The prevalence of Toxocara eggs in the sand in children's playgrounds in Frankfurt/M.
During an investigation of 31 sandpits in children's playgrounds in and around Frankfurt/M Toxocara eggs were detected in 27. The prevalence in areas with few or no parks (averaged 14.8 eggs 100 g-1 sand) was much higher than in districts where there was more room for the dogs to run about (5.3 eggs 100 g-1 sand). Larval development was complete in 40% of isolated Toxocara eggs after four weeks. The importance of these findings in connection with the risk, to children playing, of a possible infection (larva migrans visceralis) and preventive measures are discussed.
D002648:Child; D005860:Germany, West; D006801:Humans; D010270:Parasite Egg Count; D010988:Play and Playthings; D012306:Risk; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D014119:Toxocara / Q000302:isolation & purification*