Occurence of parasites in lettuce (Lactuca sativa) commercializaed in the street markets and supermarkets of Campo Mourão, state of Paraná, Brazil - DOI: 10.4025/actascibiolsci.v26i4.1514

Abstract

This work researched and compared the contamination by enteroparasites in lettuce (Lactuca sativa) commercialized in the supermarkets and street markets of Campo Mourão, State of Paraná. 150 samples of lettuce were analyzed through sedimentation method (Hoffmam), being 75 samples from supermarkets and 75 from street markets. The sediment was analyzed in optic microscope. The supermarkets samples showed contamination by parasites of 56% (42/75); while contamination of street markets samples showed 58.7% (44/75). The principal parasites observed in supermarkets samples were: Ascaris spp 54.7%, Toxocara spp 2.4%, Strongyloides spp 4.8%, Entamoeba spp 35.7% and Taenia spp 2.4%. Important parasites observed in street markets were: Ascaris spp 13.6%, Strongyloides spp 11.4%, Entamoeba spp 47.7%, Ancylostoma spp 9.1%, Taenia spp 2.3%, Fasciola hepatica 6.8% and Trichuris spp 9.1%. These results indicate that the samples of lettuce are in disagreement with current law and point out the necessity of a sanitary education program for vegetable producers and vegetable manipulators