The Prevalence of Parasites in Parks in Giresun

Özet

SUMMARY

Objective: Infections transmitted from animals to humans are defined as “zoonoses,” and stray cats and dogs play a particularly important role in their spread. It has been reported that the number of stray animals is increasing in Turkey and developing countries. Parks have become a major source of risk for parasitic diseases because stray animals frequently choose them as defecation areas and pet owners do not collect their feces. This study aimed to investigate the presence of parasites in soil samples collected from parks and children's playgrounds in Giresun province and to compare the effectiveness of the diagnostic methods used.

Materials and Methods: Between February 2017 and May 2017, soil samples were collected from the following locations in Giresun Province, which have dense animal and human populations: soil samples were collected from Youth Park, Afyonkarahisar Martyrs' Forest, Republic Park, Taşbaşı Park, and Giresun Castle Park in Giresun province, which have dense animal and human populations, and examined for parasites at the Medical Parasitology Laboratory of the Faculty of Medicine, Ordu University. The samples were examined using direct examination, zinc sulfate flotation, and formalin-ether precipitation methods.

Findings: Eggs, larvae, or cysts belonging to eight different parasites were detected in the soil samples: The parasites observed in the study were: Toxocara spp. eggs, Ascaris spp. eggs, Taenia spp. eggs, Hymenolepis spp. eggs, Trichuris spp. eggs, Enterobius vermicularis eggs, Entamoeba coli, and various larvae. The highest number of parasite species was identified in Giresun Castle Park. The formalin-ether precipitation method was the most sensitive method for parasite detection.

Conclusion: This study highlights the potential parasites in parks that threaten human health. Parks are one of the important sources of parasitic transmission in terms of human health. It is recommended that children pay attention to hand hygiene after contact with sand and soil, park workers use gloves, and municipalities establish regular parasitological monitoring programs. It was also concluded that informational meetings on parasite transmission and prevention methods should be held jointly with municipalities, universities, and public institutions.