Parasitological evaluation of lettuce served in school meals at a Federal State School in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The Brazilian "National School Lunch Program" (PNAE) must provide healthy food for students in public primary education. Thus, it is necessary to ensure both nutritional and parasitological quality, reducing health risks. Vegetables must be clean, presenting no parasites and larvae, according to Brazilian legislation. Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is one of the favorite vegetables among students, and is eaten raw in salads. This paper aims to evaluate the parasitological quality of lettuce served in school lunches. 72 samples of leaf lettuce, 36 from conventional agriculture (CA) and 36 from family agriculture (FA), were analyzed. Half the samples in each group were sanitized by immersion in a sodium hypochlorite solution, with 2% active stabilized chlorine for 10 minutes (n=18/each) and half were not sanitized (n=18/each). Parasite load evaluation was performed by two methods in each subgroup: spontaneous sedimentation (SS) and sedimentation by centrifugation (SC). The parasite frequencies found were evaluated by the chi-squared test. Medically relevant parasites identified were helminths (Strongyloides stercoralis, Ascaris lumbricoides and Hookworms) as well as protozoa (Balantidium coli and Entamoeba coli). 44.6% of the FA samples presented some form of parasite by SS evaluation and 33.4% by SC evaluation; 66.7% of the CA samples presented parasites by SS evaluation, and 44.5% by SC evaluation. No significant differences were noted between the FA and CA groups in either technique. No parasites were found in any of the sanitized lettuces, regardless of the subgroup or technique applied. These results evidence the importance of adequate training and guidance for vegetable growers, food handlers as well as the general population regarding proper hygiene of lettuce leaves prior to consumption.

Endoparasitos em cobaias (Cavia porcellus) (Mammalia, Rodentia, Caviidae) provenientes de biotérios de criação e experimentação do município do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil / Endoparasites in guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) (Mammalia, Rodentia, Caviidae) from breeding and experimentation animal housing of the municipality of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Foi realizado um levantamento sobre a prevalência e intensidade de infecção de endoparasitos em cobaias convencionais de linhagem Short Hair provenientes de biotérios de criação (A) e experimentação (B) do município do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, avaliando-se a eficácia das medidas de prevenção entre eles. Para a realização do estudo, utilizou-se exame direto de mucosa e do conteúdo intestinal, a técnica de tricromo de WHEATLEY e exames coproparasitológicos pelas técnicas de Ritchie e Kinyoun. Os parasitos encontrados através da técnica de exame direto da mucosa e do conteúdo intestinal e de tricromo de WHEATLEY com as respectivas prevalências foram: Balantidium sp. (78 por cento), Cyathodinium sp. (68 por cento), Eimeria caviae (38 por cento), Paraspidodera uncinata (34 por cento) e Giardia muris (24 por cento). Nos exames de fezes realizados pelas técnicas de Ritchie e Kinyoun, foram encontrados os seguintes parasitos com as respectivas prevalências no biotério A: E. caviae (74 por cento), Balantidium sp. (68 por cento), Cyathodinium sp. (68 por cento) e Cryptosporidium sp. (5 por cento). No biotério B, observou-se: E. caviae (58 por cento), Balantidium sp. (42 por cento), Cyathodinium sp. (25 por cento) e G. muris (8 por cento). A alta prevalência de endoparasitos nos biotérios sugere a necessidade de se rever a eficácia das barreiras sanitárias adotadas.

This paper discusses the prevalence and intensity of infection of endoparasites in conventionally maintained Short Hair guinea pigs colonies from a breeding (A) and an experimental (B) facilities in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It also evaluates the efficacy of the methods of prevention adopted by both facilities. The search of parasites was performed by direct examination of intestinal mucosa and its contents, WHEATLEY's trichrome method and coproparasitological examinations by Ritchie's and Kinyoun's techniques. The prevalences of endoparasites found throught direct examination of intestinal mucosa and its contents were: Balantidium sp. (78 percent), Cyathodinium sp. (68 percent), Eimeria caviae (38 percent), Paraspidodera uncinata (34 percent) and Giardia muris (24 percent). The prevalences of endoparasites found throught Ritchie's and Kinyoun's techniques in facility A were: E. caviae (74 percent), Balantidium sp. (68 percent), Cyathodinium sp. (68 percent) and Cryptosporidium sp. (5 percent). In facility B: E. caviae (58 percent), Balantidium sp. (42 percent), Cyathodinium sp. (25 percent) and G. muris (8 percent) were found. The high prevalences in both facilities suggest that the efficacy of the sanitary barriers adopted in the prevention of parasitic infections should be revised.