Parasitic contamination of some fresh and collected vegetables from Mosul City markets

Abstract

The current study specifies the rate of spreading the parasites in fresh vegetables sold in shops located on the left and right sides of the city of Mosul. 600 samples were collected, 300 for each side left and right, with 15 samples of each Lettuce, Celery, Pepper, Tomatoes, Onions and Carrots. Results showed significant differences in the rates of contaminating variables with intestinal parasites at probability level (p<0.05) on both sides, where it was noticed that the percentage of contamination on the right side (39%) was higher than the one on the left side(26%). The results also showed that fresh vegetables are contaminated with three types of intestinal parasites: Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia Lamblia, Entamoeba coli, and four types of intestinal worms as follows: Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichura, Hymenolypis nana, Enterobius Vermiculoris. The highest contamination percentage with intestinal protozoa was found with Entamoeba histolytica parasite (67%) on the left side. On the right side, the percentage of contamination was Entamoeba histolytica (50%) in each of the tomato plants and coriander., and the highest percentage of contamination with intestinal worms was by Ascaris lumbricoides worm on the left side (40%) and in the right side (29%). Also shown from the results, the percentage of single contamination in the fresh vegetables was higher than the double and triple contamination. The single contamination was found with a percentage of (82-95%) on both sides, respectively and also noticed in the current study, the leafy vegetables (lettuce and celery) and Tomato, which are the most vegetables contaminated with parasites in both sides in comparison with the rest types of vegetables. Keywords Contamination; intestinal parasites, vegetables; left and right sides