ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION BY PATHOGENS OF GEOHELMINTHIASIS IN THE SOUTH-EAST OF THE KURSK REGION

Abstract

Geohelminth infections are a complex and multifaceted problem that attracts the attention of both medical doctors and veterinarians, as well as scientists. They are the most common parasitic diseases. The annual number of recorded cases of geohelminthiasis in humans in the Kursk Region and conditions conducive to their spread have determined the timeliness of studies on contamination of environmental objects with geohelminth eggs. Analysis of the study results showed that the contamination of environmental objects with parasitic agents was 8.4%. Ascaris and Toxocara eggs were recorded in the samples. 7.9% of the examined soil samples, 13.7% of the manure and 3.7% of the runoff samples from the territories were positive for pathogens of geohelminthiasis. Depending on the season of the year, the indicators of environmental objects contaminated with geohelminth eggs were not the same. There was an increase in contamination of the soil and runoff from territories almost twice in the autumn period (prevalence, 12.6%) as compared with the summer period (EO 6.5%). Thus, environmental objects contaminated by parasitic agents indicate the circulation of geohelminthiasis pathogens among domestic animals in the study territories and a risk of infection with larval toxocariasis and ascariasis for the population.