Parasitic Contamination of Fresh Leafy Green Vegetables Sold in Northern Lebanon
Contaminated, raw or undercooked vegetables can transmit parasitic infections. Here, we investigated parasitic contamination of leafy green vegetables sold in local markets in the Tripoli district, Lebanon, during two consecutive autumn seasons (2020–2021). The study involved the microscopic examina...
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MDPI AG
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Pathogens |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/12/8/1014 |
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| author | Dima El Safadi Marwan Osman Angel Hanna Iman Hajar Issmat I. Kassem Sara Khalife Fouad Dabboussi Monzer Hamze |
| author_facet | Dima El Safadi Marwan Osman Angel Hanna Iman Hajar Issmat I. Kassem Sara Khalife Fouad Dabboussi Monzer Hamze |
| author_sort | Dima El Safadi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Contaminated, raw or undercooked vegetables can transmit parasitic infections. Here, we investigated parasitic contamination of leafy green vegetables sold in local markets in the Tripoli district, Lebanon, during two consecutive autumn seasons (2020–2021). The study involved the microscopic examination of 300 samples of five different types of vegetables (60 samples per type) and used standardized qualitative parasitological techniques for some protozoa and helminths. The results showed that 16.7% (95% interval for p: 12.6%, 21.4%) (50/300) of the vegetable samples were contaminated with at least one parasite. The most frequently detected parasite was <i>Blastocystis</i> spp. (8.7%; 26/300); this was followed in frequency by <i>Ascaris</i> spp. (3.7%; 11/300). Among the different vegetable types, lettuce (23.3%; 14/60) was the most contaminated, while arugula was the least contaminated (11.7%; 7/60). The statistical analysis did not reveal any significant association between the prevalence of parasitic contamination and the investigated risk factors, which included collection date, vegetable type, market storage status, and wetness of vegetables at the time of purchase (<i>p</i> > 0.05). The high prevalence of parasitic contamination also suggested the potential presence of other microbial pathogens. These findings are important because leafy green vegetables are preferentially and heavily consumed raw in Lebanon. Thus, implementing effective measures that target the farm-to-fork continuum is recommended in order to reduce the spread of intestinal pathogens. |
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| issn | 2076-0817 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:40:10Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
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| series | Pathogens |
| spelling | doaj.art-03e36d8147694ef48a41dc2e71b11c8a2023-11-19T02:32:15ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172023-08-01128101410.3390/pathogens12081014Parasitic Contamination of Fresh Leafy Green Vegetables Sold in Northern LebanonDima El Safadi0Marwan Osman1Angel Hanna2Iman Hajar3Issmat I. Kassem4Sara Khalife5Fouad Dabboussi6Monzer Hamze7Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L7 8XZ, UKCornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USALaboratoire Microbiology, Santé et Environnement, Doctoral School of Sciences and Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli 1300, LebanonLaboratoire Microbiology, Santé et Environnement, Doctoral School of Sciences and Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli 1300, LebanonCenter for Food Safety, Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Georgia, Griffin, GA 30223, USADepartment of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Beirut Arab University, Tripoli 1300, LebanonLaboratoire Microbiology, Santé et Environnement, Doctoral School of Sciences and Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli 1300, LebanonLaboratoire Microbiology, Santé et Environnement, Doctoral School of Sciences and Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli 1300, LebanonContaminated, raw or undercooked vegetables can transmit parasitic infections. Here, we investigated parasitic contamination of leafy green vegetables sold in local markets in the Tripoli district, Lebanon, during two consecutive autumn seasons (2020–2021). The study involved the microscopic examination of 300 samples of five different types of vegetables (60 samples per type) and used standardized qualitative parasitological techniques for some protozoa and helminths. The results showed that 16.7% (95% interval for p: 12.6%, 21.4%) (50/300) of the vegetable samples were contaminated with at least one parasite. The most frequently detected parasite was <i>Blastocystis</i> spp. (8.7%; 26/300); this was followed in frequency by <i>Ascaris</i> spp. (3.7%; 11/300). Among the different vegetable types, lettuce (23.3%; 14/60) was the most contaminated, while arugula was the least contaminated (11.7%; 7/60). The statistical analysis did not reveal any significant association between the prevalence of parasitic contamination and the investigated risk factors, which included collection date, vegetable type, market storage status, and wetness of vegetables at the time of purchase (<i>p</i> > 0.05). The high prevalence of parasitic contamination also suggested the potential presence of other microbial pathogens. These findings are important because leafy green vegetables are preferentially and heavily consumed raw in Lebanon. Thus, implementing effective measures that target the farm-to-fork continuum is recommended in order to reduce the spread of intestinal pathogens.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/12/8/1014parasites<i>Blastocystis</i> spp.<i>Ascaris</i> spp.food safetyleafy green vegetablesfresh produce |
| spellingShingle | Dima El Safadi Marwan Osman Angel Hanna Iman Hajar Issmat I. Kassem Sara Khalife Fouad Dabboussi Monzer Hamze Parasitic Contamination of Fresh Leafy Green Vegetables Sold in Northern Lebanon Pathogens parasites <i>Blastocystis</i> spp. <i>Ascaris</i> spp. food safety leafy green vegetables fresh produce |
| title | Parasitic Contamination of Fresh Leafy Green Vegetables Sold in Northern Lebanon |
| title_full | Parasitic Contamination of Fresh Leafy Green Vegetables Sold in Northern Lebanon |
| title_fullStr | Parasitic Contamination of Fresh Leafy Green Vegetables Sold in Northern Lebanon |
| title_full_unstemmed | Parasitic Contamination of Fresh Leafy Green Vegetables Sold in Northern Lebanon |
| title_short | Parasitic Contamination of Fresh Leafy Green Vegetables Sold in Northern Lebanon |
| title_sort | parasitic contamination of fresh leafy green vegetables sold in northern lebanon |
| topic | parasites <i>Blastocystis</i> spp. <i>Ascaris</i> spp. food safety leafy green vegetables fresh produce |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/12/8/1014 |
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