Parasitic stages contaminants of some vegetables selected from super and local markets of Kirkuk city, Iraq

Abstract

Vegetables are essential components of a healthy human diet but their raw administration is an important means of transmitting many infectious diseases. From October 2018 to May 2019, this study was intended to detect the parasitic pollutants in some common green vegetables used for fresh intake in Kirkuk city's super and local markets. On the basis of Kirkuk city's geographical division, four areas were selected: Rahim-awa, Huzairan-one, Wassiti and Ras Al-JisrJisr. Eight types of vegetables from each region were collected including tomato, lettuce, cucumber, radish, celery, leek, cabbage and basil. Parasitic stages were microscopically detected by direct smear or by Iodine staining or modified Zeihl-Neelsen stain. Many parasitic stages (eggs, oocysts, and cysts) have been found contaminating the vegetables. In general vegetables were more contaminated with parasitic stages in local markets than in supermarkets. Entamoeba histolytica was the most common parasite detected at 21.1 % frequency. Followed by Giardia lamblia, Cryptosporidium parvum, Hyminolepis nana, Echinococcus granulosus and Microsporidia sp., with 12.8 %, 5.4%, 4.2%, 3.5 % and 2.3 % for all parasites respectively. Radish, celery and leek were more commonly contaminated than cucumber, tomato, lettuce, basil and cabbage. In Ras Al-Jisr, the highest rate of contamination was detected, followed by Huzairan-one and Wassiti, the lowest rate was detected in Rahim-awa. The conclusion is that, vegetables are more contaminated with parasitic stages in Kirkuk's local markets than in supermarkets. Parasites were found contaminating radish, celery, and leek more than cucumber, tomato, lettuce, basil and cabbage. The greatest isolated pathogenic parasites were the Entamoeba histolytica and the Giardia lamblia cysts. Multiple contaminated parasites have been observed in almost all vegetables.