Parasitic Contamination of Fresh Vegetables Used for Salads in Corum, Türkiye: Molecular and Microscopic Evidence.

Bangkok, a globally popular travel destination, hosts numerous fresh markets and street food vendors catering to locals and visitors. Although raw vegetables are integral to Thai cuisine, their consumption may pose risks of soil-transmitted parasitic infections. This cross-sectional study assessed the prevalence of parasitic contamination in raw vegetables from Bangkok's inner zones, focusing on five districts: Huai Khwang, Khlong Toei, Pathum Wan, Chatuchak, and Phra Nakhon. A total of 200 samples across eight vegetable types were randomly collected from these areas and prepared for analysis using sedimentation techniques followed by microscopic examination. Observers conducting the microscopy were blinded and operated independently to minimize bias. The overall prevalence of parasitic contamination was 77% (n = 154/200). The highest contamination levels were in Huai Khwang and Chatuchak (90%, P <0.05). Identified contaminants included Strongyloides stercoralis larvae (57%), hookworm eggs (20%), Ascaris lumbricoides eggs (16%), Trichuris trichiura eggs (12%), Toxocara spp. eggs (10%), and others. Chinese cabbage was significantly more contaminated with hookworm eggs (P <0.0001) and T. trichiura eggs (P <0.001) than other vegetables, although less so with S. stercoralis (P <0.0001). These findings highlight raw vegetables as potential sources of parasitic infections. Consumers are advised to thoroughly wash vegetables before consumption, whereas vendors should wear gloves to minimize exposure to skin-penetrating parasites. Prophylactic antiparasitic treatment, particularly for children and immunocompromised individuals, is recommended annually.

Raw vegetables that experience increasing demand by consumer due to the healthy nutrients. It is thought consumption of raw vegetables will help in reducing chronic diseases such as hypertension, obesity, cholesterol and diabetes. With the increasing consumption of raw vegetables, several outbreaks linked to the pathogen contamination in these vegetables have been reported worldwide. One of the most common pathogen contamination is Salmonella. Salmonella have two species which are S. bongori and S. enterica. Of these, only S. enterica that cause human infection. However, there are roughly 1500 serovars within S. enterica. Salmonella are ubiquitously present in the environment and easily contaminate food if no proper handling being practices throughout the supply chain. Various vegetables have been implicated with the contamination of Salmonella. Thus, this paper review contamination of Salmonella in vegetables from various studies and the outbreaks.

Diarrheal diseases caused by intestinal protozoan parasites are a major food-borne public health problem across the world. Vegetables and fruits provide important nutrients and minerals, but are also common sources of some food-borne human pathogenic microorganisms. The contamination of raw vegetables and fruits with human pathogenic parasites are now a global public health threat, despite the health benefits of these foods in non-pharmacological prophylaxes against diseases. A large number of reports have documented the contamination of vegetables or fruits with human pathogenic microorganisms. In this paper, we reviewed the contamination and detection methods of human pathogenic intestinal protozoans that are frequently recovered from raw vegetables and fruits. The protozoan parasites include Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia duodenalis, Cyclospora cayetanensis, Entamoeba spp., Toxoplasma gondii, Balantioides coli, Blastocystis sp., Cystoisospora belli and Enterocytozoon bieneusi. The risk factors involved in the contamination of vegetables and fruits with parasites are also assessed.

Tananta VI, Chávez VA, Casas AE, Suárez AF, Serrano ME. Presencia de enteroparásitos en lechuga (Lactuca sativa) en establecimientos de consumo público de alimentos en el Cercado de Lima. Rev acad peru cienc vet 2003; 3(1): 31-36. Las enfermedades parasitarias constituyen uno de los más graves problemas de salud pública dentro de las enfermedades transmitidas por alimentos, principalmente por su alta morbilidad. Las enteroparasitosis y dentro de ellas las producidas por protozoos presen-tan una alta prevalencia en el Perú, afectando mayormente a niños e inmunosuprimidos, a través del agua y alimentos contaminados con las formas parasitarias infectantes. El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo determinar el grado de contaminación por enteroparásitos en verduras crudas expendidas en restaurantes del Cercado de Lima. Se recolectaron 105 muestras de lechuga (Lactuca sativa) de restaurantes de comida criolla, de cebicherías y de pollerías. Las muestras fueron procesadas por el método de sedimentación y observación directa, así como por la técnica de coloración de Ziehl Neelsen modificado, encontrándose un 12,4 ± 6,3% de contaminación enteroparasitaria (1,9% para Giardia sp., 3,8% para Isospora sp., y 6,7% para Cryptosporidium parvum). Por los resultados hallados en el presente estudio se recomienda el monitoreo continuo a todo establecimiento de consumo público de alimentos a cargo de entidades competentes como las municipalidades y el Ministerio de Salud.

