occurrence of parasites of public health significance on lettuce and celery sold in local markets in Mosul-Iraq

ABSTRACT

150 Samples of lettuce [Lactuca sativa] and celery [Apium graveolens] were selected from 10 local markets in Mosul area. seven species of intestinal helminthic ova. 2 species of nematode larvae, and 4 species of intestinal protozoal cysts were observed. Lettuce and celery samples collected from each market were found to carry ova of Ascaris lumbricoides Taenia spp. Trichuris trichiura and Hookworm, as well as protozoal cysts of Entamoeba histolytica Giardia lamblia and Entamoeba coli. The incidence of Ascaris lumbricoides ova was found to be high in both lettuce and celery [333% 36% respectively]. Entamoeba histolytica cysts showed a high recovery rate in both vegetables [18% in lettuce and 19.3% in celery]. Although a decrease of parasitic fauna was found in singly washed lettuce Samples, the difference between washed, and unwashed lettuce was not significant