Abstract
Background: Plant products, including seeds are an important source of vitamins, minerals, proteins, and energy. This study aimed to assess parasitic contaminations in roasted groundnuts, nabag, and tasali (watermelon seeds) sold by street vendors in Khartoum State, Sudan. Methods: The frequency of parasitic contaminations among all crop products was detected by washing the plants with saline, and then conducting an examination using a formal ether concentration technique (FECT), followed by a saturated sugar floatation technique. Results: The detected parasites belonged to two species: Entamoeba histolytica (33.3%) and Giardia lamblia (15.6%). No helminthic parasites were detected. Mixed contamination of the mentioned parasites was also observed (11.1%). The most contaminated crop was nabag, followed by groundnut, and finally tasali. Conclusion: No relation was established between the positivity of samples for parasites and crop type, Khartoum State city, or seller sex. FECT was more sensitive than the saturated sugar floatation technique as a detection method.
Highlights
Intestinal parasitic infections can be transmitted orally through the ingestion of infective agents from infected food, water, or contaminated hands.[1,2] Food contamination and food borne parasitic diseases frequently occur globally
The presence of both E. histolytica and G. lamblia accounted for 11.1% of the positive results
The results revealed that E. histolytica was the dominant parasite across all city, with prevalence rates of 17.8%, 17.8%, and 8.9 % in Khartoum, Bahri, and Omdurman, respectively; while G. lamblia had lower prevalence rates in Khartoum, Bahri, and Omdurman, at 13.4%, 4.4%, and 8.9%, respectively
Summary
Intestinal parasitic infections can be transmitted orally through the ingestion of infective agents from infected food, water, or contaminated hands.[1,2] Food contamination and food borne parasitic diseases frequently occur globally These are estimated to amount to 23.2 million cases and 45,927 deaths annually.[3] Fresh fruits and vegetables could be a source of dissemination of foodborne parasitic diseases.[4,5] A study in Ghana revealed Ascaris lumbricoides (roundworm), Ancylostoma duodenale (nematode), Necator americanus (hookworm), and Strongyloides stercoralis (threadworm) contaminations in tiger nuts.[6] Another study on tiger nuts reported other contaminants such as animal droppings, fungi toxins and bacteria.[7] Groundnuts, Ziziphus spina-christi (nabag), and watermelon seeds (tasali) are widely consumed in Africa and the Middle East.[8] Nabag and tasali are widely eaten in Sudan. Methods: The frequency of parasitic contaminations among all crop products was detected by washing the plants with saline, and conducting an examination using a formal ether concentration technique (FECT), followed by a saturated sugar floatation technique. FECT was more sensitive than the saturated sugar floatation technique as a detection method
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