Prevention of human fascioliasis: a study of the role of acids detergents and potassium permanganate in clearing salads from metacercariae

ABSTRACT

Prevention of human fascioliasis could depend on clearing the leafy salads from the metacercariae. The present work evaluated the role of some chemicals in detaching and killing this infective stage. It was observed that washing in running water for 10 minutes detached only 50% of the metacercariae. Citric acid in the concentration of [10 ml/L], commercial vinegar [120 ml/L], liquid soap [12 ml/L] and KMnO4 [24 mg/L] detached all metacercariae after 10 minutes exposure. The use of vinegar and KMnO4 was recommended; the former is lethal to other parasites in the vegetables, the second destroyed the metacercariae. Vegetable leaves were not softened and remained fresh