Parasitic Contamination of Raw Vegetables in Amol, North of Iran

Abstract

Background:One of the most important ways of pathologic and non-pathologic parasites transmission is through eating raw vegetables. Iranian people believe that eating raw vegetables is an important way to get some essential vitamins and minerals. Objectives: According to the high prevalence of pathologic parasites and also exporting different vegetables to the other provinces such as Tehran, we conducted this study to evaluate the parasitic pollution of raw vegetables in Amol city. Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive and analytic study compromised of 200 samples from 10 different vegetables including spinach, garden cress, parsley, lettuce, peppermint, radish, green onion, basil, coriander and scallion. The samples were evaluated using timely-sediment method and then centrifuging concentrating. The obtained results were analyzed by SPSS software and χ 2/Fisher's Exact Test. Results: Results showed that 93 (46.5%) of all vegetables (collected from 20 regions) were contaminated with pathologic and nonpathologic parasites. Among these, spinach and coriander were the highest (17.2%) and the lowest (3.2%) contaminated samples, respectively. The isolated parasites were nematode larva 25.8%, Giardia cyst 22.5%, Entamoeba coli cyst 19.3%. However, the obtained results from 100 restaurants and kebab samples did not show any parasitic contamination. Conclusions: Given hygiene issues and health status of people, the prevalence of some parasitic contaminations is the biggest problems among vegetable consumers. Using organized and new methods for irrigating the agricultural fields, preventing animals to enter the vegetable's farmlands and also improving people's knowledge on proper washing of vegetables can be useful in decreasing parasites prevalence.

SEROPREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH Toxoplasma gondii INFECTION AMONG RURAL COMMUNITIES IN NORTHERN IRAN

“…In our study we observed a significant association of seropositivity with the consumption of undercooked meat and unwashed raw vegetables. The latter are one of the main sources of parasitic infections in Northern Iran and around the world 27 , 28 . Several studies claimed that consumption of undercooked meat is an important factor for parasite transmission 12 , 15 , 17 , 24 , 29 .…”

<p>Parasitic Contamination of Fruits and Vegetables Collected from Local Markets of Bahir Dar City, Northwest Ethiopia</p>

“…1,[10][11][12] Studies conducted on various items of fruit and vegetable samples have shown that Ascaris lumbricoides, Cryptosporidium spp, Entamoeba histolytica, Enterobius vermicularis, Fasciola spp, Giardia lamblia, hookworms, Hymenolepis spp, Taenia spp, Trichuris trichiura, Cyclospora spp, and Toxocara spp infect humans who consume contaminated fruits and vegetables without cooking or washing them properly. 1,4,[13][14][15][16] Epidemiological studies indicated that the number of reported cases of foodborne illnesses due to consumption of raw fruits and vegetables has been increasing and continues to be a common and serious threat to public health in endemic areas for IPs. 10,15,17 Fruits and vegetables can become contaminated with parasitic pathogens throughout the process from planting to consumption.…”

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“…[18] Siyadatpanah et al reported that the rate of nematode larvae on raw vegetables was 25.8% in Amol, North of Iran. [19] In another study, the low frequency of free-living larvae contamination (7%) was reported in vegetables consumed in Malayer city, West of Iran. [20] Parasite contamination in vegetables has also been reported in several countries such as Turkey (36%) and Nigeria (5.9%).…”