Soil contamination with intestinal parasites eggs in public parks and playgrounds in Kirkuk city

Intestinal parasites eggs are the most soil contaminated which can cause many health problems after ingestion. The aim of this study was to estimate the presence of intestinal parasites eggs in the soil samples collected from public parks and playgrounds in Kirkuk city. A total of Fifty-six (56) soil samples were collected from 14 areas (7 public parks and 7 playgrounds) through a period from 1st of March 2016 to 1st of October 2016, samples were examined microscopically using wet mount and zinc sulphate flotation methods for detecting intestinal parasitic eggs. Ninety-seven (78.6%) of soil sample were positive for presence eggs, include Toxocara Spp. (22.2%), Ascaris lumbricoides (19.4%), Hymenolepis diminuta (16.7%), Ancylostoma duodenale (13.9%), Taenia saginata (11.1%), Trichuris trichiura (8.3%) and Trichostrongylus Spp. (8.3%). The collected data was analyzed using statistical test Chi-square; this study shows the high rate of eggs of parasites which could be a potential source of parasitic infection.