This study was aimed at detecting the parasitic contamination in raw vegetables sold in the four public markets in the city of Manila, Philippines. This cross-sectional study was carried out from March to September 2022. Observations on the personal hygiene of the vendors and environmental sanitation were conducted. A total of 87 fresh vegetable samples were collected and processed for the detection of parasitic life forms using standard parasitological techniques for protozoa and helminth worms. The occurrence rate of at least one parasitic contamination of the vegetables was 39.1%, mostly with Meloidogyne spp. (26.4%). Other parasites detected are Ascaris lumbricoides (8.0%), hookworm (6.9%), Fasciola spp. (5.7%), Giardia spp. (2.3%), and Cyclospora spp. (1.1%). Other parasites are macroscopic (6.9%). Remarkably, a high level of contamination was detected in Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa) 68.8%, cabbage (Brassica oleracea) 55.6%, lettuce (Lactuca sativa) 55.6%, ginger (Zingiber officinale) 44.4%, and carrots (Daucus caruta) 40%. The contamination rates of vegetables from the four public markets were analyzed and a significant difference was noted (x2 = 11.852, p = 0.007908) at p-value &lt;.05. This implies that public markets in the city of Manila could play a role in the transmission of parasitic infections in the area. The high occurrence rate of Meloidogyne spp., which is a spurious parasite of man, was included in the analysis and discussions. It is in response to the emerging discussions regarding the reported passage of Meloidogyne spp. in human stool samples.This study was aimed at detecting the parasitic contamination in raw vegetables sold in the four public markets in the city of Manila, Philippines. This cross-sectional study was carried out from March to September 2022. Observations on the personal hygiene of the vendors and environmental sanitation were conducted. A total of 87 fresh vegetable samples were collected and processed for the detection of parasitic life forms using standard parasitological techniques for protozoa and helminth worms. The occurrence rate of at least one parasitic contamination of the vegetables was 39.1%, mostly with Meloidogyne spp. (26.4%). Other parasites detected are Ascaris lumbricoides (8.0%), hookworm (6.9%), Fasciola spp. (5.7%), Giardia spp. (2.3%), and Cyclospora spp. (1.1%). Other parasites are macroscopic (6.9%). Remarkably, a high level of contamination was detected in Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa) 68.8%, cabbage (Brassica oleracea) 55.6%, lettuce (Lactuca sativa) 55.6%, ginger (Zingiber officinale) 44.4%, and carrots (Daucus caruta) 40%. The contamination rates of vegetables from the four public markets were analyzed and a significant difference was noted (x2 = 11.852, p = 0.007908) at p-value &lt;.05. This implies that public markets in the city of Manila could play a role in the transmission of parasitic infections in the area. The high occurrence rate of Meloidogyne spp., which is a spurious parasite of man, was included in the analysis and discussions. It is in response to the emerging discussions regarding the reported passage of Meloidogyne spp. in human stool samples.

