Prevalence of Parasitic contamination of salad vegetables in Ilorin, North Central, Nigeria

Abstract

See, stats, and : https : / / www . researchgate . net / publication / 311552199 Prevalence vegetables , North , Nigeria Article DOI : 10 . 4314 / mejs . v8i2 . 3 CITATIONS 0 READS 44 4 , including : Some : knowledge , attitude , Abia View PARASITES Ebube University 13 SEE Carmelita Michael 5 SEE Onyinye Michael , Umu… 15 SEE All . The . ABSTRACT Fresh salad vegetables are essential for good health and they form a major component of human diet in every family in Nigeria . Raw vegetables can be agent of transmission of intestinal parasites . The aim of this study is to determine the parasitic contamination of salad vegetables sold at wholesale and retail markets around Ilorin metropolis . A total of 150 samples of salad vegetables obtained from five different markets were examined for both protozoa and helminth parasites using standard methods . About 25 samples each of lettuce , cabbage , carrot , cucumber , tomato and onion were examined . Eggs of Ascaris lumbricoides , Entamoeba histolytica / dispar , Enterobius vermicularis , cysts of Giardia lamblia , Fasciola hepatica , Trichuris trichiura , Strongyloides stercoralis , Balantidium coli and Necator americanus were detected in 28 . 0% , 23 . 3% , 11 . 7% , 5 . 0% , 6 . 7% , 3 . 3% , 10 . 0% , 3 . 3% and 8 . 3% respectively . Of the sampled areas , Ipata market recorded the highest parasite prevalence of 63 . 3% while G . R . A market recorded the lowest parasite prevalence of 13 . 3% . The most encountered parasite was A . lumbricoides (28 . 0%) while N . americanus was the least (3 . 3%) parasite found . The study revealed a high rate of protozoa and helminthes contamination of salad vegetables in the study areas . Parasitological contamination of raw salad vegetables sold in wholesale and retail markets in the study area may pose a health risk to consumers of such products .