The potential risk of contracting toxocariasis in Heliopolis district, Cairo, Egypt.

Out of 600 soil samples collected from 3 sport clubs and 3 public parks within Heliopolis district, 182 samples contained Toxocara species eggs with an overall prevalence rate of 30.3%. Public parks especially children's sand boxes had the highest percentage of the recovered eggs. Prevalence did not vary greatly from winter to summer though more viable eggs were noticed in the samples collected in winter. The findings demonstrate the potential risk of contracting toxocariasis (VLM) by children playing in the sand boxes of the investigated areas.