Prevalence and viability of eggs of Toxocara spp. and Toxascaris leonina in public parks in eastern Spain

To demonstrate the prevalence of Toxocara spp. and Toxascaris leonina eggs in parks in Murcia city, eastern Spain, a total 644 soil samples were examined from nine parks. More than 67% of parks and 1.24% of soil samples were contaminated and the mean egg density per sample was eggs per 100 g of soil. Over 97% of eggs identified were viable. Only one sample was positive for Toxascaris leonina. The present findings suggest that shady conditions are important for the occurrence and viability of Toxocara spp. and Toxascaris leonina eggs in soil as there were significantly more positive samples in shaded and moist areas compared with open and dry habitats.     

Contamination of soils with eggs of Toxocara in a subtropical city in Argentina

A total of 475 soil samples were collected from five public park playgrounds, 17 kindergarten sandpits and 124 housing estates in Resistencia, a medium-sized subtropical-region city in Argentina, and processed by the centrifugal flotation method. Eggs of Toxocara spp. were present in five (3.4%) of the 146 habitats surveyed and in six (1.3%) of the 475 samples examined. Twenty per cent of public parks, 5.9% of kindergarten sandpits and 2.4% of housing estates were contaminated with Toxocara eggs. Depending on the number of samples examined from the three types of habitat, contamination by Toxocara was 0.7% in public park playgrounds, 1.2% in kindergarten sandpits and 1.6% in the housing estates. High prevalences of Ancylostomidae eggs were also found especially in public park playgrounds with a value of 100%, compared with 19.4% found in housing estates and 11.8% in kindergarten samples. These results suggest that in Resistencia, human infections with Toxocara are likely to occur within the limits of housing estates more so than in public parks or open spaces.     

Soil contamination with Toxocara sp. eggs in squares and public places from the city of La Plata. Buenos Aires, Argentina

This study consisted of a stratified sampling, randomly taken, of the soil from the squares and parks of the city of La Plata, Province of Buenos Aires, in order to establish the prevalence of contamination caused by Toxocara sp. A total 242 soil samples was examined. From each sample a 10 grams aliquot was taken, washed in a 0.2% Tween 80 solution, and processed using the technique of concentration by flotation with sugar solution. There was a prevalence of 13.2%. In each positive sample, the quantity of eggs varied from 1 to 4. Toxocara sp. eggs were observed in 15 out of 22 squares and parks investigated. The sampling design and the processing method employed were satisfactory for the recovering and identification of Toxocara sp. eggs.     

Incidence of keratinophilic fungi in the soil of primary schools and public parks of Madras city,India

The pattern of incidence of keratinophilic fungi inhabiting the soil of 30 primary schools and 15 public parks in the city of Madras was studied using hair baiting technique. A total number of 31 species belonging to 15 genera were recovered, 16 of which were common to both the school and public park soil. Dermatophytes and closely related species were represented by 9 species, of which the following were the most commonly found species in soil: Chrysosporium tropicum (62.2%), C. keratinophilum (48.8%), M. gypseum (48.8%), C. pannorum (40%), T. mentagrophytes (37.7%), T. terrestre (31.1%) and C. anam. A. cuniculi (24.4%). The fungi encountered have also been discussed in relation to their global distribution. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Prevalence of Toxocara infection in schoolchildren from the Butantã region,São Paulo,Brazil

Visceral larva migrans syndrome by Toxocara affects mainly children between 2 and 5 years of age, it is generally asymptomatic, and the seroprevalence varies from 3 to 86% in different countries. A total of 399 schoolchildren from 14 public schools of the Butant? region, S?o Paulo city, Brazil, were evaluated by Toxocara serology (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). Epidemiological data to the Toxocara infection obtained from a protocol were submitted to multiple logistic regression analysis for a risk profile definition. Blood was collected on filter paper by finger puncture, with all samples tested in duplicate. Considering titers > or = 1/160 as positive, the seroprevalence obtained was 38.8%. Among infected children, the mean age was 9.4 years, with a similar distribution between genders. A significant association was observed with the presence of onychophagia, residence with a dirty backyard, living in a slum, previous wheezing episodes, school attended, and family income (p < 0.05). All data, except "living in a slum", were considered to be determinant of a risk profile for the acquisition of Toxocara infection. A monthly income > or = 5 minimum salaries represented a protective factor, although of low relevance. Toxocara eggs were found in at least one of the soil samples obtained from five schools, with high prevalence of Toxocara infections, indicating the frequent soil contamination by this agent.     

