Zoonotic nematode contamination in recreational areas of Suba, Bogotá

Abstract

Objective: Establishing the presence of zoonotic gastrointestinal nematodosin soil samples in recreational areas in Suba (one of the largest localities of Bogotá, Colombia) between July 2005 and June 2006. Methodology: The presence of several gastrointestinal parasites' eggs, larvae and oocysts were determined by initial soil sedimentation and later flotation with Sheather solution; some of them were responsible for important zoonotic diseases affecting the human population. Results: Parasites were identified in 376 samples: Ancylostoma larvae (10,7 %), Ancylostoma eggs (0,6 %), Toxocara eggs (5,8 %), Strongyloides eggs (3,3 %), Dipylidium eggs (0,06 %) and Sarcocystis oocysts (0,06 %). Other parasites identified were Toxascaris eggs (0,9 %), Spirocerca eggs (0,25 %) and Isospora oocysts (0,25 %). Some larvae and eggs present in 522 samples could not be classified and there was no evidence of parasites in 702 samples (45 %). 94,2 %, (n=49) of the recreational area was thus polluted. Conclusions: The high percentage of recreational areas so polluted indicated that these places would constitute a risk factor for the transmission of parasitic diseases to animals and human beings. Due to this sanitary problem's relevance in public health programmes, government policy must be determined involving communities so that people are educated to improve their sanitary practices in recreational places regarding caring for their pets.