Abstract
Food-borne parasite infections affect communities worldwide by transmitting microorganisms, imposing a serious risk to human and animal health. The aim of this study was to analyze the parasitological contamination in cress (Nasturtium officinale, Barbarea verna e Lepidium sativum) from various establishments in the metropolitan area of Curitiba, State of Parana. We analyzed 50 cress samples using the wash and centrifugation technique and the sedimentation method. Among the samples, 6 presented trophozoites of Balantidium coli, cyst of Entamoeba coli and parasites of Stronylidae and Trichuridae Family and 14 samples were contaminated with maggots, slugs and snails. Factors related to this parasitological contamination may be the failure in the quality of water used for irrigation, and the planting, storage and the distribution of the plants. As these vegetables are mainly eaten in natura, we recommend the inclusion of safety procedures along the entire process to protect the health of consumers, since vegetables can be a zoonosis transmitter vehicle. Food-borne parasite infections affect communities worldwide by transmitting microorganisms, imposing a serious risk to human and animal health. The aim of this study was to analyze the parasitological contamination in cress ( Nasturtium officinale, Barbarea verna e Lepidium sativum ) from various establishments in the metropolitan area of Curitiba, State of Parana. We analyzed 50 cress samples using the wash and centrifugation technique and the sedimentation method. Among the samples, 6 presented trophozoites of Balantidium coli , cyst of Entamoeba coli and parasites of Stronylidae and Trichuridae Family and 14 samples were contaminated with maggots, slugs and snails. Factors related to this parasitological contamination may be the failure in the quality of water used for irrigation, and the planting, storage and the distribution of the plants. As these vegetables are mainly eaten in natura, we recommend the inclusion of safety procedures along the entire process to protect the health of consumers, since vegetables can be a zoonosis transmitter vehicle.
Highlights
Vegetables are widely consumed by the population, being very important in the maintenance and development of humans and animals’ health
The microflora of plants can vary considerably depending on the type of environmental and seasonal factors and the source of microorganisms can be from soil, water, insects and animals
We found an average of 12% of parasite contamination compared to 66% from Silva et al (1995) from Rio de Janeiro, studying cress
Summary
Vegetables are widely consumed by the population, being very important in the maintenance and development of humans and animals’ health They should be in sanitary conditions suitable for consumption (Cavalcante and Correa, 2010; Neres et al, 2011). The microflora of plants can vary considerably depending on the type of environmental and seasonal factors and the source of microorganisms can be from soil, water, insects and animals. These factors are directly influenced by man using safe planting technology, transport and storage conditions (APPCC, 1997; Pacheco et al, 2002; Rosa and Carvalho, 2000). As a tropical country, has the climate and socioeconomic conditions that favor the occurrence of parasitic diseases, both in rural and urban areas (Soares et al, 2005)
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