The prevalence of helminth eggs in raw vegetables from street markets in Eskişehir, Türkiye

Year 2024, Volume: 3 Issue: 1, 1 - 8, 30.04.2024

Kürşat Kartal , Mustafa Eser , Hakan Güzel

https://doi.org/10.55971/EJLS.1398299

Abstract

This research was performed on a total of 120 vegetables, with 12 samples taken from each available Eskişehir district markets. In this study, we aimed to determine the presence of contamination from helminth eggs in 10 types of vegetables: carrot, lettuce, parsley, arugula, cress, fresh onion, mint, cucumber, dill, and purslane. 200 g of material from each collected sample was prepared for the helminthological examination. The prepared samples were examined for helminth eggs with a light microscope that could be identified at 40x magnification. The data were analyzed using SPSS 16 software. Helminth eggs were detected in 20 (16.6%) vegetable samples. According to the research, the highest rate of helminth eggs was observed in spring onion (66.6%), while the lowest rate was found in mint (16.6%) and purslane (16.6%). Ascaris lumbricoides eggs were found in 11 (9.1%) of the samples, and strongyle type eggs in 9 (7.5%). In this study, we observed that infectious forms of parasites can contaminate many foods and potentially infect people after consumption if these foods are not washed well. The aim of this study was to assess the presence of helminth eggs in raw vegetables, which are commonly consumed produce sold in street markets in Eskişehir, Türkiye.

Keywords

Eskisehir, helminth contamination, street markets

Ethical Statement

Not applicable, because this article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects.

Supporting Institution

This research received no grant from any funding agency/sector.

Thanks

Not applicable.

