PREVALENCE AND DISTRIBUTION OF INTESTINAL PARASITES ASSOCIATED WITH THE SPOILAGE OF RAW VEGETABLES IN SOME MARKETS AND IRRIGATION SITES IN KANO METROPOLIS

Abstract

Parasitic diseases linked to consumption of fresh vegetables, is a form of food-borne parasitic disease of common occurrence this days. Utilization of untreated wastewater and animal dung as fertilizers in vegetable cultivation is associated with contamination of these farm products. The aim of this study was to determine the burden of intestinal parasites in vegetables sold in some local markets (Tarauni and Yankaba markets) and irrigation sites [(Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) and Sharada)] in Kano metropolis. A total of 152 samples of vegetable were collected. Four types of vegetables were used for the study from two markets and two irrigation sites. The vegetables were washed, the water allowed to settled and later examined using by microscopy. The finding showed that parasites ova, larvae and cysts can be found at harvest time on vegetables grown with human/animal manure and/or by irrigation with pond water. Of the 152 samples of vegetable that were collected, processed, and examined, 21 (13.8%) of them were contaminated with parasites. Based on the results it was concluded that vegetable crops are contaminated with different types of parasites in their various developmental stages, especially cyst, trophozoites and ova and Sharada irrigation site had more of the parasites compared to other site used in the study. But in terms of the most contaminated vegetable, lettuce had higher burden of the parasite while cucumber samples from all the sites used were free from parasitic contamination.