Prevalence of helminth eggs on raw vegetables used for salads
The presence of helminth eggs on raw vegetables, including lettuce, parsley, green onions, cucumbers, carrots, red cabbage, tomatoes, rockets ( Eruca sativa), and green-peppers from wholesalers in Ankara, Turkey was determined. A total of 203 unwashed and 406 washed samples were assayed by light mic...
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Published in | Food control Vol. 16; no. 3; pp. 239 - 242 |
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Main Authors | , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
Elsevier Ltd
01.03.2005
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Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | The presence of helminth eggs on raw vegetables, including lettuce, parsley, green onions, cucumbers, carrots, red cabbage, tomatoes, rockets (
Eruca sativa), and green-peppers from wholesalers in Ankara, Turkey was determined. A total of 203 unwashed and 406 washed samples were assayed by light microscopy. Helminth eggs were detected in 12 (5.9%) of 203 unwashed samples and not in any washed samples (
p<0.05).
Helminth eggs detected in unwashed samples included
Taenia spp. (3.5%),
Toxocara spp. (1.5%), and
Ascaris lumbricoides (1.0%) eggs.
Taenia spp. eggs were recovered to be highest number (
n=130), followed by
Toxocara spp. eggs (
n=21). Approximately 11% of unwashed lettuce and parsley was contaminated compared with only 2.5% of carrot samples. No helminth eggs were detected in red cabbage, rockets, tomatoes or green-peppers.
These results highlight the potential for transmission of helminth eggs by unwashed salad vegetables in Turkey and the importance of properly washing/disinfecting raw vegetables before consumption. |
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ISSN: | 0956-7135 1873-7129 |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.foodcont.2004.02.005 |