Evaluation of two analytical methods of detection for intestinal parasites in curly lettuce sold in food stalls

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of parasitic structures in curly lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) sold in food stalls open markets in Cuiabá city, in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso (MT). For this purpose, 50 samples were evaluated using spontaneous sedimentation and centrifugal flotation methods. These techniques showed positivity in 96% (48/50) and 78% (39/50) of the samples, respectively. The sedimentation method was statistically (p ≤ 0.05) more effective in detecting parasitic structures of the pathogens as Entamoeba histolytica, Ascaris spp., Strongyloides spp., Larvae and Hookworm eggs, when comparing both methods. However, these methods did not differ significantly for the detection of Giardia lamblia. Ascaris spp and Entamoeba coli occurred in 64% (32/50) and 46% (23/50) of the positive samples, respectively, with the highest percentages observed. The occurrence of Blastocystis spp., Fasciola spp., Dipylidium caninum and Ascaris lumbricoides revealed detection exclusively by the spontaneous sedimentation method, while Iodamoeba butschlii and Enterobius vermicularis were detected by centrifugal– flotation procedure. These results could reinforce the need to use methods based on sedimentation and the fluctuation of parasite structures in the analysis of lettuce. The presence of parasites in lettuce by fecal origin, with recognized pathogenicity, represents a risk to consumer health and demonstrates a deficit in good agricultural practices in the production, distribution and commercialization of lettuce.

Investigating the Occurrence of Soil-Transmitted Parasites Contaminating Soil, Vegetables, and Green Fodder in the East of Nile Delta, Egypt

“…Other important considerations include the kind and size of vegetable samples, the quality of water used for irrigation and washing, the proximity of livestock, and the availability of organic fertilizers. Even producers' and consumers' knowledge of the risk of parasite transmission through vegetables, as well as the population's cleanliness practices, might impact the detection of parasites in green vegetables [ 67 ]. The main limitation of our study, as well as the majority of papers discussing the prevalence of parasites in environmental samples, such as soil and vegetables, is the lack of molecular characterization of the identified parasites.…”

Microbiological evaluation of homemade mayonnaise and self-serve acai sold in Araguaína, Tocantins

“…Foodborne diseases (FBDs) are caused consumption of food products contaminated with infectious or toxic agents, i.e., biological or chemical agents, and are an important public health problem worldwide (Oliveira et al, 2010;Melo et al, 2018;Andrade Júnior et al, 2019;World Health Organization, 2022). Inadequate food sanitization or preparation practices can lead to microbial contamination with viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites, which can cause outbreaks of FBDs (Garcia et al, 2020;Oliveira et al, 2022;Rodrigues and Moraes Filho, 2020). The most common cause of FBDs is bacterial contamination, by organisms such as Campylobacter spp., Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus cereus, and Staphylococcus aureus (Fröder et al, 2021;Oliveira et al, 2010).…”