Prevalence of helminth eggs in raw vegetables consumed in Burdur, Turkey

• Published in: Food control Vol. 31; no. 2; pp. 482 - 484
• Main Authors: Adanir, Ramazan, Tasci, Fulya
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; carrots; cucumbers; dill; Egg and egg product industries; eggs; farm to fork; food chain; Food industries; Fruit and vegetable industries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; green onions; Helminth eggs; helminths; leeks; lettuce; light microscopy; Mentha piperita nothosubsp. piperita; Parasitic contamination; parsley; Raw vegetables; risk; spinach; Turkey (country); Asia; Turkey; Parasitic contamination; Raw vegetables; Helminth eggs; Vegetables; Prevalence; Egg; Surveillance; Egg product; Parasite; Contamination
• ISSN: 0956-7135; 1873-7129
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2012.10.032

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of intestinal helminths in raw vegetables consumed in Burdur, Turkey. The presence of helminth eggs on raw vegetables, including lettuce, parsley, green onions, cucumbers, carrots, cress, peppermint, spinach, leek, dill, and rocket from Bazaars in Burdur, Turkey was determined. A total of 111 raw vegetable samples were randomly selected from the bazaar and then were examined by a concentration method and assayed by light microscopy. Helminth eggs were detected in 7 (6.3%) of 111 raw lettuce, parsley, carrots, cress, peppermint, spinach, and rocket samples (p > 0.05). No helminth eggs were detected in leek, cucumbers, dill, and green onions. Parasitological contamination of raw vegetables sold in bazaar in Burdur may pose a health risk to consumers of such products. The importance of adequate measures throughout the farm-to-table food chain was emphasized. ► Potentially zoonotic parasites such as Taenia spp., and Toxocara spp. were determined from raw vegetables. ► Vegetables were contaminated with intestinal parasites to human such as Ascaris lumbricoides and Enterobius vermicularis. ► The rate of contamination with helminth eggs in raw vegetables were 6.3% in Burdur, Turkey. ► No helminth eggs were detected in leek, cucumbers, dill, and green onion. ► Parasitological contamination of raw vegetables sold in bazaars in Burdur may pose a health risk to consumers.