Parasitic Contamination of Commonly Consumed Fresh Leafy Vegetables in Benha, Egypt

This study evaluated the degree of parasitic contamination of vegetables which are commercialized and consumed fresh in Benha, Egypt. It included 530 vegetables: lettuce, watercress, parsley, green onion, and leek. Vegetables were collected randomly from markets within Benha. Samples were washed in...

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Main Authors: Maysa Ahmad Eraky, Samia Mostafa Rashed, Mona El-Sayed Nasr, Azza Mohammed Salah El-Hamshary, Amera Salah El-Ghannam
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Hindawi Limited 2014-01-01
Series:Journal of Parasitology Research
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/613960
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spelling doaj-42e28c24be454cf9bc8bacb35be027382020-11-25T00:09:18ZengHindawi LimitedJournal of Parasitology Research2090-00232090-00312014-01-01201410.1155/2014/613960613960Parasitic Contamination of Commonly Consumed Fresh Leafy Vegetables in Benha, EgyptMaysa Ahmad Eraky0Samia Mostafa Rashed1Mona El-Sayed Nasr2Azza Mohammed Salah El-Hamshary3Amera Salah El-Ghannam4Parasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Benha 13518, EgyptParasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Benha 13518, EgyptParasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Benha 13518, EgyptParasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Benha 13518, EgyptParasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Benha 13518, EgyptThis study evaluated the degree of parasitic contamination of vegetables which are commercialized and consumed fresh in Benha, Egypt. It included 530 vegetables: lettuce, watercress, parsley, green onion, and leek. Vegetables were collected randomly from markets within Benha. Samples were washed in saline, and the resulting washing solution was filtered and centrifuged to concentrate the parasitic stages. Sediments and supernatants were examined by iodine and modified Ziehl-Neelsen stained smears. Intestinal parasites were detected in 157/530 (29.6%) samples. Giardia lamblia cysts were the most prevalent parasite (8.8%) followed by Entamoeba spp. cysts (6.8%), Enterobius vermicularis eggs (4.9%), various helminth larvae (3.6%), Hymenolepis nana eggs (2.8%), Hymenolepis diminuta eggs (2.1%), and Ascaris lumbricoides eggs (0.6%). The highest contaminated vegetable was lettuce (45.5%) followed by watercress (41.3%), parsley (34.3%), green onion (16.5%), and leek (10.7%). These results indicate a significant seasonal variation (P<0.05), with highest prevalence in summer (49%) and the lowest in winter (10.8%). These findings provide evidence for the high risk of acquiring parasitic infection from the consumption of raw vegetables in Benha, Egypt. Effective measures are necessary to reduce parasitic contamination of vegetables.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/613960
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Maysa Ahmad Eraky
Samia Mostafa Rashed
Mona El-Sayed Nasr
Azza Mohammed Salah El-Hamshary
Amera Salah El-Ghannam
spellingShingle Maysa Ahmad Eraky
Samia Mostafa Rashed
Mona El-Sayed Nasr
Azza Mohammed Salah El-Hamshary
Amera Salah El-Ghannam
Parasitic Contamination of Commonly Consumed Fresh Leafy Vegetables in Benha, Egypt
Journal of Parasitology Research
author_facet Maysa Ahmad Eraky
Samia Mostafa Rashed
Mona El-Sayed Nasr
Azza Mohammed Salah El-Hamshary
Amera Salah El-Ghannam
author_sort Maysa Ahmad Eraky
title Parasitic Contamination of Commonly Consumed Fresh Leafy Vegetables in Benha, Egypt
title_short Parasitic Contamination of Commonly Consumed Fresh Leafy Vegetables in Benha, Egypt
title_full Parasitic Contamination of Commonly Consumed Fresh Leafy Vegetables in Benha, Egypt
title_fullStr Parasitic Contamination of Commonly Consumed Fresh Leafy Vegetables in Benha, Egypt
title_full_unstemmed Parasitic Contamination of Commonly Consumed Fresh Leafy Vegetables in Benha, Egypt
title_sort parasitic contamination of commonly consumed fresh leafy vegetables in benha, egypt
publisher Hindawi Limited
series Journal of Parasitology Research
issn 2090-0023
2090-0031
publishDate 2014-01-01
description This study evaluated the degree of parasitic contamination of vegetables which are commercialized and consumed fresh in Benha, Egypt. It included 530 vegetables: lettuce, watercress, parsley, green onion, and leek. Vegetables were collected randomly from markets within Benha. Samples were washed in saline, and the resulting washing solution was filtered and centrifuged to concentrate the parasitic stages. Sediments and supernatants were examined by iodine and modified Ziehl-Neelsen stained smears. Intestinal parasites were detected in 157/530 (29.6%) samples. Giardia lamblia cysts were the most prevalent parasite (8.8%) followed by Entamoeba spp. cysts (6.8%), Enterobius vermicularis eggs (4.9%), various helminth larvae (3.6%), Hymenolepis nana eggs (2.8%), Hymenolepis diminuta eggs (2.1%), and Ascaris lumbricoides eggs (0.6%). The highest contaminated vegetable was lettuce (45.5%) followed by watercress (41.3%), parsley (34.3%), green onion (16.5%), and leek (10.7%). These results indicate a significant seasonal variation (P<0.05), with highest prevalence in summer (49%) and the lowest in winter (10.8%). These findings provide evidence for the high risk of acquiring parasitic infection from the consumption of raw vegetables in Benha, Egypt. Effective measures are necessary to reduce parasitic contamination of vegetables.
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/613960
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