Abstract
This study aimed at examining the prevalence of eggs and larvae of parasites - that may cause diseases to humans and other animals - in the soil of public squares located on the shore of Laranjal beaches, in the Laguna dos Patos, in Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. Four fieldwork trips - one per season - were taken to collect samples on six squares built on the shore of these beaches. Five samples of soil were collected on every square on every fieldwork trip. The material was processed by Caldwell & Caldwell's technique. Four squares (66.7%) were positive for helminth eggs and sample positivity was 8.3% (10). Toxocara spp. and Ancylostoma spp. were the main genera found in these places. Even though prevalence was lower than the one observed by other studies which were carried out in the area, helminths with zoonotic potential were found in the soil of the squares. It should be highlighted that measures to control dogs in these areas must be implemented and public policies must be put forth to make pets' owners and beach goers aware of the need to mitigate environmental contamination.
Highlights
About five billion people worldwide have been at risk of infections transmitted by parasites found in the soil – or whose biological cycle partially occurs in the soil, called geohelminths (Pullan and Brooker, 2012)
Helminths of genera Ancylostoma spp., Dipylidium sp. and Toxocara spp. are some examples of parasites transmitted by animals’ feces; their eggs and larvae may keep in the environment for a long time and, affect humans’ health (Labruna et al, 2006; Marques et al, 2012)
Comparison between results of this study and the ones of the research conducted by Prestes et al (2015), who found 41% positivity in the soil of public squares in six cities in the south of Rio Grande do Sul state, shows that environmental contamination is lower on the squares located on these beaches in the Laguna dos Patos
Summary
About five billion people worldwide have been at risk of infections transmitted by parasites found in the soil – or whose biological cycle partially occurs in the soil –, called geohelminths (Pullan and Brooker, 2012). Toxocara spp. are some examples of parasites transmitted by animals’ feces; their eggs and larvae may keep in the environment for a long time and, affect humans’ health (Labruna et al, 2006; Marques et al, 2012). It becomes a serious problem for children since they have direct contact with contaminated soil and less
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