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Prevalence and viability of eggs of Toxocara spp. and Toxascaris leonina in public parks in eastern Spain

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 February 2017

M.R. Ruiz de Ybxkáñez*
Affiliation:
Parasitología y Enfermedades Parasitarias, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Murcia, 30071 Espinardo, Spain
M.M. Garijo
Affiliation:
Parasitología y Enfermedades Parasitarias, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Murcia, 30071 Espinardo, Spain
F.D. Alonso
Affiliation:
Parasitología y Enfermedades Parasitarias, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Murcia, 30071 Espinardo, Spain
*
*Fax: 34 68 364147 E-mail: rocio@fcu.um.es

Abstract

To demonstrate the prevalence of Toxocara spp. and Toxascarisleonina eggs in parks in Murcia city, eastern Spain, a total 644 soil samples were examined from nine parks. More than 67% of parks and 1.24% of soil samples were contamined and the mean egg density per sample was 16.7±20 eggs per 100 g of soil. Over 97% of eggs identified were viable. Only one sample was positive for Toxascaris leonina. The present findings suggest that shady conditions are important for the occurrence and viability of Toxocara spp. and Toxascarisleonina eggs in soil as there were significantly more positive samples in shaded and moist areas compared with open and dry habitats.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2001

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