Contamination by intestinal parasites in vegetables marketed in an area of Jequitinhonha Valley, Minas Gerais, Brazil

ObjectiveThe present study aimed to evaluate the presence of helminthes and intestinal protozoa in vegetables commercialized in Diamantina, a municipality located at Jequitinhonha Valley, one of the poorest regions of the world. MethodsA total of 108 specimens, including lettuce, green onion and roc...

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Detalhes bibliográficos
Autores: Guimarães LUZ, João Gabriel, BARBOSA, Marcos Vinícius, de CARVALHO, Amanda Gabriela, Diniz RESENDE, Samira, Leite DIAS, João Victor, Rodrigues MARTINS, Helen
Formato: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2023
País:Brasil
Recursos:Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas (PUC-CAMPINAS)
Repositorio:Revista de Nutrição
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:ojs.periodicos.puc-campinas.edu.br:article/7836
Acesso em linha:https://periodicos.puc-campinas.edu.br/nutricao/article/view/7836
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palavra-chave:Foodborne diseases
Helminthiasis
Parasites
Vegetables
Doenças transmitidas por alimentos
Helmintíase
Parasitos
Verduras
Descrição
Resumo:ObjectiveThe present study aimed to evaluate the presence of helminthes and intestinal protozoa in vegetables commercialized in Diamantina, a municipality located at Jequitinhonha Valley, one of the poorest regions of the world. MethodsA total of 108 specimens, including lettuce, green onion and rocket, were monthly collected from the most popular open street market, green grocery and supermarket of the municipality. The samples were processed by a concentration method and evaluated by light microscopy for parasitological identification. ResultsThe percentage of contamination was 50.9% (55/108), with predominance of nematode larvae (36.5%), cysts of Entamoeba coli (26.0%) and eggs of hookworms/Strongyloides spp. (12.9%). Lettuce showed greater contamination rate (61.1%) and samples from the open street market were more contaminated (77.8%). Information collected at each point of sale pointed the field cultivation as the critical step for such contaminations. ConclusionVegetables marketed in Diamantina presents a wide variety of intestinal parasites, which may represent a potential risk to the health of consumers of fresh vegetables.