This survey was conducted to determine prevalence of Toxocara spp. ova in public parks in Erzurum, Turkey. A total of 214 soil samples were collected from July 2007 to June 2008 in 36 public parks, of which 28 were unfenced and 8 were fenced. Prevalence of Toxocara spp. was 64.28% in unfenced public parks, while no contamination was observed fenced public parks (p < 0.001). Average number of Toxocara spp. ova was 1.43 per 50 g sand ranging from 1 to 7. Moreover, soils from unfenced public parks were contaminated with Taeniid spp. ova (3.12%). In conclusion, public parks and/or playgrounds should be fenced to prevent fecal contamination, suggesting that a more frequent surveillance should be performed and preventive measures should be taken and enforced by local governments to reduce likelihood of zoonoses in children.
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