Assessment of parasitic contamination of raw vegetables in Mannuthy, Kerala state, India

Aim: To assess the parasitic contamination of raw vegetables retailed at Mannuthy in Thrissur district of Kerala state, India. Materials and Methods: A total of 112 samples, viz. cabbage (17), mint (11), coriander leaves (11), spinach (15), onion (10), carrot (10), potato (10), ginger (15), beet root ( 7) and tomato (6) were collected from retail market at Mannuthy, Kerala. Collected samples were washed with physiological saline solution. The washings were collected and examined under light microscopy. Results: Helminthic eggs were detected in three (2.7%) of 112 samples. Two samples of cabbage (1.8%) and one sample of onion (0.9%) was positive for ova of Ascaris spp. Conclusion: Vegetables can act as potential source of gastrointestinal parasitic infections. The study emphasizes the need for proper washing of vegetables before they are consumed or cooked.