A comparative survey of the prevalence of human parasites found in fresh vegetables sold in supermarkets and open-aired markets in Accra, Ghana

被引：70

作者：

Duedu K.O. ^{[1
,3
]}

Yarnie E.A. ^{[2
]}

Tetteh-Quarcoo P.B. ^{[1
]}

Attah S.K. ^{[1
]}

Donkor E.S. ^{[1
]}

Ayeh-Kumi P.F. ^{[1
,2
]}

机构：

[1] Department of Microbiology, University of Ghana Medical School, Korle-Bu, Accra

[2] Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra

[3] Institute of Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh

来源：

BMC Research Notes | / 7卷 / 1期

关键词：

Contamination; Markets; Parasites; Vegetables;

D O I：

10.1186/1756-0500-7-836

中图分类号：

学科分类号：

摘要：

Background: Consuming raw vegetables offers essential nutrients that one may not get when such vegetables are usually cooked. However, eating them raw may pose a great risk for transmissions of pathogens. Such risks may be influenced by the sources of the vegetables and washing techniques used. The aim of the study was to compare the prevalence and diversity of parasitic pathogens associated with vegetables sold at the two types of markets in Ghana and compare effectiveness of various washing techniques. Methods: We purchased two batches of samples of cabbage, sweet bell pepper, carrot, lettuce, tomato and onion within a two week interval. The vegetables were washed by three methods and the wash solution was concentrated and analyzed for parasites. Results: The prevalent parasites detected were Strongyloides stercoralis larvae (43%) and Cryptosporidium parvum oocyst (16%). Others present were Hookworm ova, Entamoeba histolytica cysts, Giardia lamblia cysts, Cyclospora cayetanensis oocysts, Entamoeba coli cysts, Trichuris trichiuria ova, Enterobius vermicularis ova, Isospora belli oocysts and Fasciolopsis buski ova. Contamination was highest in lettuce (61%) and cabbage and the least contaminated was tomato (18%). Contamination of vegetables sold at the open-aired markets was about ten-times that of the supermarkets. Conclusions: In Ghana, the large open-aired markets are the most patronized and serve as a supply point for most corner shops and stalls. The results thus highlight the potential of fresh vegetables serving as a major source of food-borne disease outbreaks and the contribution of open-aired markets to their transmission. Urgent public education on handling of fresh vegetables is recommended. © 2014 Duedu et al.

引用

共 27 条

[1]

WHO, Schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminth infections, Fifty-Fourth World Health Assembly. Volume WHA54.19, (2001)

[2]

Hotez P.J., Bundy D.A.P., Beegle K., Brooker S., Drake L., De Silva N., Montresor A., Engels D., Jukes M., Chitsulo L., Chow J., Laxminarayan R., Michaud C., Bethony J., Correa-Oliveira R., Shuhua X., Fenwick A., Savioli L., Helminth infections: Soil-transmitted helminth infections and schistosomiasis, Disease Control Priorities in Developing Countries, 42, (2006)

[3]

Dawson D., Foodborne protozoan parasites, Int J Food Microbiol, 103, 2, pp. 207-227, (2005)

[4]

Slavin J.L., Lloyd B., Health benefits of fruits and vegetables, Adv Nutr, 3, 4, pp. 506-516, (2012)

[5]

Poiroux-Gonord F., Bidel L.P., Fanciullino A.L., Gautier H., Lauri-Lopez F., Urban L., Health benefits of vitamins and secondary metabolites of fruits and vegetables and prospects to increase their concentrations by agronomic approaches, J Agric Food Chem, 58, 23, pp. 12065-12082, (2010)

[6]

Donkor E.S., Lanyo R., Kayang B.B., Quaye J., Edoh D.A., Internalisation of microbes in vegetables: Microbial load of Ghanaian vegetables and the relationship with different water sources of irrigation, Pak J Biol Sci, 13, 17, pp. 857-861, (2010)

[7]

Donkor E.S., Kayang B.B., Quaye J., Akyeh M.L., Application of the WHO keys of safer food to improve food handling practices of food vendors in a poor resource community in Ghana, Int J Environ Res Public Health, 6, 11, pp. 2833-2842, (2009)

[8]

Agyei-Mensah S., De-Graft Aikins A., Epidemiological transition and the double burden of disease in Accra, Ghana, J Urban Health, 87, 5, pp. 879-897, (2010)

[9]

Nkrumah B., Nguah S.B., Giardia lamblia: A major parasitic cause of childhood diarrhoea in patients attending a district hospital in Ghana, Parasit Vectors, 4, (2011)

[10]

Amoros I., Alonso J.L., Cuesta G., Cryptosporidium oocysts and giardia cysts on salad products irrigated with contaminated water, J Food Prot, 73, 6, pp. 1138-1140, (2010)

← 1 2 3 →