SOIL CONTAMINATION BY HELMINTH AND PROTOZOA IN RESIDENTIAL BUILDING PLAYGROUNDS IN PELOTAS, RIO GRANDE DO SUL, BRAZIL

Abstract

There is lack of information on the risk of infection for helminths and protozoa in areas surrounded for children recreation, limiting the access of dogs without owners. The objective of this work was to verify soil contamination by helminths and protozoa in the playgrounds of residential buildings in Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Samples from 39 playgrounds of 21 residential buildings were examined by modified Caldwell & Caldwell technique. Although the majority of the residential buildings (20) are protected by grating, contamination was found in the ground of squares in 47.6% of the residential buildings. Toxocara eggs were the most frequently found in soil samples in the residential buildings (33.3%). Strongyloidea and Trichuris eggs and protozoa oocysts also were found. These results indicate the contamination of soil of playgrounds by zoonotic parasites known to infect humans.