Contamination of Soil in Two City Parks with Canine Nematode Ova Including Toxocara canis: A Preliminary Study.

The article presents a study on the canine parasitic infections that can be contacted by pert animals from the soil in city parks in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Visceral larva migrans results from the partial development within the human body of the most common intestinal parasite of dogs and cats, the larva of Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati. Research stresses that human infection can occur by ingestion of ova in feces, soil, or other contaminated materials. Primarily, the disease affects children, usually those below 4 years of age. Findings of the study demonstrate that clinical occurrence of ascarid infection in pet animals is high. There is a remarkable finding of soil contamination with ova of ascarids and other parasitic helminths. Other significant results are presented.