Parasitological survey ofandin Puno urban parks (3825 m): Evidence of larval development under Andean conditions.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: andare soil-transmitted helminths of public health concern, particularly in urban areas contaminated with canine feces. Their presence in Peru's high-altitude regions remains poorly documented despite zoonotic risks. AIM: This study aimed to assess the prevalence and larval stages ofandeggs in dog feces collected from public parks in Puno during the dry season. METHODS: A total of 300 fecal samples were randomly collected from nine parks in Puno. The samples were processed using centrifugal flotation. To evaluate differences in prevalence and larval stages among the different zones, Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used. Additionally, Principal component analysis (PCA) and clustering analysis were performed to explore spatial patterns and associations among variables. RESULTS: The highest prevalence ofwas recorded in the southern zone of Puno (9%), with Chanu Chanu Park standing out at 12.1% of positive samples.showed a very low prevalence, being detected in only two parks. The dendrograms revealed clustered spatial patterns, with a higher parasitic burden concentrated in the southern zone. PCA explained 71.6% of the variability in embryonic development, associatingeggs with semi-solid feces andeggs with hard feces. CONCLUSION: is the most common parasite. However, although rare, the presence of fully larvatedeggs signals a high risk of environmental transmission. Improved sanitation and canine deworming strategies are required in high-altitude urban settings.