Assessment of Parasitic Contamination in Imported Fresh Vegetables and Comparative Analysis with Locally Grown Vegetables in Derna, Libya

Abstract

Parasites are commonly associated with vegetable or fruit borne outbreaks of gastroenteritis. Helminthes cause the greatest number of parasitic infections in humans and animals, especially in developing countries. This study was aimed to detect parasitic contamination of some imported and local fresh vegetables consumed and compare them in terms of the most infected in the City of Derna. Samples were collected including (Lettuce, tomato, cucumber, green pepper, onion, zucchini, potato and Orange). Of the 160 imported samples and 160 samples of local samples were examined. Results from imported samples were found that about 106 samples (66.3%) infected with the parasite. As for the examined local vegetables, the infection rate was about 73 samples, an average of (45.6%). It became clear that the rate of contamination with parasitic primary cysts was about 76 with percentage (71.1%). While the rate of contamination in local samples was 18 with percentage (24.7%). In addition, the rate of contamination with helminthes in the imported vegetables was found 91 (8.85%), meanwhile the rate of infection with helminthes in local vegetables was 57 (78.1%). After the comparison between the infections, we notice that the percentage of infection with parasitic worms in the imported vegetables is the highest contamination rate, which is 91 (85.5%), while the infection with intestinal parasites in local vegetables was the lowest percentage of contamination, estimated at about 18 (24.7%). Results of this study show that parasitological contamination of vegetables sold in Derna markets may pose a health risk to consumers of such products