Parasite contamination of freshly harvested vegetables from selected organic and conventional farms in the Philippines

Ordoñez Kathleen N., . and Lim Yvonne Ai-Lian, . and Goh Xiang Ting, . and Paller Vachel Gay V., . Parasite contamination of freshly harvested vegetables from selected organic and conventional farms in the Philippines. pp. 1741-1756. ISSN 1511-3701

Vegetables are considered as an important part of a healthy diet. However there have been reports showing contamination of vegetables with parasites. This study aimed to assess parasite contamination of freshly harvested vegetables from selected organic and conventional farms in the Philippines. A total of 252 freshly harvested vegetables were collected from 20 farms through systematic random sampling and were processed by means of sedimentation technique. Positive samples were subjected to molecular analysis for further identification of species. Results showed that 58 out of 252 (23.02) vegetable samples were contaminated with parasites eggs/cysts/oocysts. The parasites found were Ancylostoma ceylanicum Toxocara sp. Trichuris trichiura Ascaris suum Hymenolepis sp. unknown trematode egg Isospora Balantidium Giardia intestinalis and Cryptosporidium. Ascaris suum had the highest contamination rate in organic and conventional farms at 13.09 and 8.33 respectively. Cryptosporidium (800 oocysts/ kg) and Giardia intestinalis (240 cysts/kg) had the highest mean density in both farms. Also lettuce showed the highest contamination rate among the sampled vegetables in both types of farms. Furthermore results revealed that texture of vegetables distance to the soil substrate and farming practices could possibly contribute to the parasite contamination of vegetables in this study. These findings have important implications on public health that may aid regulatory agencies for prevention and control strategies for food safety.

Full text available from: Official URL: http://www.pertanika2.upm.edu.my/Pertanika%20PAPER...

Abstract

Vegetables are considered as an important part of a healthy diet. However there have been reports showing contamination of vegetables with parasites. This study aimed to assess parasite contamination of freshly harvested vegetables from selected organic and conventional farms in the Philippines. A total of 252 freshly harvested vegetables were collected from 20 farms through systematic random sampling and were processed by means of sedimentation technique. Positive samples were subjected to molecular analysis for further identification of species. Results showed that 58 out of 252 (23.02) vegetable samples were contaminated with parasites eggs/cysts/oocysts. The parasites found were Ancylostoma ceylanicum Toxocara sp. Trichuris trichiura Ascaris suum Hymenolepis sp. unknown trematode egg Isospora Balantidium Giardia intestinalis and Cryptosporidium. Ascaris suum had the highest contamination rate in organic and conventional farms at 13.09 and 8.33 respectively. Cryptosporidium (800 oocysts/ kg) and Giardia intestinalis (240 cysts/kg) had the highest mean density in both farms. Also lettuce showed the highest contamination rate among the sampled vegetables in both types of farms. Furthermore results revealed that texture of vegetables distance to the soil substrate and farming practices could possibly contribute to the parasite contamination of vegetables in this study. These findings have important implications on public health that may aid regulatory agencies for prevention and control strategies for food safety.

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Item Type:	Article
AGROVOC Term:	Vegetables
AGROVOC Term:	Fresh vegetables
AGROVOC Term:	Farms
AGROVOC Term:	Farm area
AGROVOC Term:	Organic farming
AGROVOC Term:	Sedimentation (technology)
AGROVOC Term:	Parasites
AGROVOC Term:	Bacterial contamination
AGROVOC Term:	Toxocara
AGROVOC Term:	Ancylostoma
Depositing User:	Ms. Suzila Mohamad Kasim
Last Modified:	24 Apr 2025 06:29
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/24890

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