CONTAMINATION OF SOIL WITH TOXOCARA AND OTHER HELMINTHS IN SOILS OF AMADYIA DISTRICT, DUHOK GOVERNORATE, KURDISTAN REGION - IRAQ

In Amadyia District, Duhok Governorate, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, where there is a high population of people, domestic and stray animals, in addition to the presence of vegetation, grasses and large numbers of pastures. This study was conducted to determine of the soil's contamination with ova of Toxocara and other helminths in different areas of Amadyia district. A total of 700 soil samples were collected from different places such as public parks, private gardens, dog shelters, near pastures, parks of schools and around a slaughter house. The soil samples were examined using saturated zinc sulphate with specific gravity 1.2. Helminth ova were found in 593 (84.71%) of the examined soil samples. Ova of Taenia were the most frequent helminths and found in 117 (16.71%), followed by ova of Hymenolepis nana in 107 (15.28%), Toxocara ova in 106 (15.14%), Ancylostoma ova in 95 (13.57%), Ascaris ova in 71 (10.14%), Hymenolepis diminuta ova in 51 (7.28%), and Trichuris ova in 46 (6.57%). It is concluded that soils in areas of Amadyia district is contaminated with different helminths The contamination of soil with Toxocara and other helminth ova is relatively high, the population are at a high risk to acquire infection through contact with environment and soil.