References

• World Health Organization (2022, May 19). Food safety. Retrieved February 6, 2024, from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/food-safety
• Muratoğlu K, Çetin Ö, Çolak H. Besin kaynaklı hastalıkların epidemiyolojisi. Türkiye Klinikleri. (2015); 1:1-8.
• Doyle E. A Review of the scientific literature. Food Research Institute. University of Wisconsin UW Madison WI. FRI Briefings. Foodborne Parasites. (2003); 53706:9-10.
• Molins RA, Motarjemi Y, Käferstein FK. Irradiation: A critical control point in ensuring the microbiological safety of raw foods. Food Control. (2001);12:347-356. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0956-7135(01)00035-4
• Erdoğrul Ö, Şener H. The contamination of various fruit and vegetable with Enterobius vermicularis, Ascaris eggs, Entamoeba histolytica cysts, and Giardia cysts. Food Control. (2005);16:559-562. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2004.06.016
• Kozan E, Gönenç B, Sarimehmetoğlu O, Aycicek H. Prevalence of helminth eggs on raw vegetables used for salads. Food Control. (2005);16:239–242. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2004.02.005
• Robertson LJ, Gjerde B. Occurrence of parasites on fruits and vegetables in Norway. Journal of Food Protection. (2001);64:1793–1798. https://doi.org/10.4315/0362-028X-64.11.1793
• Cantoray R. Hayvanlardan insanlara geçen bazı paraziter hastalıklar ve bunların önemi. Eurasian Journal of Veterinary Sciences. (1984);1:133-139.
• Guerrant RL, Kosek M, Moore S, Lorntz B, Brantley R, Lima AA. Magnitude and impact of diarrheal diseases. Archives of Medical Research. (2002);33:351–355. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0188-4409(02)00379-X
• Roberts T, Murrell KD, Marks S. Economic losses caused by food borne parasitic diseases. Parasitol Today. (1994);10:419-423. https://doi.org/10.1016/0169-4758(94)90171-6
• Coelho LM, Oliveira SM, Milman MH, Karasawa KA, Santos RD. Detection of transmissible forms of enteroparasites in water and vegetables consumed at schools in Sorocaba, Sao Paulostate, Brazil. Review of Society Brasil Medicine Tropical. (2001);34, 479-482. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0037-86822001000500012
• Mesquita VC, Serra CM, Bastos OM, Uchoa CM. The enteroparasitic contamination of commercial vegetables in the cities of Niteroiand Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Review of Society Brasil Medicine Tropical. (1999);32:363–366. http://10.1590/s0037-86821999000400005
• Takayanagui OM, Febronio LH, Bergamini AM, Okino MH, Silva AA, Santiago R, Capuano DM, Oliveria MA, Takayanagui AM. Monitoring of Lettucecrops of Riberiao Preto, Brazil. Review of Society Brasil Medicine Tropical. (2000);33:169-174. http://doi.org/10.1590/S0037-86822000000200002
• Vazquez Tsuji O, Martinez Barbarosa I, Tay-Zavala J, Ruiz Hernandez A, Perez-Torres, TA. Vegetables for human consumption as probable source of Toxocara spp. infection in man. Bolivian Chileno de Parasitology. (1997);52:47–50.
• Anonymus. (2023). Retrieved January 11, 2024, from https://eskisehir.tarimorman.gov.tr
• Bier JW. Isolation of parasites on fruits and vegetables. Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine Public Health. (1991);22:144-145.
• Gül C, Nazlıgül C. Helmint enfeksiyonlarına güncel yaklaşım. Dirim Tıp Gazetesi. (2008);83:40-48.
• Kozan E, Kircali SF, Köse M, Eser M, Cicek H. Afyonkarahisar’da tarımsal amaçlı kullanılan atık suların helmint kontaminasyonu yönünden incelenmesi. Türkiye Parazitoloji Dergisi. (2007);31:197-200.
• Avcioglu H, Soykan E, Tarakci U. Control of helminth contamination of raw vegetables by washing. Vector Borne and Zoonotic Diseases. (2011);11(2):189-191. https://doi.org/10.1089/vbz.2009.0243
• Adanir R, Tasci F. Prevalance of helminth eggs in raw vegetables consumed in Burdur, Turkey. Food Control. (2013);31:482-484. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2012.10.032
• Ulukanligil M, Seyrek A, Aslan G, Ozbilge H, Atay S. Environmental pollution with soil-transmitted helminths in Sanliurfa, Turkey. Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. (2001);96(7):903-909. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0074-02762001000700004
• Erez MS, Kozan E, Göksu A. Detection of helminth egg contamination on raw vegetables in Afyonkarahisar, Turkey. Kocatepe Veterinary Journal. (2022);15(4):374-380. https://10.30607/kvj. 1158402
• Aydenizöz M, Gökpinar S, Gazyagci AN. Investigation of parasitological contamination in leafy vegetables in Kırıkkale of Turkey. Animal Health Production and Hygiene. (2017);6(1): 463-467.
• Luz JGG, Barbaso MV, Carvalho AG, Resende SD, Dias JVL, Martins HR. Contamination by intestinal parasites in vegetables marketed in an area of JequitinhonhaValley, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Rev. Nutr. Campinas. (2017);30(1):127-136. https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-98652017000100012
• Bekele F, Tefera T, Biresaw G, Yohannes T. Parasitic contamination of raw vegetables and fruits collected from selected local markets in Arba Minch Town, Southern Ethiopia. Infectious Diseases of Poverty. (2017);6(19):1-7. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40249-016-0226-6
• Amuta EU, Obisike VU, Acham NI. Prevalence of helminth eggs on raw vegetables and fruits sold in selected markets in Makurdi. Benue State, Nigeria. ARRB. (2017);19(4):1-6. https://doi.org/10.9734/ARRB/2017/35806
• Ishaku A, Ishakeku D, Agwale S. Prevalence of parasitic contamination of some edible vegetables sold at Alhamis Market in Lafia Metropolist. Scholarly Journal Biotechnology. (2013);2(2):26-29.
• Dada EO, Olusola-Makinde OO. Microbial and parasitic contamination on vegetables collected from retailers in main market, Akure, Nigeria. American Journal of Microbiological Research. (2015);3(3):112-117. https:// doi: 10.12691/ajmr-3-3-3
• Idahosa OT. Parasitic Contamination of fresh vegetables sold in Jos Markets, National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI), Vom, PlateauState, Nigeria. Global Journal of Medical Research. (2011);11(1), Online ISSN: 0975-5888.
• Adamu NB, Adamu JY, Mohammed D. Prevalence of helminth parasites found on Vegetables Sold in Maiduguri, Northeastern Nigeria. Food Control. (2012);25:23-26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2011.10.016
• Doğan N, Kiraz N, Bolatlı T, Durmaz G, Akşit F, Akgün Y. Eskişehir Anadolu Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Hastanesinin 10 yıllık bağırsak parazitleri inceleme sonuçları. Türkiye Parazitoloji Dergisi. (1993);17(1): 36-42
• Doğan N, Demirüstü C, Aybey A. Eskişehir Osmangazi Üniversitesinin beş yıllık bağırsak paraziti prevalansının türlere ve cinsiyetlere göre dağılımı. Türkiye Parazitoloji Dergisi. (2008);32(2):120-125.
• Gökler ME, Doğan N, Ayhan E, Koçman, Buğrul N, Işıklı B. İlköğretim çağındaki öğrencilerde bağırsak paraziti sıklığı ve sağlık eğitiminin parazitlilik düzeyine etkisi. Medical Research Reports. (2019);2(1):9-12.