EGGS AND LARVAE OF HELMINTH IN KINDERGARTENS, PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC SQUARES OF CUIABA, MT

Abstract

Playground areas are widely used in elementary and preschool education; however the contamination of these areas by feces of dogs and cats exposes its users to several zoonosis. This study assessed the occurrence of agents of visceral and cutaneous larva migrans at 20 kindergartens, 36 public schools and 10 public squares of Cuiaba, MT, in the period from June to November 2006. The samples of sand and soil were collected at five different points of the study area, stored in plastic bags and sent to the HOVET - UFMT, for immediate processing through the techniques of Willis-Mollay, Hoffmann, Pons and Janer and Baermann. from the institutions surveyed, the institutions surveyed, helminth larvae where found in the recreation areas of two kindergartens, five schools and one public square. The risk of transmission of visceral larva migrans studied in these preschools can be considered small, because there was no presence of Toxocara spp eggs in the samples analyzed. Meanwhile, there is risk of infection of children by larva migrans through skin contact in preschools, elementary schools or the home environment. Thus, further studies should be developed to determine the main sources of infection of zoonosis of children enrolled in preschools and public schools in Cuiabá.

KEYWORDS: Ancylostoma sp., municipal schools preschools, Toxocara sp.