Contamination of Soil and Vegetation with Developmental Forms of Parasites in the Area of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Jasmin Omeragić; Naida Kapo; Davor Alagić; Darinka Klarić Soldo; Teufik Goletić; Ahmed Smajlović; Ćazim Crnkić; Nihad Fejzić; Vedad Škapur

doi:10.18502/ijpa.v16i2.6280

Jasmin Omeragić Department of Parasitology and Invasive Diseases, Veterinary Faculty, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Naida Kapo Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Davor Alagić Department of Food Hygiene & Technology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Darinka Klarić Soldo Department of Parasitology and Invasive Diseases, Veterinary Faculty, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Teufik Goletić Department of Animal Hygiene & Prophylactics of Animal Diseases, Department of Poultry Breeding, Production & Health Care, Veterinary Faculty, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Ahmed Smajlović Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Ćazim Crnkić Department of Feed & Animal Nutrition, Veterinary Faculty, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Nihad Fejzić Department of Animal Health and Economics, Veterinary Faculty, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Vedad Škapur Institute of Animal Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 8, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijpa.v16i2.6280

Keywords: The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Parasites; Contamination; Soil; Vegetation

Abstract

Background: According to the WHO (2019), more than 1.5 billion people worldwide are infected with soil-transmitted parasites. Previous research in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FB&H) was mainly conducted in the area of the Sarajevo Canton. Therefore, the aim of the research was to explore contamination of soil and vegetation with developmental forms of parasites in the other cantons of FB&H.

Methods: Between Apr and Oct 2018, a total of 1,618 soil and vegetation samples were taken from 386 different locations in the 9 cantons of the FB&H.

Results: Positive samples were observed, 65/66 (98.48%) municipalities/cities and on 239/386 (61.92%) locations. Out of 1,618 samples taken in total (1,263 soil samples and 355 vegetation samples), 357 (22.06%) were positive, out of which 337 (26.68%) and 20 (5.63%) were soil and plant samples, respectively. In total, the following adult and developmental forms were identified: Taeniidae eggs (7.30%), Toxocara spp. eggs (62.08%), Ancylostomatidae eggs (25.00%), Trichuris spp. eggs (9.55%), Capillaria spp. eggs (3.37%), Toxascaris leonina eggs (1.40%), Nematodes larvae (19.38%), Giardia duodenalis cysts (5.06%), Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts (1.4%), oocysts and cysts of different species of Protozoa (3.93%).

Conclusion: The identified developmental forms of parasites pose a permanent threat to human health. It is necessary to carry out measures to reduce the contamination of soil and vegetation in coordination with systematic solutions (legislation), paralelly with contribution of animal owners, veterinarians, physicians, ecologists, parents and all the others involved in this issue.