[A comparison of soil contamination with Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati eggs in rural and urban areas of Wielkopolska district in 2000-2005].

The aim of the studies was to compare the degree of soil contamination with Toxocara canis and T. cati eggs in rural and urban areas depending on time of sampling and type of places examined. Material and methods. Over 2000-2005 a total of 538 soil samples from 3 villages and 368 from Poznań city (Poland) areas were examined for Toxocara spp. eggs. In spring 418 samples in rural areas and 184 samples in urban areas were collected and in autumn 120 and 184 respectively. The samples were examined using flotation technique in saturated sodium nitrate. The discrimination of T. canis and T. cati eggs was based on the size of eggs and transparency of shell layers. Results. The contamination of soil with Toxocara eggs was higher in the urban areas (19.8% positive samples) than in the rural ones (15.6% positive samples) and city or village-backyards were most heavily contaminated. Both, in the villages and in the city, the degree of soil contamination with eggs in spring and autumn was similar (17.6 and 14.8% positive samples respectively). T. cati eggs were much more prevalent in urban areas (97% of all eggs recovered) while T. canis in rural areas (84% of all recovered eggs). The share of T. canis and T. cati eggs in soil contamination did not depend on the time of sampling.