Background: Soil is a home to many micro-organisms which estimate stating that 25% of the earth’s species find their home in the soil (Abrahams, 2006).STPs include soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STHs), also known as intestinal worm infection, is the most common type of parasitic infection in the world. Infection is caused by four main species of worms commonly known as roundworms (Ascaris lumbricoides), whipworms (Trichuris trichiura) and hookworms (Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus) (WHO, 2006). It is estimated that STHs affect more than 2 billion people worldwide and the greatest numbers of infections occur in sub-Saharan Africa, America, China and east-Asia (Brooker et al., 2006) . The disease affects the poor people and infections are particularly abundant among who living in rural or deprived urban settings with low socio-economic status, lack of clean water and poor sanitation (Hotez et al., 2006). Objectives: The current study aimed to determine the relation between prevalence of intestinal parasites and soil- Transmitted parasitic infections among households in Shiblanga representing a rural area of Qaulyiobia Governorate and Benha city representing an urban area of the same Governorate. The study also aimed to explore the effect of soil's type on the intensity of parasites and to provide guidance on the prevention and control of soil transmitted parasitic infections for future studies in this field. Subjects and Methods: This study was conducted at Benha city and Shiblanga village representing the urban and rural areas of Qaulyiobia Governorate. Geoparasites were investigated in-door yards, around houses, in the fildes and besided the streets from both areas. one hundred soil samples from Benha city and one hundred soil samples from Shiblanga village were collected .each hundred soil samples was collected in the form of: 25 samples from the fields,25 samples in-indoor yards,25 samples besided the streets,25 sampls around houses .Approximately 200g soil was collected in plastic bags at 2-10cm depth from different parts. Stool samples from households in same areas were collected after taken oral consent . All soil samples were screened for parasites using different parasitological methods (Zinc sulphate flotation, Ether sedimentation technique, Modified Baermann apparatuses and Modified Berlese technique). All stool samples were examined using Direct smear, formalin–ether concentration techniques for detection of helminthes eggs. Also modified acid-fast staining for detection of protozoa. Results: 86 soil samples out of 200 samples were found to be contaminated with different types of parasites .The prevalence rate of soil contamination with different parasites was 43% . Soil samples obtained from Shiblanga village revealed higher level of parasitic contamination (56%) and Benha city showed a lower level of contamination by different parasites (30%). In the present study 10 houses out of 50 houses had the same parasites in the soil and in stool of their households, 8 houses in Shiblinga village and 2 houses in Benha city. Conclusion: Soil contamination was found to be higher in Shiblinga village. While Benha city showed lower level of soil contamination with parasites. So, it can be concluded that soil contamination with parasites is related directly to population density, old sewage disposal system and lack of programs of health education and environmental sanitation. The type of soil had an impact on the contamination of soil with different parasites. School childern are the most affected group . |
