Environmental contamination by eggs of Toxocara species.

A study was conducted to determine the level of contamination with Toxocara spp. eggs in parks and playgrounds in several central Illinois communities. A total of 135 composite 50-g soil samples were collected from 23 parks and public places in three cities in central Illinois. Of these soil samples, 22 (16.3%) contained from one to thirteen Toxocara spp. eggs. A total of 40 fecal samples were collected from the same parks. Toxocara spp. eggs were found in two (5%) of the samples.