PARASITE CONTAMINATION OF EDIBLE VEGETABLES SOLD IN ONITSHA MARKETS
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Abstract
This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of parasites that contaminate edible vegetables sold in Nkpor Market, Ochanja Market and Ose Market all in Onitsha, Anambra State between July and August, 2014. These vegetables were procured directly from the rural farmers who brought the vegetables to the markets. They were examined in the laboratory for the presence of parasites using floatation and sedimentation techniques. Out of 480 vegetable specimens examined, 210 were contaminated thus giving a total prevalence of 43.8%. The parasites isolated were Ascaris lumbricoides120(57.1%), Entamoeba histolytica 30(14.3%), Hookworm 45(21.4%) and Strongyloides stercoralis15(7.1%). The highest parasite contamination was found in fluted pumpkin 43(20.5%) and the least on okro 11(5.2%) and carrot 11(5.2%). Ose market (53.1%) has the highest occurrence of parasite and Nkpor market (31.3%) had the least. These findings may have important implications for global food safety and emphasize the importance of raw vegetables in threatening public health by transmission of intestinal parasites to humans in Nigeria. Individuals and local health authorities should improve the sanitary conditions in the areas where the vegetables are cultivated and consumed. Therefore, proper treatment of wastewater used for irrigation of vegetables and improvement of sanitary facilities in our markets and among vegetable vendors are recommended.
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Umeanaeto, P., Nwofor, O., Ugwuanyi, I. K., Egbuche, C., & Igbodika, C. (2016). PARASITE CONTAMINATION OF EDIBLE VEGETABLES SOLD IN ONITSHA MARKETS . The Bioscientist Journal, 4(1), 21-31. Retrieved from https://bioscientistjournal.com/index.php/The_Bioscientist/article/view/37
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
References
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Cheesbrough, M. (2006). Examination of blood for malaria parasite. District Laboratory Practice in Tropical
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International Research Journal of
Microbiology 3(2):66-71
Oranusi, U.S., Braide, W. and EtinosaOkankan, O.J. (2012). Prevalence of geohelminths on selected fruits and vegetables in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria. African Journal of Food Science and Technology 4(2): 35-43.
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136-139.
Shehu, M.M. and Amina, R.M. (2014). Helminths contaminants of fruits and vegetables sold in rural areas of Zamfara States, Nigeria. Journal of Zoological and Biosciences Research
1 (1):15-19
Simoes, M., Pisani,B., Marques, G.L., Predi.
M.A.G., Martini, M.H. and Chiarini, D.F.T. (2001). Hygiene sanitary conditions of vegetables and water from kitchen gardens in the municipality of Campinas. Brazilian Journal of Microbiology 32:331-333.
Takayanagui, O.M., Febronio, L.H.P., Berbamini, A.M., Okino, M.H.T and Castro-Silva, A.A. (2002). Monitoring of market gardens in
Ribeirao. PretoRevista-da-
Sociedade-Brasiteira-deMedicina- Tropical 2:169-174.
Uga, S., Hoa, N.T.V., Noda, S., Moji, K., Cong, L., Rai, S.K. and Fujirnaki, Y. (2009). Parasite egg contamination of vegetables from a suburban market in Hanoi, Vietnam. Nepal Medicine of college Journal.11(2):75- 78.
Ulukanligil, M., Seyrek, A., Aslan, G., Ozbilge, H. and Atay, S. (2001). Environmental pollution with soiltransmitted helminthes in Sanliurfa,
Turkey. Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, 96: 903-909
Umoh, V.J., Okafor, C. and Galadima, M. (2001). Contamination by helminthes to vegetable cultivated on land irrigated with urban waste water in Zaria and Kaduna, Nigeria. The Nigerian Journal of Parasitology.
22:95104.
Uneke, C.J. (2004). Potential for
Geohelminth parasites transmission
by raw fruits and vegetables in
Nigeria: implication for a risk profile.
Journal of Nutritional and
Environmental Medicine 16 (1):5968.
