Prevalence of Toxocara ova in some schools and public grounds in northern and central Jordan.

Two hundred and twenty-six soil samples were collected from school playgrounds and public places in four cities and 17 villages in northern and central Jordan. Toxacara eggs were found in 35 (15.45%) of the samples. Viable eggs were found in 18 samples, with viability ranging from 20 to 78%, and among these 18 samples the mean number of viable eggs per 5 g soil was 5.5 +/- 4.58 S.D. (range one to 15 eggs). Nine of 94 samples collected from public places and five of 86 samples collected from schools contained Toxocara eggs. Viable eggs were found in higher proportions of soils collected from villages around Jerash (three of 21) and Irbid (five of 44), and from Yarmouk University campus (four of 37), than of soils collected from cities (six of 124), but the differences are not significant (P less than 0.05). Eggs of Taenia spp., Hymenolepis diminuta and Ascaris lumbricoides were also recovered, in 34, 15 and nine samples respectively of the 226 examined.