Immunological and Molecular Investigation of the Level of Parasite Contamination of Some Vegetables Sold in the Local Markets of Ramadi City – Iraq

Abstract

Some vegetables were randomly collected from the local markets of  Ramadi city - Anbar province – Iraq .And at 250 gm for each species for a period of 10 months (from 1/2/2019 - 1/12/2019), the vegetables included:

Foeniculumvulgarae ، Beta vulgaris ، Lactuca sativa ، Petroseliniumcrispum ، Lepidium sativum ، Brassica oleracea ، Brassica rapa ، Lycopersionesculentum ، Solanumtuberosum ، raphanussativus ، Allium ampeloprasum ، Apiumgraveolens .

After washing with distilled water, protozoa  and parasitic worms were detected, and several methods were used to detect them, such as the sedimentation method, floatation , pigmentation and cassette method, as well as molecular detection method of the Cyclospora parasite. The results showed that it is Lactuca sativawere  most polluted plants by parasites , Followed by Feniculumvulgarae .  And by percentage reached(21.45631 and 20.57971%) respectively , while the least polluted plants with parasites were Petroselinium crispum and Solanum tuberosum (9.699321, 9.796314%), respectively.

The results also showed that the most prevalent parasitic protozoa species was Giardia lambelia cyst, with a percentage of  21.94915%  and with significant differences from the rest of the other  parasitic species at the probability level P≥0.05,

It is followed by Entamoeba histolytica cyst with a percentage of  21.44068 % .

Whereas, the least common types of parasitic protozoa were Cyclospora catenensis  Oocyst , A percentage of  6.779661%  followedCryptosporidium parvum Oocystand Isospora  spp. Oocyst ,A percentage of 7.627119%  and 7.71186 % respectively .

As for helminths , they were the most common speciesFasciola hepatica eggswith a percentage of  19.236%  , with significant differences from other parasitic species at the probability level  P≥0.05 ,Followed by Trichuris trichura eggs, with a percentage of 15.00682% . Whereas, the least common parasitic worms were Taeneaspp. Eggs with a percentage of 3.819918%  followed by Strongyloides stercoralis eggs with a percentage of  9.41337% .