Risk of Environmental Contamination by Gastrointestinal Parasites in Public Areas of the Central Plateau Microregion of Brazil: A Public Health Concern
The risk of zoonotic parasitic infections is closely linked to direct and indirect interactions between animals and humans. The mutual coexistence of species in public spaces predisposes individuals to gastrointestinal parasitosis owing to various social and hygienic-sanitary factors. This study aim...
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MDPI AG
2025-02-01
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| author | Ana Julia de Almeida Martins Alice Caroline da Silva Rocha Zara Mariana de Assis-Silva Guilherme Oliveira Maia Bruna Samara Alves-Ribeiro Raiany Borges Duarte Iago de Sá Moraes Nicoly Ferreira de Urzedo Lizandra Fernandes-Silva Ana Paula Carvalho Gomes Samara Moreira Felizarda Mayra Parreira Oliveira Klaus Casaro Saturnino Hanstter Hallison Alves Rezende Rosângela Maria Rodrigues Dirceu Guilherme de Souza Ramos Ísis Assis Braga |
| author_facet | Ana Julia de Almeida Martins Alice Caroline da Silva Rocha Zara Mariana de Assis-Silva Guilherme Oliveira Maia Bruna Samara Alves-Ribeiro Raiany Borges Duarte Iago de Sá Moraes Nicoly Ferreira de Urzedo Lizandra Fernandes-Silva Ana Paula Carvalho Gomes Samara Moreira Felizarda Mayra Parreira Oliveira Klaus Casaro Saturnino Hanstter Hallison Alves Rezende Rosângela Maria Rodrigues Dirceu Guilherme de Souza Ramos Ísis Assis Braga |
| author_sort | Ana Julia de Almeida Martins |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The risk of zoonotic parasitic infections is closely linked to direct and indirect interactions between animals and humans. The mutual coexistence of species in public spaces predisposes individuals to gastrointestinal parasitosis owing to various social and hygienic-sanitary factors. This study aimed to assess the risk of environmental contamination by gastrointestinal parasites in fecal samples collected from parks and public squares in 18 municipalities located in a microregion of the central plateau of Brazil, correlating the collection with the population size of each municipality. We collected 536 soil fecal samples from 117 randomly selected public areas across a 56,111.874 km<sup>2</sup> region. Eggs, cysts, and oocysts were detected using the Willis flotation technique and the Hoffman’s spontaneous sedimentation method. The Hoffman’s analysis revealed that 70.3% of the fecal samples were infected across 91.5% of the sampled areas. Identified parasites included the members of the family Ancylostomatidae (56.5%), <i>Toxocara</i> spp. (6.2%), <i>Trichuris</i> spp. (1.7%), <i>Strongyloides</i> spp. (0.2%), <i>Dipylidium caninum</i> (25.8%), <i>Spirometra</i> spp. (0.4%), Taeniidae (0.2%), <i>Platynosomum fastosum</i> (0.6%), Trematoda (0.2%), <i>Giardia</i> spp. (3.2%), <i>Cystoisospora</i> spp. (5.6%), <i>Sarcocystis</i> spp. (0.2%), and <i>Entamoeba</i> spp. (2.4%). The presence of positive fecal samples in public areas and municipalities correlated with populations of up to 10,000 inhabitants (<i>p</i> = 0.023). Areas contaminated with feces were 63.4% more likely to contain parasites than other areas (odds ratio 1.6336). Favorable environmental factors combined with inadequate sanitary management contribute to a high risk of environmental contamination, representing a significant zoonotic potential and highlighting the need for improved public health policies and preventive measures. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9d39a5d2c870408e80326c4e43992e91 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2076-0817 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Pathogens |
| spelling | doaj-art-9d39a5d2c870408e80326c4e43992e912025-08-20T01:49:05ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172025-02-0114321110.3390/pathogens14030211Risk of Environmental Contamination by Gastrointestinal Parasites in Public Areas of the Central Plateau Microregion of Brazil: A Public Health ConcernAna Julia de Almeida Martins0Alice Caroline da Silva Rocha1Zara Mariana de Assis-Silva2Guilherme Oliveira Maia3Bruna Samara Alves-Ribeiro4Raiany Borges Duarte5Iago de Sá Moraes6Nicoly Ferreira de Urzedo7Lizandra Fernandes-Silva8Ana Paula Carvalho Gomes9Samara Moreira Felizarda10Mayra Parreira Oliveira11Klaus Casaro Saturnino12Hanstter Hallison Alves Rezende13Rosângela Maria Rodrigues14Dirceu Guilherme de Souza Ramos15Ísis Assis Braga16Laboratory of Parasitology and Veterinary Clinical Analysis, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Federal University of Jataí, Jataí 75801-615, BrazilLaboratory of Parasitology and Veterinary Clinical Analysis, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Federal University of Jataí, Jataí 75801-615, BrazilLaboratory of Parasitology and Veterinary Clinical Analysis, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Federal University of Jataí, Jataí 75801-615, BrazilLaboratory of Parasitology and Veterinary Clinical Analysis, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Federal University of Jataí, Jataí 75801-615, BrazilLaboratory of Veterinary Anatomical Pathology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Federal University of Jataí, Jataí 75801-615, BrazilLaboratory of Parasitology and Veterinary Clinical Analysis, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Federal University of Jataí, Jataí 75801-615, BrazilLaboratory of Parasitology