Survey of Intestinal Parasites from Vegetables Sold in Maiduguri Metropolis, Borno State Nigeria

U. M. Askira*1, U. M. Kadaura2, I. M. Tom1, M. M. Ibrahim3, U. A. Bukar3, F.M. Abubakar1

1Department of Medical Laboratory Science, University of Maiduguri.
2Department of Medical Microbiology, Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare,
3Department of Microbiology, University of Maiduguri

*Corresponding author’s Email: mohammedaskirau@gmail.com, doi.org/10.55639/607.363534


ABSTRACT

Food-borne diseases are becoming a global public health problem, and perceived as a major health concern in Maiduguri metropolis. These play a significant role in human morbidity and economic loss. Vegetables are considered as a high-risk food because they do not required any heating hence; washing or cleaning prior to consumption has always been the case. The aim  of this study is to detect the presence of intestinal parasites in vegetables  samples collected from various areas in Maiduguri metropolis. A total of 200 vegetable samples of Carrot, Tomatoes, Lettuce and Garden egg was collected  from custom market, tashan bama market, Monday market, Abbaganaram  market and Bolori market . Each sample was immersed in a sterile universal container with 10ml of 10% normal saline and the filtrate was process by sedimentation concentration method. The result shows that the overall  prevalence of parasitic contamination was (7.5%). Filariform larva of hookworm (3.5%) was the most frequent parasitic contaminant followed by egg of ascaris lumbricoides (2.5%) and larvae of Strongyloides stercolaris (1.5%). This finding reported a high rates of intestinal parasites contaminated vegetables to represent as the potential source of spreading intestinal parasites to human. Therefore, it is necessary for health authorities to educate consumers on the standard washing methods of vegetables prior to Consumption.

Keywords:

Maiduguri,
Vegetables,
Contaminations,
filariform larvae