Seasonal prevalence of Toxocara ova in soil samples from public parks in Ankara Turkey

AVCIOĞLU H., Burgu A.

VECTOR-BORNE AND ZOONOTIC DISEASES, cilt.8, sa.3, ss.345-350, 2008 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 8 Sayı: 3
  • Basım Tarihi: 2008
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1089/vbz.2007.0212
  • Dergi Adı: VECTOR-BORNE AND ZOONOTIC DISEASES
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.345-350
  • Atatürk Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

This survey was conducted to determine prevalence of Toxocara spp. eggs and seasonal variation of this prevalence in public parks in Ankara, Turkey. A total of 259 sand samples were collected from May 2005 to April 2006 in 40 public parks for determining prevalence. To attain seasonal variation, a total of 696 sand samples were collected from five public parks regularly throughout year. Prevalence of Toxocara spp. and combination of Toxascaris leonina and Taenia spp. was 15.05% and 0.38%. Overall, 45% of public parks were contaminated. There was a seasonal variation in prevalence. Prevalence of Toxocara spp., Toxascaris leonina, and Taenia spp. eggs during summer (4.21%) was lower than during spring (12.64%), autumn (13.21%), and winter (9.77%; p < 0.05). Average number of Toxocara spp. eggs was 2.57 per 50 g of sand, with average dimension of 70.1 mu m. In conclusion, prevalence data are consistent with international data reported in other metropolitans. Our results indicate that the public parks in surveyed areas may be a source of toxocariasis. Effective preventive measures should be established.