Soil Contamination of Public parks, Primary Schools and Kindergartens with Toxocara spp. Egg in Jahrom City, Southern iran

Visceral larvae migrant syndrome is a zoonotic disease which is transmitted to human through invasion of animal nematode larvae, mainly Toxocara spp., to intestine and their migration to other tissues. Little information has been published in this regard. The present study aimed to investigate the soil contamination with Toxocara spp. ova in public parks, elementary schools and kindergartens of Jahrom city.
Material and A total of 100 soil samples were collected from 20 parks and public places, 16 soil samples from kindergartens and 55 samples from elementary schools. Samples were investigated for Toxocara spp. ova by Sheather’s flotation technique. The probable correlations between rate of contamination and environmental factors were analyzed using statistical methods.
Toxocara ova were observed in 4% of the samples taken from parks. However, no samples from kindergartens and elementary schools were contaminated. Moreover, no positive correlation was detected between rate of contamination and environmental variables (P>0.05)
The presence of Toxocara spp ova in the Jahrom’s public parks, the large number of people mainly kids using these places, lack of public awareness about the risks of contact with contaminated soils and more importantly, the roaming of stray dogs and cats are known as alarming factors for authorities to take appropriate measures to reduce contamination in these places.