Contaminación de suelos con huevos de <i>Toxocara sp.</i> en plazas y parques públicos de la ciudad de La Plata

Abstract

This study consisted of a stratified sampling, randomly taken, of the soil from the squares and parks of the city of La Plata, Province of Buenos Aires, in order to establish the prevalence of contamination caused by Toxocara sp. A total 242 soil samples was examined. From each sample a 10 grams aliquot was taken, washed in a 0.2% Tween 80 solution, and processed using the technique of concentration by flotation with sugar solution. There was a prevalence of 13.2%. In each positive sample, the quantity of eggs varied from 1 to 4. Toxocara sp. eggs were observed in 15 out of 22 squares and parks investigated. The sampling design and the processing method employed were satisfactory for the recovering and identification of Toxocara sp. eggs.