and Veterinary Clinical Analysis, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Federal University of Jataí, Jataí 75801-615, BrazilLaboratory of Parasitology and Veterinary Clinical Analysis, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Federal University of Jataí, Jataí 75801-615, BrazilLaboratory of Parasitology and Veterinary Clinical Analysis, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Federal University of Jataí, Jataí 75801-615, BrazilLaboratory of Parasitology and Veterinary Clinical Analysis, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Federal University of Jataí, Jataí 75801-615, BrazilBiosciences Basic Unit, University Center of Mineiros, Mineiros 75833-130, BrazilBiosciences Basic Unit, University Center of Mineiros, Mineiros 75833-130, BrazilLaboratory of Veterinary Anatomical Pathology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Federal University of Jataí, Jataí 75801-615, BrazilLaboratory of Bacteriology and Mycology, Institute of Health Sciences, Federal University of Jataí, Jataí 75801-615, BrazilLaboratory of Parasitology, Institute of Health Sciences, Federal University of Jataí, Jataí 75801-615, BrazilLaboratory of Parasitology and Veterinary Clinical Analysis, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Federal University of Jataí, Jataí 75801-615, BrazilLaboratory of Parasitology and Veterinary Clinical Analysis, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Federal University of Jataí, Jataí 75801-615, BrazilThe risk of zoonotic parasitic infections is closely linked to direct and indirect interactions between animals and humans. The mutual coexistence of species in public spaces predisposes individuals to gastrointestinal parasitosis owing to various social and hygienic-sanitary factors. This study aimed to assess the risk of environmental contamination by gastrointestinal parasites in fecal samples collected from parks and public squares in 18 municipalities located in a microregion of the central plateau of Brazil, correlating the collection with the population size of each municipality. We collected 536 soil fecal samples from 117 randomly selected public areas across a 56,111.874 km<sup>2</sup> region. Eggs, cysts, and oocysts were detected using the Willis flotation technique and the Hoffman’s spontaneous sedimentation method. The Hoffman’s analysis revealed that 70.3% of the fecal samples were infected across 91.5% of the sampled areas. Identified parasites included the members of the family Ancylostomatidae (56.5%), <i>Toxocara</i> spp. (6.2%), <i>Trichuris</i> spp. (1.7%), <i>Strongyloides</i> spp. (0.2%), <i>Dipylidium caninum</i> (25.8%), <i>Spirometra</i> spp. (0.4%), Taeniidae (0.2%), <i>Platynosomum fastosum</i> (0.6%), Trematoda (0.2%), <i>Giardia</i> spp. (3.2%), <i>Cystoisospora</i> spp. (5.6%), <i>Sarcocystis</i> spp. (0.2%), and <i>Entamoeba</i> spp. (2.4%). The presence of positive fecal samples in public areas and municipalities correlated with populations of up to 10,000 inhabitants (<i>p</i> = 0.023). Areas contaminated with feces were 63.4% more likely to contain parasites than other areas (odds ratio 1.6336). Favorable environmental factors combined with inadequate sanitary management contribute to a high risk of environmental contamination, representing a significant zoonotic potential and highlighting the need for improved public health policies and preventive measures.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/3/211enteroparasitesepidemiological factorsgeohelminthsOne HealthZoonosis |
| spellingShingle | Ana Julia de Almeida Martins Alice Caroline da Silva Rocha Zara Mariana de Assis-Silva Guilherme Oliveira Maia Bruna Samara Alves-Ribeiro Raiany Borges Duarte Iago de Sá Moraes Nicoly Ferreira de Urzedo Lizandra Fernandes-Silva Ana Paula Carvalho Gomes Samara Moreira Felizarda Mayra Parreira Oliveira Klaus Casaro Saturnino Hanstter Hallison Alves Rezende Rosângela Maria Rodrigues Dirceu Guilherme de Souza Ramos Ísis Assis Braga Risk of Environmental Contamination by Gastrointestinal Parasites in Public Areas of the Central Plateau Microregion of Brazil: A Public Health Concern Pathogens enteroparasites epidemiological factors geohelminths One Health Zoonosis |
| title | Risk of Environmental Contamination by Gastrointestinal Parasites in Public Areas of the Central Plateau Microregion of Brazil: A Public Health Concern |
| title_full | Risk of Environmental Contamination by Gastrointestinal Parasites in Public Areas of the Central Plateau Microregion of Brazil: A Public Health Concern |
| title_fullStr | Risk of Environmental Contamination by Gastrointestinal Parasites in Public Areas of the Central Plateau Microregion of Brazil: A Public Health Concern |
| title_full_unstemmed | Risk of Environmental Contamination by Gastrointestinal Parasites in Public Areas of the Central Plateau Microregion of Brazil: A Public Health Concern |
| title_short | Risk of Environmental Contamination by Gastrointestinal Parasites in Public Areas of the Central Plateau Microregion of Brazil: A Public Health Concern |
| title_sort | risk of environmental contamination by gastrointestinal parasites in public areas of the central plateau microregion of brazil a public health concern |
| topic | enteroparasites epidemiological factors geohelminths One Health Zoonosis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/3/211 |
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