Steam sterilisation of sandpits infected with toxocara eggs

Effect of ozone treatment on Toxocara canis eggs

The effect of ozone treatment on the development and viability of Toxocara canis eggs was studied. Despite treatment with ozone, unembryonated T. canis eggs could develop into viable second-stage larvae when assayed by larvae recovery after oral inoculation into mice. The viability of second stage larvae of T. canis was also not affected by ozone treatment. No significant difference was observed in the larvae recovery count and migratory pattern of the ozone-treated larvae and the untreated control because the majority of the larvae were recovered from the liver and lungs on day 2 postinoculation. However, scanning electron microscopy of the ozone treated T. canis eggs showed many blebs on the surface of the protein coat at the basement of the honeycomb-like structures. The honeycomb-like structures on the egg surface were also observed to be distorted after ozone treatment. Thus, in spite of inducing some surface morphological changes on the egg, ozone was observed to have no effect on the viability of the embryonated second stage larvae of T. canis.

Parasite contamination of sand and soil from daycare sandboxes and play areas

OBJECTIVES

To determine if there was parasite contamination in the sand and soil in daycare sandboxes and play areas, with the goal of developing practice guidelines for their management.

METHODS

One hundred samples of sand and soil from 10 daycare centres in different regions of the province of Quebec, collected between April 22 and May 6, 1991, were examined.

RESULTS

Toxocara eggs were found in both surface and subsurface sand from two Montreal centres and co-occurred with Ascaris species (surface sand) in one centre and with hookworm (surface soil) in the second. Hookworm eggs were also recovered from one centre in the Quebec City region.

CONCLUSIONS

These results document the presence of potentially pathogenic helminth parasites in the daycare environment. Evidence from the literature regarding the health risk to children is insufficient and highlights the need for further research into the assessment of the risk of human infection and morbidity, the viability of these parasites under different environmental conditions and practical issues related to the management of sand and soil.

A critical look at the importance, prevalence and control of toxocariasis and the possibilities of immunological control

The visceral infection of humans with Toxocara canis is particularly prevalent in children and may cause a variety of symptoms that commonly persist for 6-24 months. The ocular infection usually causes permanent loss of visual acuity. Human infection is acquired by ingestion of embryonated T. canis eggs with contaminated dirt. Review of recent reports indicates that patent T. canis infection is widely prevalent in the general population of dogs all over the world (3-81%) and results in a substantial contamination of the ground (0.3-87%). The results of sensitive and specific serological tests suggest that about 7% of the clinically healthy human population of the United States, about 5% of that of Canada, and about 4% of that in Great Britain is infected with the parasite. Control of transmission of the parasite to man is often attempted by eliminating the infection in dogs, reducing the population of dogs and the environmental contamination with their feces, and educating the public about the zoonotic potential of toxocariasis. The evidence reviewed indicates that these methods are only marginally effective. Because T. canis relies on congenital and lactogenic transmission to persist in nature, only a procedure that effects the sustained killing of the reservoir larvae in the tissues of the bitch, or of newly-acquired parasites, is expected to be successful. Research with mice, rabbits and dogs demonstrated that prior infections of the host induce the development of protective immunity to reinfections. This procedure, however, leaves remnant populations of larvae from the immunizing infections that are resistant to anthelmintics and to the effect of prior irradiation. Hyperimmunization with partially-purified extracts of T. canis larvae induced 37% resistance to a challenge in mice when the extract was administered alone, and 76% resistance when administered with lipopolysaccharide adjuvant. Production of complete resistance, however, will probably require the prior control of the immunosuppression induced by the parasite. T. canis infections inhibit the production of homologous protective immunity and antibody responses to heterologous antigens, probably by interfering with the activity of helper T-cells, competing with protective antigens, and suppressing antibody synthesis. The evidence indicates, however, that an anti-T. canis vaccine to eliminate the parasite in dogs is feasible.