Parasites in sellers and vegetables at public markets. Cuenca 2015

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Objective:

Determine the presence of parasites in sellers and vegetables of the public markets of Cuenca.

Materials and methods:

It is a transversal analytical study. The sample consisted of 144 sellers; it was made in four markets in Cuenca. Initially the merchants were informed about the characteristics of the investigation, the informed consent was requested, a survey was applied and a stool sample was requested, later a lettuce and some parsley were purchased for their respective analysis. The faecal matter was subjected to a coproparasitological examination and stool concentrate using the simplified Ritchie method, fresh technique with saline solution and lugol, and for the observation through a microscope; the vegetables were placed separately in a beaker with 400 ml of distilled water for 24 hours, later about 8 ml of this water was placed in a test tube and it was centrifuged, the sediment was observed with microscope. The processing of samples met the standards of quality and biosafety. The data were analyzed using the IBM SPSS Statistics 20 program and the Epi info 7 program (trial versions).

Results:

The presence of parasites in sellers is determined by 68.10%, the main protozoa observed are Entamoeba histolytica 19.03% cysts and 16.45% Cryptosporidium parvum oocytes. The parasite contamination in parsley was 44.40% and in lettuce 38.90%. In both products, there is the presence of filariform larvae of Uncinaria spp

Conclusions:

The presence of parasites in sellers and products is observed. The most frequent intestinal parasites are the cysts of Entamoeba coli and oocytes of Criptosporidium parvum. In the vegetables, the presence of the filariform larvae of Uncinaria spp is prominent.

Keywords: parasites, food parasitology, food sample, vegetables, specimen handling, public markets.