INCIDENCE OF PARASITES ON SOME RAW EATEN VEGETABLES SOLD IN MINNA MARKETS, NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Vegetables are essential part of human healthy diet and are rich in vitamins. However, consumption of raw vegetables has been associated with transmission of parasites. This study investigated the incidence of parasites on five commonly consumed raw vegetables in Minna, Nigeria. A total of 2500 samples of the five different types of raw vegetables (lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, carrots and cabbage) were purchased from five markets in Minna (Kure market, Bosso market, Maikunkele market, Maitunbi market and Gwari market) and analyzed for the presence of helminthes and protozoan parasites using concentration method. Out of the 2500 samples examined, 397 (15.88%) were found to be contaminated with various stages of parasites such as ova, cysts, eggs or a complete developed parasite. Highest rate of parasitic contamination was detected in carrots 116 (29.22%), followed by tomato 100 (25.19%), lettuce 79 (19.90%), cabbage 66 (16.63%) with cucumber 36 (9.07%) having the least contamination. Among the sampled markets Gwari market 88 (17.60%) recorded the highest prevalence while Bosso market 54 (10.80%) had the lowest. The seven parasitic stages detected were Schistosoma masoni 116 (29.22%) as the most prevalent followed by the eggs of Teania 80 (20.15%), cyst of Schistosoma masoni 82 (20.06%), cyst of Schistosoma japonicum 35 (8.82%), cyst of Entamoeba histolytica 32 (8.06%), Cyst of hookworm 26 (6.55%) and Ascaris lumbricoides 26 (6.55%) in that order Findings from this study show that a considerably number of commonly consumed raw vegetables in Minna are contaminated with a wide variety of parasites, indicating a major health risk to consumers. As such public enlightenment campaigns on the danger of consuming inadequately washed and raw vegetables should be carried out by local health authorities.