[Contamination of playgrounds in Gdańsk city with parasite eggs]

Nematodes of Toxocara genus are common parasites of dogs and cats. These animals are the main source of dangerous zoonoses. The main source of toxocarosis among children are sandpits which are contaminated with dog and cat faeces. We examined the contamination of playgrounds with parasite eggs in Gdatisk city, and frequency of infections of dogs and cats in the area under study.

Samples of sand were taken from a surface of sandpits (to depth about 3 cm). All samples were collected in amount of 100 g. Samples of faeces were taken from various places of the playgrounds. Two methods were applied: flotation and decantation by Fülleborn-Willis in modification by W6jcik.

Out of 162 sand samples examined 21 (13%) were positive. Out of 54 faeces samples examined 23 (42.6%) were positive. We observed some differences in the degree of parasite species occurrence. The most dominated were Toxocara spp. (6.2% in sand samples and 11% in faeces samples) and Toxascaris leonina (11% in faeces). Eggs of Uncinaria stenocephala and Ancylostoma canimum, as well as proglotides of Dipylidium caninum were found sporadically.