Prevalence of Infective Ova of Toxocara Species in Public Places

Out of a total of 800 soil samples from public places all over Britain ova of Toxocara species were found in 24·4%. Ova from 20 samples were incubated and active embryos developed in all; these were fed to eight mice and active larvae were later recovered from the livers of six. Some children living near these parks had become infected with toxocara. Clearly more control of pollution of public places by dogs and cats is needed.     

包头市半干旱型森林公园土壤细菌多样性与功能

土壤微生物是城市公园生态系统中物质循环的主要驱动者, 但目前对于半干旱型城市公园森林土壤细菌群落结构和功能研究较少。本研究以包头市为例, 选取奥林匹克公园(AL)、劳动公园(LD)和阿尔丁植物园(ZW) 3个典型的森林公园, 利用Illumina高通量测序的方法对细菌16S rRNA V4-V5片段进行测序, 分析城市森林公园土壤细菌的多样性、群落构成以及背后的生态学构建机制, 并使用Tax4Fun对细菌群落代谢功能进行分析。结果表明, 土壤细菌丰富度指数为LD (2,443.00 ± 9.37) > ZW (2,392.90 ± 8.23) > AL (2,305.57 ± 17.48); 细菌群落以放线菌门、变形菌门、酸杆菌门、绿弯菌门和芽单胞菌门为优势门。细菌群落组成在三个公园间存在显著差异, 同时线性判别分析效应大小(LEfSe)结果表明, 所有公园都具有多度显著差异的细菌可操作分类单元(OTUs); 中性群落模型(NCM)、标准化随机率(NST)和基于系统发育结合的零模型推断群落组装机制(iCAMP)分析显示, 城市森林土壤细菌群落的构建是由随机性过程和确定性过程共同驱动, 其中漂变和同质化选择占主导作用。Tax4Fun功能预测结果表明涉及膜运输、碳水化合物代谢、氨基酸代谢、能量代谢和信号转导的代谢是该城市公园林下土壤微生物的主要代谢功能, 进一步分析表明微生物群落的代谢功能在不同公园之间存在很大差异。本研究初步探究了半干旱型城市公园细菌的多样性、群落构建机制及其功能, 为城市公园绿地建设以及生态改善等提供一定的科学依据和实践指导。     

Persistence and mobility of a Clostridium botulinum spore population introduced to soil with spiked compost

In a recent study it could be shown that compost samples can contain Clostridium botulinum. It was investigated if C. botulinum introduced with compost into botulinum-free soil can persist and be translocated within the soil. Compost was spiked with two C. botulinum type D spore concentrations (10(3) and 10(5) spores g(-1)) and the composts were spread on an experimental site. Over a period of 939 days, samples were taken from the upper (0-5 cm) and the lower (10-30 cm) soil horizons. Physical and chemical as well as microbiological variables were measured. Clostridium botulinum spores were quantified in a culture MPN-PCR assay. On day 757 the last positive sample was obtained in the plots with the lower spore concentration (10(3) g(-1)). The bacteria were never detected in the samples taken from the lower horizons of these plots. Clostridium botulinum persisted over the whole investigation period in the plots which were treated with compost spiked with 10(5) spores g(-1). The concentrations found were between 20 and 20,000 spores g(-1) soil. The bacteria were vertically translocated and could be found in the lower soil horizons (20-2000 spores g(-1) soil) starting 70 days after the compost was spread.     

Widespread contamination of SARS-CoV-2 on highly touched surfaces in Brazil during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic

Although SARS-CoV-2 surface contamination has been investigated in health care settings, little is known about the SARS-CoV-2 surface contamination in public urban areas, particularly in tropical countries. Here, we investigated the presence of SARS-CoV-2 on high-touch surfaces in a large city in Brazil, one of the most affected countries by the COVID-19 pandemic in the world. A total of 400 surface samples were collected in February 2021 in the City of Recife, Northeastern Brazil. A total of 97 samples (24.2%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-qPCR using the CDC-USA protocol. All the collection sites, except one (18/19, 94.7%) had at least one environmental surface sample contaminated. SARS-CoV-2 positivity was higher in public transport terminals (47/84, 55.9%), followed by health care units (26/84, 30.9%), beach areas (4/21, 19.0%), public parks (14/105, 13.3%), supply centre (2/21, 9.5%), and public markets (4/85, 4.7%). Toilets, ATMs, handrails, playgrounds and outdoor gyms were identified as fomites with the highest rates of SARS-CoV-2 detection. Taken together, our data provide a real-world picture of SARS-CoV-2 dispersion in highly populated tropical areas and identify critical control points that need to be targeted to break SARS-CoV-2 transmission chains.     

