Abstract
Toxocariasis in the Russian Federation is the most dangerous of the common helminthiases that can affect dogs or cats. Toxocariasis is a zoonotic geohelminthiasis, which is naturally transmitted from vertebrates to humans and poses a threat to people as a source of infection in megacities. In order to study the prevalence of toxocars among domestic and stray dogs living in the urbanized ecosystems of the Kirov region, the study of dog excrement by the flotation method has been carried out for 3 years. The results of the research show that, on average, in the village of Zagarye of the Yuryansk region, the amount of the dogs infected with toxocariasis is 64%, in the yards and children's playgrounds - 76.6%. In the parks of Kirov, the amount of infected dogs is 28.0 ± 2.3% and 21.0 ± 3.6%, respectively. The calculated values of soil biocontamination in the parks of Kirov per day are 1948.64 and 1205.0 thousand eggs, in the village of Zagarye - 161,014.0 thousand Toxocara eggs. During the year, these values reach astronomical values: 711 253, 6 thousand, 439 854.0 thousand and 58 770 110.0 thousand toxocara eggs, respectively. The high prevalence rates of infection with Toxocara spp. among stray and domestic animals create conditions that can lead to constant pollution of urbanized ecosystems and cause a tense ecological and epidemic situation in the city.
Highlights
Geohelminthiasis is one of the first in the world in terms of prevalence
Soil contamination with eggs of geohelminths in urbanized ecosystems has become a serious problem in recent years
In places where there is a large number of dogs, the level of soil biocontamination increases
Summary
Geohelminthiasis is one of the first in the world in terms of prevalence. In Russia, ascariasis and toxocariasis take second place considering prevalence and incidence among the population. Soil contamination with eggs of geohelminths (such as Toxocara spp.) in urbanized ecosystems has become a serious problem in recent years. The incidence of toxocariasis among children and adults directly depends on soil contamination with toxocara helminth eggs, which are spread by dogs. In places where there is a large number of dogs (rural settlements, urban-type settlements and even cities), the level of soil biocontamination increases. In the Tyumen region, according to the Veterinary Directorate, of the total number of soil (sand) samples examined, toxocar eggs were found in 61%; in children's playgrounds during the period from 2009–2011 Toxocar eggs were found in 85%
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