Soil contamination by and human seroprevalence in the Attica region, Greece.

Background: is one of the most widespread public health and economically important zoonotic parasitic infections humans share with canids, mainly dogs. Human infection occurs by the accidental ingestion of embryonated eggs or larvae from a range of wild and domestic paratenic hosts. The aim of the present study was to examine the soil contamination of public places by the parasitic ova and to estimate serologically the prevalence of human infection in the Attica region, Greece.

Methods: In this region, public areas are permanently inhabited by dogs, mostly stray dog population that is hardly kept down to a manageable level. A total of 1,510 soil samples were collected from 33 public places of six regional units of Attica from March 2014 to April 2014 and ova were detected using a microscopic assay. In addition, sera were collected from 250 residents, routinely active in the sampled areas, and tested for IgG antibodies using an enzyme immunoassay.

Results: eggs were isolated from 31 (94%) of the examined public areas. Of the total samples, ova were recovered from 258 samples, suggesting an overall ova contamination of 17.2%. The areas of higher socioeconomic status presented lower percentages of soil contamination in a statistically significant level, compared to the areas of lower socioeconomic status. IgG seropositivity was detected in 40 (16%) serum samples. Similar rates were established among seropositivity and soil contamination within the same geographical areas. The proportion of seropositive samples in the group of children was significantly higher compared to the proportion of adults (48% versus 8%, p<0.001).

Conclusion: The level of environmental contamination as well as human infection found in the Attica region calls for a greater awareness towards this public issue. Preventing measures should be implemented to control the spread of this parasitic infection.