Detection and quantification of copper-denitrifying bacteria by quantitative competitive PCR

We developed a quantitative competitive PCR (QC-PCR) system to detect and quantify copper-denitrifying bacteria in environmental samples. The primers were specific to copper-dependent nitrite reductase gene (nirK). We were able to detect about 200 copeis of nirK in the presence of abundant non-specific target DNA and about 1.2 x 10(3)Pseudomonas sp. G-179 cells from one gram of sterilized soil by PCR amplification. A 312-bp nirK internal standard (IS) was constructed, which showed very similar amplification efficiency with the target nirKfragment (349 bp) over 4 orders of magnitude (10(3)-10(6)). The accuracy of this system was evaluated by quantifying various known amount of nirK DNA. The linear regressions were obtained with a R(2) of 0.9867 for 10(3)copies of nirK, 0.9917 for 10(4) copies of nirK, 0.9899 for 10(5) copies of nirK and 0.9846 for 10(6) copies of nirK. A high correlation between measured nirK and calculated nirK (slope of 1.0398, R(2)=0.9992) demonstrated that an accurate measurement could be achieved with this system. Using this method, we quantified nirK in several A-horizon and stream sediment samples from eastern Tennessee. In general, the abundance of nirK was in the range of 10(8)-10(9) copies g soil(-1) dry weight. The nirK content in the soil samples appeared correlated with NH(4)(N) content in the soil. The activities of copper-denitrifying bacteria were evaluated by quantifying cDNA of nirK. In most of sample examined, the content of nirK cDNA was less than 10(5) copies g soil(-1) dry weight. Higher nirK cDNA content (>10(6) copies g soil(-1) dry weight) was detected from both sediment samples at Rattlebox Creek and the Walker Branch West Ridge. Although the stream sediment samples at the Walker Branch West Ridge contained less half of the nirK gene content as compared to A-horizon sample, the activities of copper-denitrifying bacteria were almost 600 times higher than in the A-horizon sample.     

城市土壤活性碳、氮分布特征及影响因素

为揭示城市绿地土壤活性碳氮分布特征及影响因素,选取合肥市不同类型绿地(蜀山森林公园、公园绿地、道路绿地、学校绿地、居住区绿地、工厂绿地)土壤为研究对象,对其0 ～ 30 cm土壤微生物量碳(MBC)、微生物量氮(MBN)、溶解性有机碳(DOC)、溶解性有机氮(DON)等活性组分进行研究.结果表明,绿地类型对土壤活性碳氮含量影响显著(P＜0.05),各活性碳氮含量随土层深度的增加而降低.城区内各人工绿地土壤活性碳氮含量均低于郊区蜀山森林公园绿地:MBC下降了46.81％ ～ 64.39％,MBN下降了49.90％ ～80.13％,DOC下降了28.95％ ～45.52％,DON下降了5.67％ ～48.90％,表明土地利用变化是导致绿地土壤活性碳氮变化的主要因素.相关分析表明,研究区域内MBC与MBN、DON正相关(P＜0.01),MBN与DOC正相关(P＜0.01),DOC与DON正相关(P＜0.01).研究还发现,土壤pH与活性碳、氮间均呈负相关关系(P＜0.01),表明适当降低城市土壤碱性污染物的侵入有利于土壤活性碳氮的积累.     

Highly sensitive direct detection and quantification of Burkholderia pseudomallei bacteria in environmental soil samples by using real-time PCR