Van Duyn, M.A. and Pivonka, E. (2000). Overview of the health benefits of fruit and vegetable consumption for the dietetics professional: selected literature. Journal of American
Dietetic Association 100 (12): 1511-
1521
Wafa, A. (2010). Prevalence of intestinal parasites in leafy vegetables in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. International Journal of Tropical Medicine 5 (2): 20-23.
Tripoli-Libya. Food Control, 21:760-
762
Akyala, I.A., Ishakeku, D. and Agwale, S. (2013). Prevalence of parasitic contamination of some edible vegetable sold at Alhamis market in Lafia metropolis. Scholarly Journals
of Biotechnology 2 (2): 26-29
Alade, G.O., Alade, T.O. and Adewuyi, I.K. (2013). Prevalence of intestinal parasites in vegetables sold in Ilorin, Nigeria. American-Eurasian Journal of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences 13 (9): 1275-1282.
Alli, J.A., Abolade, G.O., Kolade, A.F.,
Salako, A.O., Mgbakor, C.J., Ogundele, M.T., Oyewo, A.J. and Agboola, M.O. (2011). Prevalence of intestinal parasites on fruits available in Ibadan markets, Oyo State. Acta Parasitological Globalis 2 (1): 6-10.
Amaechi, A.A., Ineregbu, E.I. and Nwokeji, C.M. (2011). Geohelminthes ova and larvae contamination on vegetables and fruits sold in Owerri, southeast Nigeria. International science Research Journal 3: 41-45.
Beuchat, L.R. (2002). Ecological factors influencing survival and growth of human pathogens on raw fruits and vegetables. Microbes and Infection 4 (4): 413-423.
Cheesbrough, M. (2006). Examination of blood for malaria parasite. District Laboratory Practice in Tropical
Countries Part 1. Cambridge LowPrice Edition: 239-258.
Damen, J.G., Banwat, E.B., Egah, D.Z. and Allanana, J.A. (2007). Parasitic contamination of vegetables in Jos Nigeria. Annals of African Medicine
6:115–118
Doaa, E.l. and Said, S. (2012). Detection of parasites in commonly consumed raw vegetables. Alexandria Journal of Medicine 48 (Issue 4): 345-352
Dorny, P., Praet, N., Deckers, N. and Gabriel, S. (2009). Emerging food-borne parasites. Veterinary Parasitology 163 (3):196–206.
Eneanya, C.I. and Njom, V.S. (2003). Geohelmìnth contamination of some vegetables in Enugu, Southeast Nigeria. The Nigerian Journal of Parasitology, 24:123-128.
Erdogrul, O.R. and Sener, H. (2005). The contamination of various fruits and vegetables with Enterobius vermicularis, Ascaris lumbricoides eggs, Entamoeba histolytica cysts and Giardia lamblia cysts. Food Control 16: 557-560
Gaspard, P., Wiart, J. and Schwartzbrod, J. (1997). Parasitological contamination of urban sludge used for agricultural purposes. Waste Management
Research, 15: 429-436.
Gupta, N., Khan, D.K. and Santra, S.C. (2009). Prevalence of intestinal helminth eggs on vegetables grown in wastewater-irrigated areas of Titagarh, West Bengal. India Food Control 20: 942-945.
Henderson, H.K. and Ukwu, R.N. (1962). An outline of the history and culture of Onitsha; Ibadan University Press.
Izadi, S.H, Abedi, S., Ahrnadian, S. and Mahmoodi, M. (2006). Study of the current parasitic contamination of the edible vegetables in Isfahan in order to identify preventive measures. Science Journal Kurdistan University Medical Science;11(2):51-58.
Jaykus, L.A. (1997). Epidemiology and detection as options for control of viral and parasitic foodborne disease. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 3:
529-539
Jon-Colby, S., Barbara, A., and Molly, S. (1986): Essentials of Health. Harcourt Brace Javanoich Publishers:116-124.
Kenneth, N.O. and Nsima, I.U. (2002). Parasitic contamination of leafy vegetables: a function of the Leaf
Area Index. Global Journal of Pure and Applied Science, 9 (1):25-30.
