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

Abstract

To demonstrate the prevalence of Toxocara spp. and Toxascaris leonina 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 Toxascaris leonina eggs in soil as there were significantly more positive samples in shaded and moist areas compared with open and dry habitats.