PARASITIC CONTAMINATION OF TWO COMMONLY CONSUMED LEAFY VEGETABLES IN EL-KHARGA OASIS, UPPER EGYPT, AND EVALUATION OF HYGIENE PRACTICES AMONG THE VENDORS

Abstract

Foodborne parasitic diseases cause human morbidity and mortality especially in the low- & middle-income countries. This study identified the parasitic contaminated Eruca sativa & Raphanussativus cultivated in El-Kharga Oasis, Upper Egypt, as to seasonal variation and the vendors hygienepractices. A total of 270 samples of the two vegetables were purchased from public markets.Parasitic contamination was evaluated by sedimentation and flotation techniques with modifiedZiehl-Neelsen stain. The results showed that 219(81%) samples were contaminated with 13different parasites. Ascaris lumbricoides 123(25.5%) and Cryptosporidium parvum (14.9%) werethe commonest ones and the highest contamination rate was in autumn (87%) for E. sativa and inwinter (87%) for R. sativus. The contamination level was significant with the gender and washingpractices of vendors. The current data gave evidence of the seasonal dynamics of acquiring parasiticinfection due to consumption of raw vegetables, interaction, and its relevance with vendor'shygiene.