Background: About one third of the world population are infected with intestinal parasites. Eating raw vegetables is customary in many parts of the world including Eritrea posing a great risk for transmission of pathogens. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and risks of parasitic contamination in raw vegetables, soil and irrigation water samples. Methods and materials: A cross-sectional study was carried out on different types of 336 vegetable samples (lettuce, carrot, cabbage and arugula), 60 soil and water samples each using sedimentation technique. Simultaneously, socio demographic and farmer practice data of 60 farmers were collected using structured questionnaire. The obtained data were entered and analysed using SPSS version 20. Result: The magnitude of contamination of vegetable, soil and water samples was 144(42.9%), 21(35%) and 30(50%) respectively. Lettuce was the most contaminated sample (51.2%) and arugula (50.9%), carrot (42.7%) and cabbage (34.1%). The most prevalent parasites detected was S. stercolaris 30.6% followed by A. lumbricoides (11.8%) and hookworm (11.8%). The main findings also include the statistically significant difference in rate of contamination observed among various farmlands, vegetable types, and farmer practices. Also, significant association were observed between vegetable contamination and source of irrigation water (p-value= 0.02) and area of collection (p-value&lt; 0.001). Conclusion: This study conclusively reveals the high burden of vegetable, soil and water contamination and the impact of wastewater irrigation system as major risk factor in transmission of intestinal parasitosis among farmers and communities in Asmara.

This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the hygienic status of commonly used raw vegetables through the identification of their possible contamination with parasites as well as to the hygienic capability of using tap water in washing raw vegetables. Overall, 240 vegetable samples were randomly collected from local market. Four common types of raw vegetable (60 for each type), 120 of them were washed with tap water while the other half were washed with normal saline, with the aim of comparing their efficiency for parasite extraction from raw vegetables. Among samples washed with tap water, 28 (23.3%) were contaminated, while different type of parasites were detected in 30 (25%) of the samples washed with normal saline solution. With the exception of radish, all other three types of vegetables were contaminated with ova of Ascaris lumbricoides and Hymenolepis nana, while Trichuris trichiura was isolated only from green onions. Cysts of Entameba histolytica and Giardia intestinalis were extracted from radish while Giardia intestinalis was detected only in leeks. Tap water showed similar efficiency as normal saline in extraction of pathogenic parasites. These findings have important implications for food safety. Raw vegetables may threaten public health by transmitting intestinal parasites to humans. Further studies are recommended for a better understanding of the occurrence of possible infectious pathogens in raw food, and the status of hygienic knowledge, attitudes and practices among vegetables producers

To understand the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of foodborne parasitic diseases among medical college students, so as to provide the evidence for the development of strategies on health education. A total of 929 premed students from a medical college were selected in Hebei Province using the stratified sampling method from October to December, 2017, and investigated by questionnaires to understand their KAP on foodborne parasitic diseases. The understanding and concern degree on foodborne parasitic diseases among the college students from different majors were statistically different (all P < 0.05), the awareness rate and the degree of concern of the non-medical students were lower than those of the medical students, and the awareness rate and the degree of concern of the students who had received medical parasitology education were higher than those who had not received. For the formation rate of not prefer seeking novelty, there was a statistically significant difference among the college students in different majors (P < 0.05), and the rate of health behavior formation in non-medical students was relatively low. There were statistically significant differences among the students from different majors in the attitude on "would suggest others not to eat the foods that might be infected with the foodborne parasites", "would not eat the foods that might be infected with the foodborne parasites", and "would give up special preferences or bad habits" (all P < 0.05), and the formation rate of correct attitude of medical students was relatively high. The awareness rate and the formation rates of correct attitude and behavior of the college students who have received medical parasitology education are relatively higher, so it is necessary to set up a course on foodborne parasitic diseases in colleges and universities.

Objectives: Fresh vegetables are crucial for a healthy diet, providing the body with essential supplements. Intestinal parasites/commensals are transmitted primarily through the consumption of raw contaminated vegetables. This study aimed to investigate intestinal parasite/commensal contamination in randomly selected common and representative fresh vegetable produce sold in various local markets in Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Nepal. Methods: Between August 2023 and February 2024, collected vegetable samples ( n = 250) of carrots, radishes, cabbage, coriander and tomatoes were examined for parasitic contamination via the normal saline sedimentation technique and iodine wet mount following standardised protocols. Parasites/commensals were identified based on morphometric features using standard light microscopy following sedimentation and iodine staining techniques. Results: Of the 250 fresh vegetable samples analysed, 123 (49.2%) were contaminated with at least one intestinal parasite/commensal. The coriander samples presented the highest contamination rate (75.5%), whereas the tomatoes presented the lowest rate (33.3%). Overall, five protozoan parasites/commensals ( Balantidium coli, Entamoeba coli, Eimeria spp ., Giardia duodenalis and Isospora spp.) and six helminthic parasites ( Strongyloides spp., hookworms, Ascaris lumbricoides , Trichuris spp., Hymenolepis spp. and Toxocara spp.) were detected. Notably, Strongyloides spp. was the most common parasite detected (27.2%), followed by B. coli (18%), E. coli (16.8%), hookworms (9.2%), A. lumbricoides (6.4%) and G. duodenalis (5.6%). In addition, 75% contamination of coriander, which is mostly consumed uncooked, was detected, which is alarming. Method of display, vender’s hygiene and method of transportation indicated some role in vegetable contamination. Conclusions: The high rate of parasitic contamination in marketed vegetables underscores the urgent need for a sustainable monitoring system. Furthermore, health education on the safety of fresh vegetables is necessary to safeguard consumer health.

