Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-25wd4 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-27T00:42:17.421Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Seasonal contamination of public squares and lawns by parasites with zoonotic potential in southern Brazil

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 March 2008

R. Tiyo ,
T.A. Guedes ,
D.L.M. Falavigna  and
A.L. Falavigna-Guilherme
R. Tiyo
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Environmental Parasitology, Department of Clinical Analyses, State University of Maringá, Maringá87020-900, Brazil
T.A. Guedes
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Environmental Parasitology, Department of Clinical Analyses, State University of Maringá, Maringá87020-900, Brazil
D.L.M. Falavigna*
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Environmental Parasitology, Department of Clinical Analyses, State University of Maringá, Maringá87020-900, Brazil
A.L. Falavigna-Guilherme
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Environmental Parasitology, Department of Clinical Analyses, State University of Maringá, Maringá87020-900, Brazil
*
*Fax: +55 44 3261-4800 E-mail: falavigna@wnet.com.br
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The presence of helminths and protozoans in public squares and lawns of the city of Maringá, southern Brazil, during winter and summer was assessed in order to evaluate their seasonal fluctuations in relation to edaphic and climatic factors. Samples were collected from January 2003 through June 2004 in 90% (13) of all public squares covered by sand, and in 30% (4) of all lawns used as leisure areas. The samples were analysed quantitatively by modified centrifugal-flotation and sedimentation in water techniques, and qualitatively by a method based on positive larval thermo-hydrotropism. Meteorological data were recorded, and physical, chemical and structural characteristics of the soil were analysed. One hundred and thirty samples of sand from squares, 65 in summer and 65 in winter, and 40 samples of grass from lawns, 20 in each season, were collected. All samples from lawns, 62 (95.38%) from squares in winter and 45 (69.23%) in summer, contained protozoans and/or helminths. Eggs of Toxocara spp. were the most frequently observed parasites in both winter and summer in squares (P < 0.0001) and in lawns (P = 0.6142), being equally distributed among the different locations (P = 0.2038). Species diversity was lower in winter; fewer parasites were found in summer. This region, with a tropical climate and a mild winter dry season, has favourable edaphic and climatic conditions for soil contaminants to persist year-round. In addition, the high frequency of animals such as dogs and cats and the poor sanitary measures in force made it possible for zoonoses to be transmitted in the public spaces.

Type
Research Papers
Information
Journal of Helminthology , Volume 82 , Issue 1 , March 2008 , pp. 1 - 6
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2007

