Common beach sand contamination due to enteroparasites on the southern coast of Pernambuco State, Brazil.
Sand contamination due to parasites was evaluated on the beaches of Porto de Galinhas, Muro Alto and Maracaípe in southern Pernambuco State. Samples were analyzed using the spontaneous sedimentation and modified Rugai methods. The highest contamination occurred on Porto de Galinhas beach, from which 42% of the samples were contaminated with Ancylostoma larvae and 13% with Trichuris sp. eggs. From Muro Alto beach, 30% of the samples were contaminated with Ancylostoma larvae and 13% with Ascaris lumbricoides. No pathogenic parasites were detected on Maracaípe beach. We suggest that further studies on beach sand contamination due to parasites should be conducted.
Silva
Pompéia Freire da
PF
Departamento de Medicina Tropical, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brasil.
Cavalcanti
Isabela Melo Diniz
IM
Irmão
João Inácio
JI
Rocha
Francisca Janaina Soares
FJ
D000722:Ancylostoma / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000818:Animals; D001493:Bathing Beaches; D001938:Brazil; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D009348:Nematoda / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010270:Parasite Egg Count; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D014258:Trichuris / Q000302:isolation & purification
D012822:Silicon Dioxide