title: Soil Contamination with Toxocara Spp. Eggs in Public Parks of Mashhad and Khaf, North East of Iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Toxocariasis is an important disease caused by the larvae of parasitic worms such as Toxocara canis and T. cati. Public parks can be the source of toxocariasis for small children. This survey was conducted to determine the prevalence of Toxocara spp. ova in parks of Mashhad and Khaf northeastern Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this descriptive cross-sectional study, performed in November 2011 to June 2012, overall, 340 soil samples were collected from 39 parks of Mashhad and 29 parks in Khaf city. Flotation method and direct smear were used, and the samples were evaluated using a light microscope. The results were analyzed using SPSS version 19 and Chi-square test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the evaluation of 195 and 145 soil samples, 18 (9.2%) and 16 cases (11.3%) of contamination with Toxocara spp. eggs were detected, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the prevalence of Toxocara eggs in soil samples was low, parks can be a source of Toxocara infection of children in these areas.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Fariba
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Berenji
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Abdul Ghayoum
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Movahedi Rudy
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Abdolmajid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fata
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.
authors.forename: Mousa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tavassoli
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Community Medicine, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Mojtaba
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mousavi Bazaz
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Ghodratolah
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Salehi Sangani
keywords: Iran; Park; Soil contamination; Toxocara; Toxocariasis