The soil bacterium and potential biothreat agent Burkholderia pseudomallei causes the infectious disease melioidosis, which is naturally acquired through environmental contact with the bacterium. Environmental detection of B. pseudomallei represents the basis for the development of a geographical risk map for humans and livestock. The aim of the present study was to develop a highly sensitive, culture-independent, DNA-based method that allows direct quantification of B. pseudomallei from soil. We established a protocol for B. pseudomallei soil DNA isolation, purification, and quantification by quantitative PCR (qPCR) targeting a type three secretion system 1 single-copy gene. This assay was validated using 40 soil samples from Northeast Thailand that underwent parallel bacteriological culture. All 26 samples that were B. pseudomallei positive by direct culture were B. pseudomallei qPCR positive, with a median of 1.84 × 10(4) genome equivalents (range, 3.65 × 10(2) to 7.85 × 10(5)) per gram of soil, assuming complete recovery of DNA. This was 10.6-fold (geometric mean; range, 1.1- to 151.3-fold) higher than the bacterial count defined by direct culture. Moreover, the qPCR detected B. pseudomallei in seven samples (median, 36.9 genome equivalents per g of soil; range, 9.4 to 47.3) which were negative by direct culture. These seven positive results were reproduced using a nested PCR targeting a second, independent B. pseudomallei-specific sequence. Two samples were direct culture and qPCR negative but nested PCR positive. Five samples were negative by both PCR methods and culture. In conclusion, our PCR-based system provides a highly specific and sensitive tool for the quantitative environmental surveillance of B. pseudomallei.     

Characterization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Staphylococcus aureus</Emphasis> in Goose Feces from State Parks in Northeast Ohio

Staphylococcus aureus can colonize a range of species. Although numerous studies have isolated pathogenic bacteria from wild birds, very little is known regarding S. aureus and their potential to spread methicillin-resistant (MRSA) strains. The objective of this study was to determine the presence and molecular characteristics of S. aureus in geese fecal samples collected from ten state parks across Northeast Ohio (NEO). A total of 182 fecal samples from Canada geese (Branta canadensis) were collected in April 2015. Isolates were characterized using multi-locus sequence (MLST) and spa typing, as well as PCR to detect the presence of Panton–Valentine leukocidin (PVL), mecA, and scn genes. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was done via Vitek-2 system. The overall contamination by S. aureus in fecal samples was 7.1% (13/182); 7/182 (3.8%) were MRSA and 6/182 (3.3%) were methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA). One isolate was positive for PVL. A total of eight different spa types were observed. MLST included ST5, ST8, ST291, ST298, and ST2111. One (7.7%) MSSA isolate was multi-drug resistant. The S. aureus contamination in NEO state parks ranged from 0% (park 1, 4, 8, 9) to 35% (7/20) (park 5). Parks 2, 3, 6, and 7 had 5% (1/20) positive. The results of this study indicate that the feces of geese collected at various state parks in NEO may harbor S. aureus.     

Keratinophilic fungi isolated from children's sandpits in the Nablus area,West Bank of Jordan

The keratinophilic fungi of 29 sandpits from kindergarten schools and public parks in the city of Nablus was analysed to evaluate their role in the epidemiology of diseases caused by these fungi. Seventy two species were recovered 28 of which were common to both kindergartens and public parks sandpits. High percentage (57.4%) of fungal isolates found had been identified as the causes of various types of mycoses. Eight species of dermatophytes and closely related fungi were recovered, of which the followings were the most commonly found species in sandpits: Chrysosporium keratinophilum (20.7%), Microsporum gypseum (17.2%), Trichophyton mentagrophytes (6.9%), and C. evolceanui (6.9%).     

北京城市公园常见乔木土壤真菌群落特征及影响因素

快速城市化引起的城市环境污染问题日趋严重,由城市中心到城郊往往呈规律性递变趋势。北京城市公园作为城市绿地主体,不仅是城市居民重要的休闲游憩场所,也能在一定程度上反应环境污染,如土壤重金属污染的作用规律。以北京市这一典型大城市为研究区域,根据不同城市公园的建成时间、所处位置和距离市中心的远近选择六个公园作为研究样点,选取公园常见6种乔木下土壤,通过对土壤重金属含量、土壤理化性质以及土壤真菌群落测定和测序,旨在探讨城市公园植被下土壤真菌群落特征（多样性和群落结构组成）以及影响因素。研究结果表明：北京城市公园乔木下的土壤真菌群落多样性、群落组成以及优势类群受到土壤pH值、土壤养分和水分以及重金属铅的调控。其中公园土壤重金属铅含量增加会降低土壤真菌多样性、显著影响优势类群子囊真菌（占真菌群落73%）以及土壤真菌功能类群病原真菌群落组成。研究揭示了北京城市公园土壤真菌群落特征及调控因素,特别是重金属铅对土壤真菌群落的影响,这对提高城市公园科学管理和环境健康具有积极的应用价值。     

