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The enteroparasitic
contamination of commercial vegetables
Rodina M. Al-Shawa and Saleh N. Mwafy.
Department
of Biology, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University of Gaza, Gaza,
Palestine
Abstract:
Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate the
parasitological contamination of vegetables to be consumed raw and
commercialized in Gaza governorates.
Methodology: We studied 216 samples of vegetables including parsley,
dill, rocket, cucumber, red cabbage and purslane collected from markets
in Gaza governorate and Rafah governorate, between June and August 2006.
The study was carried out in the Department of Biology, Faculty of
Science, Al-Azhar University of Gaza. The vegetables were washed in tap
water; the washing solution was then centrifuged and the sediments were
examined for parasites.
Results: The prevalence of the parasites was 22.5% in rocket, 17.5% in
each of parsley and purslane, 16.3% in dill, 13.7% in red cabbage, and
12.5% in cucumber. The statistical analysis indicated that Entamoeba
histolytica, Giardia intestinalis and Ascaris lumbricoides were the most
common isolated parasites.
Conclusions: It may be concluded that parasites are common in vegetables
that are frequently eaten raw and the use of tap water does little to
remove them. These findings could open a new avenue of research in
vegetables.
Key Words: enteroparasites, contamination, vegetables,
Gaza governorates.
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