Salmonella typhi (S. typhi) infection is a zoonotic infection and known as salmonellosis. In the human body, salmonellosis causes an increase in high body temperature or known as typhoid fever that cause high morbidity and mortality in developing countries, especially Indonesia. It was found that out of 22 million cases of typhoid fever, 200 thousand of them ended in death. S. typhi often contaminates food that was consumed raw or not perfectly cooked, for example meat, eggs, dairy products, fruits and vegetables. The conventional method for detecting these bacteria is culture method which time consuming and need BSL 2 facilities. PCR was one of DNA based detection method that could overcome the culture method weakness. In this study conducted detection of Salmonella bacteria in raw vegetables which are usually consumed as fresh by using nested PCR method. The detection procedures were sample preparation; bacterial DNA isolation; amplification by using two sets of primer, ST1-ST2 in first round PCR and ST3-ST4 in second round PCR; and the characterization by using agarose electrophoresis. The results indicated that two of nine raw vegetables, tomatos and cabbages have been contaminated with Salmonella. We conclude that nested PCR could detect Salmonella contamination in raw vegetables.

Fresh vegetables are an important part of a healthy and nutrient-rich diet but the consumption of raw vegetables without proper washing is the main way for transmission of parasites. This study was aimed at determining the rate of parasitic contamination in prewashed fresh vegetables sold at randomly selected 10 retail markets which is the last step to reach the consumer in İzmir, Türkiye. A total of 80 samples selected from eight types of vegetables including tomato, spinach, lettuce, rocket, mint, parsley, dill, and cucumber were examined for parasitic agents microscopically by sedimentation method after washing samples with normal saline. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software version 20.0. Protozoan cysts, helminth eggs, and larvae were detected in 21 (26.2%) of 80 samples from eight different vegetable species. Rhabditidiform larvae 18.7%, Blastocystis spp. 5%, Toxocara spp. 2.5%; Ascaris spp., Fasciola spp., Entamoeba histolytica/ Entamoeba dispar and hooked worms were found in 1.2%. Spinach and mint samples were contaminated with parasites significantly more than other fresh vegetable samples (p<0.008, odds ratio =80.0; p<0.017, odds ratio =46.6 respectively). Cruznema spp., a plant nematode, was found at the highest rate according to the results of culture, polymerase chain reaction and sequencing, respectively. In this study, the parasitic contamination was found in approximately one of the four vegetables sold in randomly selected markets in İzmir. These findings show that vegetables sold in local markets can cause parasitic infections if they are consumed without adequate washing and awareness should be raised on this issue. In addition, it was concluded that morphological examinations should be confirmed by molecular studies and sequencing as much as possible in order to avoid misdiagnosis of rhabditidiform larvae.

Foodborne parasitoses compared with bacterial and viral-caused diseases seem to be neglected, and their unrecognition is a serious issue. Parasitic diseases transmitted by food are currently becoming more common. Constantly changing eating habits, new culinary trends, and easier access to food make foodborne parasites’ transmission effortless, and the increase in the diagnosis of foodborne parasitic diseases in noted worldwide. This work presents the applications of numerous proteomic methods into the studies on foodborne parasites and their possible use in targeted diagnostics. Potential directions for the future are also provided.