不同土地利用方式对城市土壤质量的影响

通过对兰州市西固区种土地利用类型(工业园区、道路两侧、农业、居民区和公园)320个土壤样品的测试,研究了不同土地利用方式对城市土壤理化性状和Pb、Zn、Cd、Cu、Hg元素积累的影响.在种类型土壤中,工业园区土壤的pH值最低而电导率最高,道路两侧土壤有机碳含量显著高于居民区、公园和农业土壤;Pb、Zn、Cu、Cd和Hg的含量在种类型土壤中存在显著差异,并明显高于兰州市土壤背景值;计算得到的工业园区、道路两侧、农业、居民区和公园土壤的内梅罗综合污染指数分别为4.9、3.7、4.0、2.4和2.2.结果表明,不同土地利用方式对城市土壤质量的影响不同,工业活动的影响最大,交通污染次之,再依次为农业活动及居民生活.     

Detection of Cryptococcus gattii in Selected Urban Parks of the Willamette Valley, Oregon

Human and animal infections of the fungus Cryptococcus gattii have been recognized in Oregon since 2006. Transmission is primarily via airborne environmental spores and now thought to be locally acquired due to infection in non-migratory animals and humans with no travel history. Previous published efforts to detect C. gattii from tree swabs and soil samples in Oregon have been unsuccessful. This study was conducted to determine the presence of C. gattii in selected urban parks of Oregon cities within the Willamette Valley where both human and animal cases of C. gattii have been diagnosed. Urban parks were sampled due to spatial and temporal overlap of humans, companion animals and wildlife. Two of 64 parks had positive samples for C. gattii. One park had a positive tree and the other park, 60 miles away, had positive bark mulch samples from a walkway. Genotypic subtypes identified included C. gattii VGIIa and VGIIc, both considered highly virulent in murine host models.     

黄土高原紫穗槐丛枝菌根真菌与土壤因子和球囊霉素空间分布的关系

在黄土高原的陕西省甘泉、绥德、米脂、榆林4县(市)选取4个样地,研究紫穗槐不同深度土层丛枝菌根真菌(Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi,AMF)侵染率、孢子密度、球囊霉素和土壤因子之间的关系。结果表明:(1)AMF侵染率平均值绥德样地最大(100%),米脂样地最小(75.02%);孢子密度平均值米脂样地最大(5.91个/g),榆林样地最小(1.57个/g);4个样地孢子密度最大值均在0～10cm土层,且随土层加深而降低;AMF侵染率与孢子密度在各样地间差异显著,同一样地侵染率与孢子密度变化规律不一致。(2)榆林样地的有机碳、铵态氮、速效磷、脲酶和碱性磷酸酶活性平均值显著高于其他3个样地;除绥德、米脂样地的蔗糖酶和甘泉样地的碱性磷酸酶外,其他样地的土壤酶活性和球囊霉素含量均随土层加深而降低,且各土层之间差异显著,最大值均在0～10cm土层。(3)AMF侵染率与pH、总球囊霉素含量、易提取球囊霉素含量呈极显著正相关,与有机碳、硝态氮、速效磷含量呈显著正相关;孢子密度与速效磷、蔗糖酶、脲酶活性呈显著正相关,与铵态氮含量呈显著负相关。(4)第1、2主成分的累积方差贡献率达到56.4%,第1主成分主要综合了球囊霉素、AMF侵染率和孢子密度,第2主成分综合了pH和部分土壤因子信息。因此,球囊霉素、AMF侵染率、孢子密度、pH、部分土壤因子对决定土壤生态起主要作用。     

Environmental contamination with Toxocara sp. eggs in public squares and parks from Santiago, Chile, 1999

Most of cases of visceral larva migrans syndrome are caused by Toxocara canis larvae. Man acquires the infection by accidental ingestion of ripe eggs of the helminth. In order to find out the frequency of the presence of Toxocara sp. eggs in dog fecal specimens from public places of Santiago city in 1999 july-september a study was carried out in 84 squares and 12 parks from 32 counties. Three fecal samples were collected in each of these places, making a total of 288. Each sample was processed according to a modified Telemann method and three smears of each were microscopically examined. Toxocara sp. eggs were found in 39 (13.5%) fecal specimens. In 28/84 (33.3%) squares and in 8/12 (66.7%) parks these eggs were detected. These results make necessary the control of dogs and cats populations with the aim of reduce the presence of animals without responsible owners. It should be advisable to prevent dogs and cats defecation in public areas grounds, trying to exclude these animals from recreation areas.