Agentes parasitários de importância em saúde única em solos de praças públicas em Patos, Paraíba, Semiárido do Nordeste Brasileiro.

Abstract

Parasitic agents of unique health importance in soils of public squares in Patos, Paraíba, semiarid region of Northeast Brazil. Parasitic diseases are currently considered neglected diseases, and have a high occurrence in Brazil. Public squares are important leisure areas frequented by many people and attract children, young people, adults and the elderly to enjoy these environments, but these areas also have large numbers of companion animals as well as stray animals that eliminate feces in these places and thus enhancing the transmission of zoonotic parasitic diseases. This study aimed to determine the occurrence of parasites in soils of public squares in the municipality of Patos, state of Paraíba, Brazilian semiarid. Five samples of 100 g of sandbanks from 28 public squares were collected from November 2018 to April 2019, totaling 140 samples. The samples were processed by the simple sedimentation method. Of the 28 squares analyzed, in 27 (96.43%) parasites were found in the soil, and of the 140 soil samples obtained in 74 (52.85%) some type of parasitic agent was found, all of which were identified as helminths. In 28 squares, absolute and relative frequencies of agents were 25 (89.2%) for Ancylostoma spp., 13 (46.4%) for Strongyloides spp., eight (28.6%) for Trichuris spp., seven (25%) for Enterobius vermicularis and six (21.4%) for Toxocara spp. (P <0.0001). In relation to the total number of samples (n = 140), 50 (35.7%) were positive for Ancylostoma spp., 18 (12.9%) for Strongyloides spp., nine (6.4%) for Trichuris spp., seven (5%) for Enterobius vermicularis and six (4.2%) for Toxocara spp. (P <0.0001). Of the 140 samples collected, 74 (52.85%) presented some parasitic form, of which 60 (81%) had only one type of parasitic species and 14 (19%) were polyparasited. It was observed that there was a higher density of positivity in the central area of the city, however, in all zones places with a frequency of positivity ≥ 60% were observed. In this way, it is suggested better planning in the maintenance of these spaces in order to guarantee the environmental sanity and, consequently, the promotion of animal and human health.