Environmental contamination by Toxocara sp eggs in public areas of Salvador, Bahia State, Brazil.

A survey of parasite eggs and cysts in soil and dog feces collected in public places of 23 boroughs of Salvador, a city in the Northeast of Brazil, was performed. High degree of contamination by Toxocara sp eggs was observed in all boroughs studied; other parasites found included: Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworms, whipworms and protozoan cysts. Parks and public gardens were more contaminated than streets and beaches for all parasites, including Toxocara sp.