Encuesta coproparasitológico canina realizado en plazas publicas de la Ciudad de Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Abstract

In Mar del Plata city, Buenos Aires province (Argentina), a sampling of canine faeces was made at 11 public squares with the aim to identify zoonotic parasite species from dogs. Squares were classified into two groups: Central and Peripheric. Samples were taken at square flowerbeds (90.4%), special cages for dogs (6.4%) and child's games areas (3.2%). All the squares were found contaminated with faeces and 100% of them were positive for parasites. Total prevalence was 49.95%; prevalence by parasite species was 62.96% for Ancylostoma caninum and Trichuris vulpis, 24.07% for Uncinaria stenocephala, 22.22% for Toxocara canis, 9.25% for Amoeba spp., 3.70% for coccidians and 1.85% for Pseudophyllideans. Percentage of parasitized samples was higher at peripheric squares than at the central group. Parasite prevalences at each square group were compared with results registered in different areas of Argentina. Results obtained in the present study, as related with canine faeces disseminated along public places and the sanitary consequences to the human health, are discussed.