The evaluation of soil contamination with geohelminth eggs in the area of Wroclaw, Poland

The main source of many zoonoses is soil contaminated with feline and canine faeces. The aim of this study was to examine the degree of soil contamination with geohelminth eggs in the area of Wrocław. Within 2006–2007 a total of 185 soil samples (parks, backyards, playgrounds and city squares) from area were collected and then examined using flotation technique in saturated sodium nitrate. The helminth eggs were found in 37 (20%) samples. The highest rate of contamination was in the city squares (38.2%). The eggs were also found in 29.1% of backyards. Parks and playgrounds with sandpits were free of any contamination. The prevalence of helminth eggs in positive samples was as follows: Toxocara spp. 3.2%, Uncinaria stenocephala 7.0%, Ancylostoma caninum 4.9% and Trichuris vulpis 4.9%