Prevalence of Toxocara species eggs in the soil of five east London parks
Snow, K.R.; Ball, S.J.; Bewick, J.A.
Veterinary Record 120(3): 66-67
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-4900 PMID: 3824844 Document Number: 289303
Samples of park topsoil collected systematically at intervals of 3 weeks over 8 months were tested by one flotation per 25 g using saturated zinc sulphate solution. The efficiency of extraction of Toxocara canis ova was about 78%, shown by seeding clean soil with ova. Overall, 66% of samples were positive, 46.7% had 1-10 ova and 19.3% had 11 or more, with the highest number of 173 from a sample outside a fenced play area. No sample from a play area had more than 30 ova, but 11% more samples from outside fenced areas were negative. In 3 parks more ova were present outside fenced areas. Overall, 21% of ova were considered viable and assumed to be T. canis.