The Parasitic Contamination of Farm Vegetables in Asadabad City, West of Iran, in ۲۰۱۴

Background: Consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables is a basic component of a healthy diet. Thus, the consumption of vegetables can have an important role in public health. Objectives: Because of this concern, a prevalence study of parasitic contamination was carried out on raw vegetables to estimate the human risk of parasitic infections in Asadabad city, west of Iran. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, ۳۸۳ samples of different vegetables were obtained randomly from ۱۲ vegetable farms in and around Asadabad. These samples included ۱۰ types of seasonal vegetables: coriander, radish, spring onion, leek, parsley, tarragon, savory, basil,mint, and cress. The samples were examined by two parasitologicalmethods: sedimentation and floatation techniques. Results: Parasitic contaminations were detected in ۳۴ (۸.۴%) vegetable samples, including five pathogenic and two non-pathogenic parasites. The parasites identified were Giardia intestinalis (۱.۶%), Entamoeba coli (۲.۶%), Toxocara spp. (۰.۸%), Fasciola spp. (۰.۵%), Taenia spp. (۰.۳%), Dicrocoelium dendriticum (۰.۳%), and free-living larvae (۲.۳%). Among the infested samples, coriander was the most contaminated vegetable (۱۵.۸%). The relationship between contamination of vegetables and untreated water used on farms was significant (P < ۰.۰۰۱). Conclusions: The results implicate the importance of consumption of vegetables in the spread of parasitic diseases in the studied region. Thus, some basic hygiene measures should be carried out to improve public health and reduce infectious disease rates.