Kniel, K.E., Lindsay, D.S., Sumner, S.S., Hackney, C.R., Pierson, M.D and Dubey, J.P. (2002). Examination of attachment and survival of Toxoplasma gondii oocysts on raspberries and blueberries. Journal of Parasitology 88:790-793.
Mahvi, A.H. and Kia, E.B. (2006). Helminth eggs in raw and treated wastewater in the Islamic Republic of Iran. East Mediterranean Health Journal 12 (12):137–143.
Mehrabian, S., Tehrani, S., Shahhosseiny, M.H and Pourbabaei, A.A. (2009). Salmonella prevalence in vegetables and determination of antímicrobial resistance patterns in Tehran. Journal Microbial Knowledge. 1(4):51-57.
Mercanoglu, T.B. and Halkman, A.K.
(2011). Do leafy green vegetables and their ready-to-eat [RTE] salads carry a risk of foodborne pathogens? Anaerobe 17 (6): 286–287
NPC/FRN, (2006). Population Census of Nigeria, Federal Republic of Nigeria. Population distribution in Local Government Areas by Sex and Number of Households. Legal Notices on publication of the details of the breakdown of the National and State Provisional population census totals. Official Gazette, 94(24).
Nyarango, R.M., Aloo, P.A., Kabiru, E.W. and Nyanchongi, B.O. (2008). The risk of pathogenic intestinal parasite infections in Kisii Municipality, Kenya. BMC Public Health 8:237
Oranusi, U.S., Braide, W. (2012). A study of microbial safety of ready-to-eat foods
vended on highways: OnitshaOwerri, Southeast Nigeria.
International Research Journal of
Microbiology 3(2):66-71
Oranusi, U.S., Braide, W. and EtinosaOkankan, O.J. (2012). Prevalence of geohelminths on selected fruits and vegetables in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria. African Journal of Food Science and Technology 4(2): 35-43.
Rajvanshi, A. (2010). Bacteria load on Street vended Salads in Jaipur City, India. Internet Journal of food Safety 12:
136-139.
Shehu, M.M. and Amina, R.M. (2014). Helminths contaminants of fruits and vegetables sold in rural areas of Zamfara States, Nigeria. Journal of Zoological and Biosciences Research
1 (1):15-19
Simoes, M., Pisani,B., Marques, G.L., Predi.
M.A.G., Martini, M.H. and Chiarini, D.F.T. (2001). Hygiene sanitary conditions of vegetables and water from kitchen gardens in the municipality of Campinas. Brazilian Journal of Microbiology 32:331-333.
Takayanagui, O.M., Febronio, L.H.P., Berbamini, A.M., Okino, M.H.T and Castro-Silva, A.A. (2002). Monitoring of market gardens in
Ribeirao. PretoRevista-da-
Sociedade-Brasiteira-deMedicina- Tropical 2:169-174.
Uga, S., Hoa, N.T.V., Noda, S., Moji, K., Cong, L., Rai, S.K. and Fujirnaki, Y. (2009). Parasite egg contamination of vegetables from a suburban market in Hanoi, Vietnam. Nepal Medicine of college Journal.11(2):75- 78.
Ulukanligil, M., Seyrek, A., Aslan, G., Ozbilge, H. and Atay, S. (2001). Environmental pollution with soiltransmitted helminthes in Sanliurfa,
Turkey. Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, 96: 903-909
Umoh, V.J., Okafor, C. and Galadima, M. (2001). Contamination by helminthes to vegetable cultivated on land irrigated with urban waste water in Zaria and Kaduna, Nigeria. The Nigerian Journal of Parasitology.
22:95104.
Uneke, C.J. (2004). Potential for
Geohelminth parasites transmission
by raw fruits and vegetables in
Nigeria: implication for a risk profile.
Journal of Nutritional and
Environmental Medicine 16 (1):5968.
Van Duyn, M.A. and Pivonka, E. (2000). Overview of the health benefits of fruit and vegetable consumption for the dietetics professional: selected literature. Journal of American
Dietetic Association 100 (12): 1511-
1521
Wafa, A. (2010). Prevalence of intestinal parasites in leafy vegetables in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. International Journal of Tropical Medicine 5 (2): 20-23.