Detection of parasitic structures in vegetables commercialized in the city of Florianópolis, SC, Brazil

Abstract

The presence of transmissible forms of enteroparasites in vegetables consumed raw in Florianópolis city was evaluated in the period concerned between June 2003 and May 2004. A total of 750 samples, including lettuce (Lactuva sativa), watercress (Nasturtium officinale) and of rocket (Chicarium sp), commercially available from street markets and supermarkets, were analyzed. All samples were washed and submitted to the sedimentation method. Elevated degrees of contamination were found in all samples analyzed, with higher frequencies being found in the watercress samples. A large variety of protozoans were detected, the levels of which are compatible with the elevated frequency of occurrence in the population of the metropolitan region of the city of Florianópolis. Therefore, the importance of the vegetables in the transmission of intestinal diseases is emphasized, which requires adequate measurements to be taken in order to provide an improvement in the hygienic-sanitary quality of the vegetables.