Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Parasitology 1735-7020 15 2 2020 06 07 196 203 Alexis Israel VARGAS NAVA Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics, University Autonomous of Sinaloa, Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico Nohemí CASTRO DEL CAMPO Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics, University Autonomous of Sinaloa, Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico Idalia ENRÍQUEZ VERDUGO Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics, University Autonomous of Sinaloa, Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico Jesús José PORTILLO LOERA Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics, University Autonomous of Sinaloa, Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico Claudia Leonor BARRAZA TIZOC Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics, University Autonomous of Sinaloa, Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico Soila Maribel GAXIOLA CAMACHO Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics, University Autonomous of Sinaloa, Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico 2020 06 07 Background: Toxocara spp. is a zoonotic parasite that can infect human; children are the largest group at risk of infection. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence and viability of Toxocara spp. eggs in the soil of public parks. Methods: Overall, 1180 soil samples from 236 public parks in four sectors of the city of Culiacan were collected at random, between Jun and Dec, 2013. The presence of Toxocara spp. eggs was determined by light microscopy using a centrifugation-flotation technique and viability by trypan blue staining technique. Results: Of the 236 parks sampled, 18 were positive to Toxocara spp. resulting in a prevalence of 7.6% and viability of 94.4% with a P<0.05. Detection of Toxocara spp.in soil samples was 16.5% and viability 94.7% with a P<0.05. Parks positive to Toxocara spp., had sports fields and playgrounds (94.4%), trees and green areas (88.8%). Conclusion: Although a low prevalence of Toxoxara spp. eggs in the soil of public parks was found, they exhibited high viability, suggesting that the soil from these public parks is a source of infection for pets and humans especially children. https://ijpa.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijpa/article/view/2940 https://ijpa.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijpa/article/download/2940/1031