Parasitic Contamination of Freshly Consumed Vegetables Sold in the Markets and Farm Fields Within and Around Asmara

Intestinal parasitic infection is one the factor responsible for food borne illness, it normally happens due to consumption of unclean, raw, or undercooked vegetables and it is a major public health problem in developing country like Eritrea. The main purpose of this study is to assess the presence of parasitic contamination in vegetables which are consumed raw in Asmara, Eritrea. A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the level of parasitic contamination of raw vegetables sold in two local markets and produce in seven farm fields of Asmara. 200 gm of four selected raw vegetables viz; lettuce, cabbage, carrot and girgir (local Name) were analysed by using sedimentation method, and the stages of parasites were observed under a light microscope. Statistical data was generated using Pearson chi-square test. A value of P <0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Of, 205 vegetable samples, 117 (57.07%) were contaminated with one or more parasites, the most common parasite was Ascaris lumbricoides 61(29.7%), followed by Giardia lamblia 55(26.8%). Of, four vegetables lettuce was the most contaminated 42 (60.8%), followed by carrot 30 (60%). From 88 samples collected from two Markets, Giardia lamblia 32(36.4%) followed by Ascaris lumbricoides 11(12.5%) was dominant. 117 samples from seven farms showed higher presence of Ascaris lumbricoides 50(42.7%) followed by Giardia lamblia 23(19.7%).This demonstration of parasites in raw vegetables which are frequently consumed by people of Asmara as part of their diet is alarming. So, health authorities must educate the farmers and retailers about implication of using faecal contaminated water for cleaning and for fertilization their farm land.