Abstract

CAZORLA PERFETTI, Dalmiro José; MORALES MORENO, Pedro  and  ACOSTA QUINTERO, María Eugenia. Soil Contamination With Toxocara spp. Eggs (Nematoda, Ascaridida) in Public Parks From Coro City, Falcon State, Venezuela.. Rev. Cient. (Maracaibo) [online]. 2007, vol.17, n.2, pp.117-122. ISSN 0798-2259.

A descriptive and transversal survey to establish contamination with Toxocara spp. eggs of soils from 38 public parks of the city of Coro, Falcon State, Venezuela, was carried out between February-March 2004. The soil samples were parasitologically processed using the technique of flotation with NaCl (modified Willis-Molloy). Texture, salinity (electric conductivity) and pH of the soils were also analyzed. Toxocara eggs were found in 63.16% of the parks studied. Of interest was that a non significant and direct relationship was determined among soil texture (granulometry), salinity and pH, and isolation of Toxocara spp. eggs, suggesting that other biotic and/or abiotic variables, including sinanthropic ones, should be also important for edaphic contamination. The implementation of a toxocariosis control plan and sanitary education for population at high risk exposition, is recommended.

Keywords : Toxocara spp; soil; epidemiology; public parks; Venezuela.