Parasitic contamination of the soil of the Astrakhan region

Abstract

The results of parasitological studies of soil samples taken in the Astrakhan region were analyzed. A total of 4146 soil samples were examined in 2016–2020. Among the positive findings, helminths predominated — 6.5 % (270 samples). The proportion of protozoa among all positive findings in the soil was 0.02 % (1 sample). The largest number of positive findings was recorded in 2016–33.6 % (91 samples) of all positive findings during the analyzed period. Almost 1.3 times less positive findings in the soil were noted in 2018–25.5 % (69 samples) of all positive findings for the analyzed period. In total, 21.8 % (904 samples) of the soil were examined in this year, of which 7.6 % (69 samples) were unsatisfactory. In 2019, the number of positive findings in the studied soil samples was 17.7 % (48 samples) of all positive soil findings in 2016–2020. The number of soil samples studied in 2017 was 18.9 % (783 samples). The lowest number of positive findings — 7.7 % (21 samples) and the studied soil samples — 12.7 % (523 samples) was revealed in 2020. Contamination of the soil with toxocara eggs and strongylid larvae indicates contamination of these objects with the feces of invasive animals (the role of stray animals (dogs) in soil contamination is not excluded).The contamination of the soil with eggs of ascariids, opisthorchis, onkospheres of teniids and cysts of amoebas, suggests that these objects are contaminated with sewage from accidents.