What is it about?
In this study we used a technique that is known as polymerase chain reaction which is used to make many copies of a specific DNA segment; we used it to detect DNA from Toxoplasma gondii, Ancylostoma caninum and Toxocara canis in samples from sandboxes of public parks in the city of Merida, Yucatan, Mexico.
Featured Image
Photo by Ostap Senyuk on Unsplash
Why is it important?
This is the first report of the presence of Toxoplasma gondii in playground sandboxes of the public parks in the city of Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico. The importance of this study lies in the high prevalence of the parasite and the impact that can have on susceptible individuals; in addition, children are the main group at risk because their behavior in these areas and accidental sand intake could be a source of infection. It is important to note that the parasite remains latent in the form of tissue cysts throughout the life of the subject and these can be reactivated and endanger the life of the patient in situations such as HIV infection and immunosuppressive therapy.
Perspectives
I think it is very important that people are aware of this topic because children are constantly visiting this areas and with this study we confirmed the presence of Toxoplasma gondii oocysts in the sandboxes from public parks in this region and it could represent a source of infection for them; with measures such as replacing the sand of the parks with other materials and ensuring the hygiene of the hands after going to this places we could reduce the contamination with this parasite and possibly the infection of the people.
Gonzalo Andrés Pacheco Ortega
Universidad Autonoma de Yucatan
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Screening of Zoonotic Parasites in Playground Sandboxes of Public Parks from Subtropical Mexico, Journal of Parasitology Research, June 2019, Hindawi Publishing Corporation,
DOI: 10.1155/2019/7409076.
You can read the full text:
Contributors
The following have contributed to this page
