PARASITOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF CRESS (NASTURTIUM OFFICINALE, BARBAREA VERNA E LEPIDIUM SATIVUM) SAMPLES FROM CURITIBA AREA, BRAZIL

Abstract

Food-borne parasite infections affect communities worldwide by transmitting microorganisms, imposing a serious risk to human and animal health. The aim of this study was to analyze the parasitological contamination in cress (Nasturtium officinale, Barbarea verna e Lepidium sativum) from various establishments in the metropolitan area of Curitiba, State of Parana. We analyzed 50 cress samples using the wash and centrifugation technique and the sedimentation method. Among the samples, 6 presented trophozoites of Balantidium coli, cyst of Entamoeba coli and parasites of Stronylidae and Trichuridae Family and 14 samples were contaminated with maggots, slugs and snails. Factors related to this parasitological contamination may be the failure in the quality of water used for irrigation, and the planting, storage and the distribution of the plants. As these vegetables are mainly eaten in natura, we recommend the inclusion of safety procedures along the entire process to protect the health of consumers, since vegetables  can be a zoonosis transmitter vehicle. Food-borne parasite infections affect communities worldwide by transmitting microorganisms, imposing a serious risk to human and animal health. The aim of this study was to analyze the parasitological contamination in cress (Nasturtium officinale, Barbarea verna e Lepidium sativum) from various establishments in the metropolitan area of Curitiba, State of Parana. We analyzed 50 cress samples using the wash and centrifugation technique and the sedimentation method. Among the samples, 6 presented trophozoites of Balantidium coli, cyst of Entamoeba coli and parasites of Stronylidae and Trichuridae Family and 14 samples were contaminated with maggots, slugs and snails. Factors related to this parasitological contamination may be the failure in the quality of water used for irrigation, and the planting, storage and the distribution of the plants. As these vegetables are mainly eaten in natura, we recommend the inclusion of safety procedures along the entire process to protect the health of consumers, since vegetables
can be a zoonosis transmitter vehicle.