TY - JOUR AU - Raičević, Jelena G AU - Pavlović, Ivan N AU - Galonja-Coghill, Tamara A PY - 2021/01/31 Y2 - 2024/03/29 TI - Canine intestinal parasites as a potential source of soil contamination in the public areas of Kruševac, Serbia JF - The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries JA - J Infect Dev Ctries VL - 15 IS - 01 SE - Original Articles DO - 10.3855/jidc.12694 UR - https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/33571157 SP - 147-154 AB - <p>Introduction: Environmental contamination by infected canine faeces presents an indirect source of contamination in people. In this research the presence of parasitic elements in canine faeces found in the public areas of Kruševac was examined.</p><p>Methodology: During May and October 2018, 282 samples were collected from different public areas (ten kindergartens, six public squares and four parks). The examination of faeces was performed by means of direct smear and flotation. For statistical testing of the difference between the frequencies of attributes χ<sup>2</sup> test was applied.</p><p>Results: Out of 282 samples, 221 (78.4%) were positive, of which 17/20 (85.0%) from kindergartens, 125/160 (78.1%) from parks and 79/102 (77.5%) from public squares. The presence of <em>Ancylostomatidae </em>spp. was discovered in 113 (40.1%) samples, <em>Toxocara canis</em> in 82 (29.1%), <em>Dipylidium caninum</em> in 76 (27.0%), <em>Giardia intestinalis </em>in 45 (16.0%), <em>Taenia </em>spp. in 44 (15.6%), <em>Amoeba</em> spp. in 32 (11.3%), <em>Trichuris vulpis</em> in 19 (6.7%), <em>Toxascaris leonina </em>in 18 (6.4%),<em> Strongyloides stercoralis</em> in 17 (6.0%), <em>Isospora</em> spp. in 7 (2.5%) and <em>Cryptosporidium</em> spp. in 3 (1.1%). In May there were 115/141 (81.6%) positive samples, whereas in October there were 106/141 (72.5%) positive ones. No positive sample with three or four parasites was found in October.</p><p>Conclusions: This study shows that canine faeces from public areas in Kruševac can be the cause of a significant environmental contamination by eggs of canine intestinal parasites as well as of human infections.</p> ER -