In a time of increasing threats and decreasing financial resources, monitoring and controlling all possible foodborne hazards at the same time and to the same extent has become more challenging than ever. Therefore, attention is increasingly being paid to the so-called “risk ranking” methods that enable decision makers to focus on the most important foodborne hazards — even when time is limited and knowledge incomplete. In this review paper, we provide an overview of the most common quantitative methods and metrics used for ranking the risks associated with foodborne parasites and present the state of the art on risk ranking exercises for foodborne parasites.A number of risk ranking metrics and methods are available, ranging from simple approaches that can be used to assess the health or economic impact of a foodborne parasitic disease, to more complicated but more comprehensive multi-criteria assessments. For health impact assessment, measures of population health such as disease occurrence and number of deaths; Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) measuring the healthy life years lost; and Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALYs) measuring the number of life years lived in optimal health, are described. For economic impact assessment, applied approaches that measure the cost-of-illness from a societal perspective and stated preference methods are outlined. Finally, Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA), which can be used to integrate multiple metrics and criteria into a single ranking, is described.These risk ranking methods for foodborne parasites are increasingly performed to aid priority setting at global, regional, and national levels. As different stakeholders have their own prioritization objectives and beliefs, the outcome of such exercises is necessarily context-dependent. Therefore, when designing a risk ranking exercise for foodborne parasites, it is important to choose the metrics and methods, as well as what to rank, in the light of the predefined context of the question being addressed and the target audience.

The objective of the study is to determine the rate of intestinal parasite infection in raw vegetables at restaurants in Tra VinhCity. The research employed a descriptive crosssectional study on 96 selected vegetable samples. The results showed that the overall parasite infection rate was 55.2%, with specific infection rates for various vegetables as follows: mustard greens (68.4%), herbs (68.4%), chives (60.0%), laska leaves (47.4%), and lettuce (31.6%). Analysis reveals that Fasciola spp. eggs accounted for the highest proportion among the infectors (38.5%), followed by Ascaris lumbricoides (A. lumbricoides) eggs (19.8%), hookworm eggs (12.5%), roundworm larvae (11.5%), Trichuris trichiura (T. trichiura) eggs (2.1%), and Clonorchis sinensis (C. sinensis) eggs. This research contributesto enhancing community knowledge of parasite contamination in raw vegetables, thereby aiding in infection prevention and health improvement. Additionally, the research established a database for larger-scale surveys in various localities.

Parasitic infections remain a significant public health issue in Thailand. Exposure to intestinal parasites occurs through consumption of improperly washed raw vegetables and handling of contaminated soil without proper hygiene. This study assessed the prevalence of intestinal parasites in raw vegetables and school soil, along with the associated factors, in Koh Yao, Phang Nga Province, Thailand. Vegetables (21 types) were collected from local markets and stores in Koh Yao Noi, Koh Yao Yai, and Phru Nai. Moreover, soil samples were collected from playgrounds, football fields, sidewalks, schoolyards, and areas around cafeterias in 13 public primary schools. Approximately 2.3% of vegetable samples (3 out of 131) were contaminated with parasites (one peppermint and two Chinese morning glory samples). The most commonly detected parasites were Ascaris spp. eggs (1.5%) and hookworms (0.8%). Koh Yao Noi had the highest contamination rate of 7.1%, whereas no contamination was observed in samples from Koh Yao Yai and Phru Nai. The contamination rates in vegetables obtained from the three subdistricts showed significant differences (p < 0.05). All contaminated vegetables were grown locally. In soil samples, parasites were detected in 11 of the 13 schools (84.6%). Of the 141 soil samples, 42 (29.8%) were contaminated, and Toxocara spp. were found in all contaminated samples. Phru Nai had the highest soil contamination rate (50%), followed by Koh Yao Yai (20.5%), and Koh Yao Noi (11.4%). There were significant differences in the distribution of parasite contamination across the three subdistricts (p < 0.001) and seasons (p < 0.001). Football fields were the most contaminated areas, with 36% of samples testing positive for parasites. This study highlights the risk of parasitic transmission through contaminated vegetables and soil. Hence, this emphasizes the need for health authorities to educate local communities on proper hygiene practices, including hand washing and thorough vegetable cleaning, to prevent parasitic infections. Implementing preventive measures in schools and communities is crucial for limiting parasitic disease spread.