Detection of parasitic structures in vegetables sold in Parnaíba, Piauí

Abstract

Parasites are biological agents responsible for causing several pathologies in animals and human beings. Because of poor sanitation, these parasites contaminate the environment and can contaminate water and food. Vegetables, due to their structure and culturing process, are considered important routes of parasitosis dissemination. This study aims to determine the levels of contamination obtained from the analysis of vegetables sold in open markets, medium-sized commercial establishments and supermarkets from Parnaíba, Piauí. Sixty samples – half of them lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and the others “cheiro-verde”, a mix of coriander (Coriadrum sativum) and chives (Allium sp.) – from six of the main commercial locations in Parnaíba, Piauí, were analyzed. The samples were processed by the Faust et al. and Hoffman et al. methods. From the samples analyzed, 86.7% of the lettuce and 96.7% of the “cheiro-verde” were contaminated by the parasitic structures. The parasites found in the samples were: rhabditoid larvae of helminths (rhabditoid larvae, suggesting Strongyloides stercoralis or Ancylostoma sp.), Ancylostoma sp./Strongyloides stercoralis eggs, Entamoeba coli cyst, Toxocara sp. eggs, Entamoeba histolytica/E. dispar cyst and Ascaris lumbricoides eggs. This study proved to be effective in detecting parasites in the analyzed samples, because the results obtained determined determine which establishments had samples of contaminated vegetables and which parasites are most frequently found.