title: [Soil contamination by eggs of soil-transmitted helminths with zoonotic potential in the town of Fernandópolis, State of São Paulo, Brazil, between 2007 and 2008].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The concentration of dogs and cats in urban areas, associated with an ever-increasing wandering population of these animals, has an important epidemiological role in the soil contamination of public spaces and the spread of infections of several types of parasites. This study aimed to determine the frequency of soil-transmitted helminths with zoonotic potential in public squares and municipal primary schools in Fernandópolis, State of São Paulo, Brazil, conducted between 2007 and 2008.
  
  
  METHODS
  All the squares (32) and schools (13) in the town were evaluated. Soil samples were tested using the Rugai method modified by Willis, Caldwell and Caldwell.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 225 soil samples were evaluated and 30.2% (68) were positive for helminths. In samples from public squares, 40% (64) contamination was observed; however, contamination in schools was only 6.1% (6). The parasites eggs identified were Toxocara spp. 79.3% (47), Trichuris spp. 13.8% (8) and Ancylostomatidae 6.9% (4). Variables related to the site, such as the number of dogs (OR 21.18, 10.81 - 41.51), fecal samples (OR 6.87, 3.51 - 13.47) and the use of fences (OR 0.1, 0.05 - 0.20), had an impact on soil contamination.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the contaminated samples, parasites with zoonotic potential were identified, including the etiologic agents of diseases like cutaneous and visceral larva migrans, a fact that poses a risk to health of the population that frequent such environments.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós Graduação em Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP. cassenote@usp.br
authors.forename: Alex Jones Flores
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Cassenote
authors.forename: José Martins
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Pinto Neto
authors.forename: Alba Regina de Abreu
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Lima-Catelani
authors.forename: Antônio Walter
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Ferreira
mesh_terms: D000722:Ancylostoma / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D002415:Cats; D004285:Dogs; D010270:Parasite Egg Count; D011633:Public Facilities; D012574:Schools; D012987:Soil / Q000469:parasitology*; D014119:Toxocara / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014258:Trichuris / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D012987:Soil