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Carden, S.M., Meusemann, R.M.F., Walker, J., Stawell, R.J., Mackinnon, J.R., Smith, D., Stawell, A.M. & Hall, A.J.H. (2003) Toxocara canis: egg presence in Melbourne parks and disease incidence in Victoria. Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology 31, 143–146.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Castilho, Y., Bazan, H., Alvarado, D. & Saez, G. (2001) Estúdio epidemiológico de Toxocara canis em parques recreacionales del Distrito de San Juan de Lurigancho, Lima – Perú. Parasitología al Día 25, 3–4.Google Scholar
Chieffi, P.P. & Müller, E.E. (1978) Estudo da variação mensal na contaminação do solo por ovos de Toxocara sp. (Nematoda, Ascaroidea), na zona urbana do município de Londrina, Estado do Paraná, Brasil. Revista do Instituto Adolfo Lutz 38, 13–16.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chorazy, M.L. & Richardison, D.J. (2005) A survey of environmental contamination with ascarid ova, Wallingford, Connecticut. Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases 5, 33–39.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Coelho, L.M.P.S., Dini, C.Y., Milman, M.H.S.A. & Oliveira, S.M. (2001) Toxocara spp. eggs in public squares of Sorocaba, São Paulo State, Brasil. Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical 43, 189–191.Google Scholar
Diba, V.C., Whitty, C.J.M. & Green, T. (2004) Cutaneous larva migrans acquired in Britain. Clinical and Experimental Dermatology 29, 555–556.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Doligalska, M. & Donskow, K. (2003) Environmental contamination with helminth infective stages implicated in water and foodborne diseases. Acta Microbiologica Polonica 52, 45–46.Google ScholarPubMed
Fonrouge, R., Guardis, M.V., Radman, N.E. & Archelli, S. (2000) Soil contamination with Toxocara sp. eggs in squares and public places from the city of La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Boletín Chileno de Parasitología 55, 83–85.Google ScholarPubMed
Gillespie, S.H., Pereira, M. & Ramsay, A. (1991) The prevalence of Toxocara canis ova in soil samples from parks and gardens in the London area. Public Health 105, 335–339.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Guimarães, A.M., Alves, E.G.L., Rezende, G.F. & Rodrigues, M.C. (2005) Ovos de Toxocara spp. e larvas de Ancylostoma spp. em praça pública de Lavras, MG. Revista de Saúde Pública 39, 293–295.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Habluetzel, A., Traldi, G., Ruggeri, S., Attili, A.R., Scuppa, P., Marchetti, R., Menghini, G. & Esposito, F. (2003) An estimation of Toxocara canis prevalence in dogs, environmental egg contamination and risk of human infection in the Marche regions of Italy. Veterinary Parasitology 113, 243–252.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Herman, M.L.P. & Rosa, R.O. (1963) Geografia do Brasil – Região Sul. 214 pp. Rio de Janeiro, Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística.Google Scholar
Hotez, P.J., Remme, J.H.F., Buss, P., Alleyne, G., Morel, C. & Breman, J.G. (2004) Combating tropical infectious diseases: Report of the Disease Control Priorities in Developing Countries Project. Clinical Infectious Diseases 38, 871–878.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
IBGE Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatísticahttp://www.ibge.gov.br/cidadesat/ (accessed 21 September 2006).Google Scholar
Matsuo, J. & Nakashio, S. (2005) Prevalence of fecal contamination in sandpits in public parks in Sapporo City, Japan. Veterinary Parasitology 128, 115–119.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mercado, R., Ueta, M.T., Castilho, D., Munoz, V. & Schenone, H. (2004) Exposure to larva migrans syndromes in squares and public parks of cities in Chile. Revista de Saúde Pública 38, 729–731.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mizgajska, H. (2001) Eggs of Toxocara spp. in the environment and their public health implications. Journal of Helminthology 75, 147–151.Google ScholarPubMed
Mustafa, U., Seyrek, A., Aslan, G., Ozbilge, H. & Atay, S. (2001) Environmental pollution with soil-transmitted helminths in Sanliurfa, Turkey. Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz 96, 903–909.Google Scholar
Neves, D.P. (2003) Parasitologia dinâmica. 1st edn. Rio de Janeiro, Editora Atheneu.Google Scholar
Nunes, C.M., Pena, F.C., Negrelli, G.B., Anjo, C.G.S., Nakano, M.M. & Stobbe, N.S. (2000) Ocorrência de larva migrans na areia de áreas de lazer das escolas municipais de ensino infantil, Araçatuba, SP, Brasil. Revista de Saúde Pública 34, 656–658.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nzeako, B.C. (1992) Seasonal prevalence of protozoan parasites in Nusukka, Nigeria. Journal of Communicable Diseases 24, 224–230.Google Scholar
Oge, H. & Oge, S. (2000) Quantitative comparison of various methods for detecting eggs of Toxocara canis in samples of sand. Veterinary Parasitology 92, 78–79.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Özkayhan, A.M. (2006) Soil contamination with ascarid eggs in playgrounds in Kirikkale, Turkey. Journal of Helminthology 80, 15–18.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pawlowski, Z.S. & Mizgajska, H. (2002) Toxocariasis in Poznan region, Poland, in years 1990–2000. Przeględ Epidemiologiczny 56, 559–565.Google ScholarPubMed
Pierangeli, N.B., Giayetto, A.L., Manacorda, A.M., Barbieri, L.M., Soriano, S.V., Veronesi, A., Pezzani, B.C. & Minvielle, M.C. (2003) Estacionalidad de parásitos intestinales en suelos periurbanos de la ciudad de Neuquen, Patagonia, Argentina. Tropical Medicine and International Health 8, 259–263.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ruiz de Ibáñez, R.M., Garijo, M.M. & Alonso, F.D. (2001) Prevalence and viability of eggs of Toxocara spp. and Toxascaris leonina in public parks in eastern Spain. Journal of Helminthology 75, 169–173.Google Scholar
Santarém, V.A., Giuffrida, Z.R. & Arantes, G. (2004) Cutaneous larva migrans: reports of pediatric cases and contamination by Ancylostoma spp. larvae in public parks in Taciba, São Paulo State. Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical 37, 179–181.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Scaini, C.J., Toledo, R.N., Lovatel, R., Dionello, M.A., Gatti, F.A., Susin, L. & Signorini, V.R.M. (2003) Contaminação ambiental por ovos e larvas de helmintos em fezes de cães na área central do Balneário Cassino, Rio Grande do Sul. Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical 36, 617–619.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Schulz, S. & Kroeger, A. (1992) Soil contamination with Ascaris lumbricoides eggs as an indicator of environmental hygiene in urban areas of north-east Brazil. Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 95, 95–103.Google ScholarPubMed
Shimizu, T. (1993) Prevalence of Toxocara eggs in sandpits in Tokushima city and its outskirts. Journal of Veterinary Medical Science 55, 807–811.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Silveira, L.M. (2003) Análise rítmica dos tipos de tempo no norte do Paraná aplicada ao clima local de Maringá – Paraná. Doctoral thesis, Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas. 300 pp.Google Scholar
Smith, H.V. (1998) Detection of parasites in the environment. Parasitology 117, 113–141.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Soares, S.R.A., Bernardes, R.S. & Cordeiro-Neto, O.N. (2002) Relações entre saneamento, saúde pública e meio ambiente: elementos para a formulação de um modelo de planejamento em saneamento. Cadernos de Saúde Pública 18, 1713–1724.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Spratt, D.M. & Singleton, G.R. (1987) Experimental embryonation and survival of eggs of Capillaria hepatica (Nematoda) under mouse burrow conditions in cereal-growing soils. Australian Journal of Zoology 35, 337–341.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wiwanitkit, V. & Waenlor, W. (2004) The frequency rate of Toxocara species contamination in soil samples from public yards in a urban area ‘Payathai’, Bangkok, Thailand. Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo 46, 113–114.CrossRefGoogle Scholar