…”

“…Insofar as the inhabitants of the Ilha da Marambaia have the habit to defecate on the soil, this study suggests that a possible source of environmental contamination for the said parasite was probably humans infected with A. lumbricoides. Furthermore, MANDARINO-PEREIRA et al (2010) 10 described a similar scenario in the public areas of the state of Rio de Janeiro.…”