en تخصصي Special <div style="text-align: justify;">Toxocariasis is a common parasitic infection in the world that is caused by the larvae stage of two members of the family Ascarididae, <em>Toxocara</em> <em>canis</em> and <em>Toxocara</em> <em>cati</em>. The main source of soil contamination with <em>Toxocara</em> eggs is dogs&#39; and cats&#39; faces. The soil, where <em>Toxocara</em> eggs become infective, is the natural source of infection. This study was carried out to determine the rate of soil contamination with <em>Toxocara</em> spp. eggs in primary schools and public parks in Kermanshah city, Western Iran. This survey was conducted from September 2014 to January 2015 in Kermanshah city, West of Iran. A total of 192 soil samples were collected from different parks and primary schools, 24 parks, and 24 primary schools, of six regions. Soil samples were investigated for the presence of <em>Toxocara</em> eggs by flotation technique using sucrose solution and examined under a light microscope using 10X and 40X objectives. Out of 192 soil samples, 56 (29.2%) were found to contain <em>Toxocara</em> spp. eggs. <em>Toxocara</em> eggs were observed in 21(87.5%) out of 24 studied parks and 11(45.8%) out of 24 studied primary schools. Forty-three (44.8%) out of 96 samples from public parks and 13(13.5%) out of 96 samples from primary schools were found to contain <em>Toxocara</em> eggs. Data analysis through the chi-square test revealed that there is a significant relationship in the contamination rate between parks and primary schools (P<0.001). The results of this study illustrate that <em>Toxocara</em> spp. are common parasites in the soil in the public parks and primary schools in Kermanshah. Thus, soil contamination with <em>Toxocara</em> eggs can be regarded as a potential health problem in this city.</div> Soil, Toxocara, Iran, Flotation technique Soil, Toxocara, Iran, Flotation technique 31 35 http://jrhms.thums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-37-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Mohammad Reza Rezaiemanesh rezaimanesh@gmail.com 1003194753284600288 1003194753284600288 No Department of Laboratory Sciences, School of Paramedical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran. Mohammad Reza Vafaei mohammad_reza1368@yahoo.com 1003194753284600289 1003194753284600289 No Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran Zahra Jabalameli z.jabalameli@yahoo.com 1003194753284600290 1003194753284600290 No Department of Laboratory Sciences, School of Paramedical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran Mohammad Falahati falahati.1982@gmail.com 1003194753284600291 1003194753284600291 No Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran Mohsen Ghomashlooyan mgn1370@yahoo.com 1003194753284600292 1003194753284600292 No Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran Mohammad Ali Mohaghegh mohaghegh1982@yahoo.com 1003194753284600293 1003194753284600293 Yes Department of Laboratory Sciences, School of Paramedical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran