Prevalence of Ova of the Nematode Parasite, Toxocara Spp., In Three Public Parks in Birmingham, Alabama‪.‬

ABSTRACT Twenty-four soil samples, (3 samples per park), were collected from eight public parks in Birmingham, Alabama. Soil samples were randomly collected from around monkey bars, slides and swings where human contact with Toxocara ova is likely to occur. Three hundred grams each were collected from the surface to a depth of 10cm. (Duwel, D.,1984, Mahdi and Ali, 1992). Soil samples of 50 grams were washed with tap water through a set of three sieves of mesh width of 250um, 120um and 30um respectively. Soil samples collected from the third sieve were transferred to 15ml centrifuge tubes and were tested for Toxocara using standard saturated magnesium sulfate flotation techniques (Quinn et.al., 1980). Ova belonging to Toxocara spp., were recovered from three parks (38%) and were found around swings (29) and slides (21). Ova recovered were intact and some were embroynated. Other nematode ova observed belonged to Trichuris spp. This study confirms earlier studies that soil contamination with ova of Toxocara spp., is widespread. Further study is needed to establish the seroprevalonce of Toxocara canis in children and adults living around and utilizing contaminated parks.